Comments on: Options To Help a Dog With Anxiety http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2011/03/dog-anxiety-2/ Tue, 14 May 2013 14:08:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2011/03/dog-anxiety-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8418 Jason Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:44:58 +0000 http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/?p=11419#comment-8418 I'm not sure if my dog is "officially" anxious... but he is jumpy. It's both annoying - since he sometimes scoots and scatters on the hardwood at the slightest movement you make - and heart breaking, because we want him to relax. That said, most of the time he seems like a happy dog, so that's good. I’m not sure if my dog is “officially” anxious… but he is jumpy. It’s both annoying – since he sometimes scoots and scatters on the hardwood at the slightest movement you make – and heart breaking, because we want him to relax. That said, most of the time he seems like a happy dog, so that’s good.

]]> By: Cynthia G. http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2011/03/dog-anxiety-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8325 Cynthia G. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:18:42 +0000 http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/?p=11419#comment-8325 Taking care of a dog with anxiety is challenging, but it can be overcome. I adopted a golden retriever from a couple last summer. They told me that they'd had her since she was a puppy, but another family member told me they had just adopted her a year before. Considering that she's been re-homed twice in her 3 years, her separation anxiety is understandable. She also has a lot of fear relating to people coming to the house and any furniture being moved (both families re-homed her when they were moving). I've done tons of reading and have tried a number of methods to help her to be calm and focused and to build her confidence so that she knows this home is forever. The most important thing is to not encourage the anxiety. When we make a big deal over the dog's stress, it tells the dog that the anxiety is justified. When my Evie is starting to "wind up," I tell her that she's fine and everything is OK and go about my business. When I don't focus on her fear, it shows her that everything is fine. The big thing I had to learn was how to really keep my cool. When your child is scared, you want to do anything to comfort her. With dogs, they gain more confidence when you show leadership first and affection second. It took me a while to master this because at first, when she was anxious, I was getting anxious trying to find a way to help her. We've made a lot of progress since she first came home with me. Once I got her out of constant panic mode, we started doing "dry runs" of events that caused her stress (#1 being me leaving her, even to take a shower). I set up a spare bedroom as her safe space (she hated the crate I got her) and started spending quiet time in there with her. Then, we worked up to me putting a gate across the door while still in the room, then with me out of the room for a minute, working up to the point where she was comfortable without me. She is now comfortable with being left for 1.5-2 hours while I go to the gym or other short outings. We're working up to longer periods slowly. It takes time and patience, but I've seen the results. She's now so much more confident. She even went to the other end of the house for a nap last weekend while I was taking a long bath. We still have our challenges. When she reaches full-on panic mode (which, thankfully, is rare now, usually triggered by a stranger coming to the house), I practice compression restraint. This keeps her from hurting me, herself, or my cats and helps her to calm down. Basically, I get on top of her, wrapping my arms around her and put enough pressure on her to keep her in place without putting my body weight on her. It's similar to what the Thunder Coat does or the compression restraint tools used with kids with autism. I'm giving her a big hug and keep repeating in a calm voice that "Evie's OK" until she is calmer. Then, we spend a little longer in that spot with me close by but not restraining her. I practice herbal medicine, so I've been treating her with herbs baked into dog cookies, as well, which has helped immensely. It's a long road, but you can help your dog become calm, cool, and collected. Taking care of a dog with anxiety is challenging, but it can be overcome. I adopted a golden retriever from a couple last summer. They told me that they’d had her since she was a puppy, but another family member told me they had just adopted her a year before. Considering that she’s been re-homed twice in her 3 years, her separation anxiety is understandable. She also has a lot of fear relating to people coming to the house and any furniture being moved (both families re-homed her when they were moving). I’ve done tons of reading and have tried a number of methods to help her to be calm and focused and to build her confidence so that she knows this home is forever.

The most important thing is to not encourage the anxiety. When we make a big deal over the dog’s stress, it tells the dog that the anxiety is justified. When my Evie is starting to “wind up,” I tell her that she’s fine and everything is OK and go about my business. When I don’t focus on her fear, it shows her that everything is fine. The big thing I had to learn was how to really keep my cool. When your child is scared, you want to do anything to comfort her. With dogs, they gain more confidence when you show leadership first and affection second. It took me a while to master this because at first, when she was anxious, I was getting anxious trying to find a way to help her.

We’ve made a lot of progress since she first came home with me. Once I got her out of constant panic mode, we started doing “dry runs” of events that caused her stress (#1 being me leaving her, even to take a shower). I set up a spare bedroom as her safe space (she hated the crate I got her) and started spending quiet time in there with her. Then, we worked up to me putting a gate across the door while still in the room, then with me out of the room for a minute, working up to the point where she was comfortable without me. She is now comfortable with being left for 1.5-2 hours while I go to the gym or other short outings. We’re working up to longer periods slowly. It takes time and patience, but I’ve seen the results. She’s now so much more confident. She even went to the other end of the house for a nap last weekend while I was taking a long bath.

We still have our challenges. When she reaches full-on panic mode (which, thankfully, is rare now, usually triggered by a stranger coming to the house), I practice compression restraint. This keeps her from hurting me, herself, or my cats and helps her to calm down. Basically, I get on top of her, wrapping my arms around her and put enough pressure on her to keep her in place without putting my body weight on her. It’s similar to what the Thunder Coat does or the compression restraint tools used with kids with autism. I’m giving her a big hug and keep repeating in a calm voice that “Evie’s OK” until she is calmer. Then, we spend a little longer in that spot with me close by but not restraining her. I practice herbal medicine, so I’ve been treating her with herbs baked into dog cookies, as well, which has helped immensely.

It’s a long road, but you can help your dog become calm, cool, and collected.

]]> By: Katharine Hillestad, DVM http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2011/03/dog-anxiety-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8324 Katharine Hillestad, DVM Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:15:41 +0000 http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/?p=11419#comment-8324 Bonnie, That's wonderful, and what a great idea! A helpful site for learning more is ABRIonline.org. It has many videos on animal behavior, which might make learning how to help Farley even more fun. Dr. Kathy Bonnie,
That’s wonderful, and what a great idea! A helpful site for learning more is ABRIonline.org. It has many videos on animal behavior, which might make learning how to help Farley even more fun.

Dr. Kathy

]]> By: Bonnie B http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2011/03/dog-anxiety-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8322 Bonnie B Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:27:50 +0000 http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/?p=11419#comment-8322 Our doctor prescribed Clomicalm for Farley. We were able to get the generic form from Drs. Foster and Smith mail order pharmacy. The generic form was so much cheaper. We are currently waiting for our shipment from DFS. We have decided to do a behavoir modification using my children's homeschooling and "Farley" (he is the dog in the blog post). So we will be doing a Science project and helping Farley at the same time. I am hoping this will help him to be a part of our family for a much longer period of time!! Thank You so much, Bonnie B Our doctor prescribed Clomicalm for Farley. We were able to get the generic form from Drs. Foster and Smith mail order pharmacy. The generic form was so much cheaper. We are currently waiting for our shipment from DFS. We have decided to do a behavoir modification using my children’s homeschooling and “Farley” (he is the dog in the blog post). So we will be doing a Science project and helping Farley at the same time. I am hoping this will help him to be a part of our family for a much longer period of time!!

Thank You so much,
Bonnie B

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