The following training techniques were recommended specifically for Gracie. If your dog is experiencing problems, we strongly recommend that you pay a visit to a good trainer in your area. And, please, please do not scold or physically punish your dog. You are only making the situation worse.
The first step is to revisit obedience training. For example, Gracie needs to learn to say “please” for almost everything. She says “please” by sitting.
The key with training is to teach her to look for us for direction. At present, Gracie’s anxiety reaches crisis levels because she does not know what to do. It is “fight or flight.” Once she learns to look to us, her anxiety should ease.
The trainer mentioned we should encourage the “shake” calming signal by saying “good shake!” If Gracie feels better by having a good shake, she can use that as a tool to calm herself. Plus, think of all the loose hair we will not have to comb!
We should also use the Thundershirt and DAP mentioned in the previous post whenever she exhibits anxiety (during a thunderstorm, for example) or when we know she will be in a situation that typically causes stress. Then, the trainer advised that we introduce Gracie to the least-stressful events first and slowly build to more stressful things.
For example, we should take her to a small town that has some street traffic but not as much as a busy city street. Go to a pet store early in the morning or late in the day. Take short car rides, building up to longer rides. We had been doing this already but not recognizing the improvements we wanted. As she becomes more comfortable in these situations, her anxiety should lessen.
We hope to have a better chance to modify the stressed behavior. The trainer emphasized that Gracie needs to see us as the leaders. She needs to feel secure. In her present, high anxiety state, she does not feel confident. We need to instill that confidence in her, let her know that Rescue Mommy and Rescue Daddy will protect her from all the things that are scaring her. We will keep you posted on her progress.
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Shirts, Smells, and Supplements
Before our visit with the trainer, I had tried several different techniques and remedies. I have created a list of some of them so that you can consider them for your anxious pet.
Disclaimer: Before you try any technique/remedy/et cetera, please consult with your veterinarian. Your pet may have a medical reason for his or her anxiety, may be using a medicine that could cause an adverse reaction with the remedy, or have a medical condition that would be exacerbated by alternative medicines.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s review:
Bach Rescue Remedy. It is a homeopathic remedy that contains herbal ingredients. It is advertised as a natural way to relive stress for your pet. It can be used on both cats and dogs. You administer 4 drops of the remedy in whatever way you can get your pet to consume it – on a treat, mixed in water, et cetera. (TIP: A colleague of mine uses chicken broth.)
I have heard some people say it works well for them. I suppose it depends upon how stressed your pet is. In Gracie’s case, I noticed zero improvement.
Lavender essential oil. This scent is soothing to both humans and animals. You put a few drops in water and mix well. You can then apply it to the underside of bedding, spritz it in the air, et cetera. It made Gracie sneeze.
NutriCalm for Dogs by Rx Vitamins. I purchased this through my vet’s office. It is a natural supplement that contains tryptophan, the substance that makes us snooze after Thanksgiving turkey. (Honestly, Uncle Bud, it is the turkey, not your boring conversation, that made me fall asleep.)
The capsules are HUGE for a little dog. I broke open a capsule and shoveled the powder into a treat. Then, Gracie and I wrestled a bit before she finally ate the treat.
I saw very, very little change in Gracie. I first gave it to her at home. She yawned a bit more frequently than normal. I then gave it to her before a long car ride, which causes the highest level of stress for her. I did not see an appreciable improvement. She could have been so overwrought, though, that it did not have a chance to work.
A colleague of mine gives this supplement to her arthritic dog. She swears by it. She said her dog used to be extremely restless at bedtime and did not sleep well. Since her dog has been taking NutriCalm, she rests much better at night.
UltraCalm tablets by Drs. Foster and Smith. These supplements are similar to NutriCalm. They had no effect on Gracie.
Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP). The concept behind DAP is mother dogs secrete pheromones that calm their puppies. DAP mimics those pheromones. It is available in travel wipes, sprays, and a plug-in device (similar to those stinky air fresheners you see on TV).
I tried the wipes. They had a strong alcohol smell that faded after a few minutes. I saw no change at all. I have since learned that I may have picked the wrong delivery system.
The trainer said you must use the appropriate dosage, or it may not work well. She used the spray. She applied 10 sprays to a bandana and tied it around Gracie’s neck. Gracie was also wearing a Thundershirt (more on that in a bit). I saw a gradual calming effect on Gracie. She did not completely chill, but you could see the anxiety easing.
Thundershirt. It looks like a simple jersey shirt. You almost expect to see a cute message to be printed on the back.
The Thundershirt swaddles your dog. It applies pressure that is meant to have a calming effect. I had read about it but was hesitant to try yet another thing that might not work.
The trainer and I wrestled Gracie into the shirt. With both DAP and the Thundershirt, I noticed an improvement. Again, I want to emphasize that she did not completely relax. However, she began to relax. That is the first step in addressing the problem. She began to respond to training, which was my ultimate goal. I could work with her now.
You can get more information about the Thundershirt at their website – http://www.thundershirt.com/. Pay close attention to the chest measurements. The shirt is meant to fit snugly.
I know now that it sometimes takes a combination of things to ease tension in highly-stressed pets. Yes, I realize that I could ask the vet for the doggy equivalent of Prozac. I prefer to use natural methods whenever possible, though. Gracie’s anxiety is not so intense or life threatening that strong drugs are necessary.
We plan to use DAP and the Thundershirt whenever we approach situations that traditionally create stress. Tomorrow, we will discuss how training is used in the next component of our behavior modification project.
Rescue Mommy
Disclaimer: Before you try any technique/remedy/et cetera, please consult with your veterinarian. Your pet may have a medical reason for his or her anxiety, may be using a medicine that could cause an adverse reaction with the remedy, or have a medical condition that would be exacerbated by alternative medicines.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s review:
Bach Rescue Remedy. It is a homeopathic remedy that contains herbal ingredients. It is advertised as a natural way to relive stress for your pet. It can be used on both cats and dogs. You administer 4 drops of the remedy in whatever way you can get your pet to consume it – on a treat, mixed in water, et cetera. (TIP: A colleague of mine uses chicken broth.)
I have heard some people say it works well for them. I suppose it depends upon how stressed your pet is. In Gracie’s case, I noticed zero improvement.
Lavender essential oil. This scent is soothing to both humans and animals. You put a few drops in water and mix well. You can then apply it to the underside of bedding, spritz it in the air, et cetera. It made Gracie sneeze.
NutriCalm for Dogs by Rx Vitamins. I purchased this through my vet’s office. It is a natural supplement that contains tryptophan, the substance that makes us snooze after Thanksgiving turkey. (Honestly, Uncle Bud, it is the turkey, not your boring conversation, that made me fall asleep.)
The capsules are HUGE for a little dog. I broke open a capsule and shoveled the powder into a treat. Then, Gracie and I wrestled a bit before she finally ate the treat.
I saw very, very little change in Gracie. I first gave it to her at home. She yawned a bit more frequently than normal. I then gave it to her before a long car ride, which causes the highest level of stress for her. I did not see an appreciable improvement. She could have been so overwrought, though, that it did not have a chance to work.
A colleague of mine gives this supplement to her arthritic dog. She swears by it. She said her dog used to be extremely restless at bedtime and did not sleep well. Since her dog has been taking NutriCalm, she rests much better at night.
UltraCalm tablets by Drs. Foster and Smith. These supplements are similar to NutriCalm. They had no effect on Gracie.
Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP). The concept behind DAP is mother dogs secrete pheromones that calm their puppies. DAP mimics those pheromones. It is available in travel wipes, sprays, and a plug-in device (similar to those stinky air fresheners you see on TV).
I tried the wipes. They had a strong alcohol smell that faded after a few minutes. I saw no change at all. I have since learned that I may have picked the wrong delivery system.
The trainer said you must use the appropriate dosage, or it may not work well. She used the spray. She applied 10 sprays to a bandana and tied it around Gracie’s neck. Gracie was also wearing a Thundershirt (more on that in a bit). I saw a gradual calming effect on Gracie. She did not completely chill, but you could see the anxiety easing.
Thundershirt. It looks like a simple jersey shirt. You almost expect to see a cute message to be printed on the back.
The Thundershirt swaddles your dog. It applies pressure that is meant to have a calming effect. I had read about it but was hesitant to try yet another thing that might not work.
The trainer and I wrestled Gracie into the shirt. With both DAP and the Thundershirt, I noticed an improvement. Again, I want to emphasize that she did not completely relax. However, she began to relax. That is the first step in addressing the problem. She began to respond to training, which was my ultimate goal. I could work with her now.
You can get more information about the Thundershirt at their website – http://www.thundershirt.com/. Pay close attention to the chest measurements. The shirt is meant to fit snugly.
I know now that it sometimes takes a combination of things to ease tension in highly-stressed pets. Yes, I realize that I could ask the vet for the doggy equivalent of Prozac. I prefer to use natural methods whenever possible, though. Gracie’s anxiety is not so intense or life threatening that strong drugs are necessary.
We plan to use DAP and the Thundershirt whenever we approach situations that traditionally create stress. Tomorrow, we will discuss how training is used in the next component of our behavior modification project.
Rescue Mommy
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Under Pressure
Gracie is a sweet, mellow dog at home, unlike your typical impression of a terrier. She rarely barks. She does not chase cats – well, only when they run from her. She learns new commands very quickly. She is content to sit in your lap.
However, loud noises such as cars, thunderstorms, motorcycles, et cetera scare her. A visit to the vet’s office, pet store, or a busy city presents her with so many stimuli that she is overwhelmed. While she now joyfully hops into the car, she curls into a ball as soon as she realizes we are not going to grandma’s house. Does any of this sound like behaviors you see in your dog?
We all recognize the laid-back ears, panting, and trembling as signs of stress and anxiety. I learned that dogs can present other signs:
• Shaking vigorously (think after a bath)
• Refuses to eat special treat
• Does not respond to training
• Nuzzles you for comfort
Gracie exhibited all of these behaviors during our recent visit with the trainer. She explained to me that dogs use these signals to calm themselves in stressful situations.
When Gracie gets to this stage, she shuts down. The only thing you can do is remove her from the situation. This is not a solution to the problem.
The trick is to find something that lowers her anxiety. Then, you can begin to address the issue. In tomorrow’s post, we will discuss some of the various products on the market that claim to reduce your pet’s anxiety. Stay tuned!
Rescue Mommy
However, loud noises such as cars, thunderstorms, motorcycles, et cetera scare her. A visit to the vet’s office, pet store, or a busy city presents her with so many stimuli that she is overwhelmed. While she now joyfully hops into the car, she curls into a ball as soon as she realizes we are not going to grandma’s house. Does any of this sound like behaviors you see in your dog?
We all recognize the laid-back ears, panting, and trembling as signs of stress and anxiety. I learned that dogs can present other signs:
• Shaking vigorously (think after a bath)
• Refuses to eat special treat
• Does not respond to training
• Nuzzles you for comfort
Gracie exhibited all of these behaviors during our recent visit with the trainer. She explained to me that dogs use these signals to calm themselves in stressful situations.
When Gracie gets to this stage, she shuts down. The only thing you can do is remove her from the situation. This is not a solution to the problem.
The trick is to find something that lowers her anxiety. Then, you can begin to address the issue. In tomorrow’s post, we will discuss some of the various products on the market that claim to reduce your pet’s anxiety. Stay tuned!
Rescue Mommy
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