We've recently had a lot of upheaval and I really do fear that it's really upset my poor dog.
My husband narrowly missed being made redundant by accepting an overseas post. We have sold our house and moved into rented accommodation as we are now contemplating moving overseas if this new post works out.
As my husband is now away for several weeks at a time, I'm alone with our dog Jack a lot of the time and he has been a great comfort to me.
However, I now find that when I do have to leave him to go shopping he gets really distressed. After years of good behaviour he's started scratching doors and chewing the furniture, he's even started forgetting his housetraining.
Now we are in rented housing this change in behaviour is really difficult to cope with.
What can I do to get Jack used to being alone again?
Is there anything I can give him to make everything a bit less stressful as I suspect he's picking up my angst, too as he and I are increasingly in tune!
I've shed a few tears and he's been a great hairy shoulder to cry on!
I've started doing online shopping for my supermarket food - but there are some times when I really do need to go out and he can't come. It just breaks my heart to see him so upset.
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Hi Beverley,
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine swears by a magnesium supplement called Nupafeed Stress-Less which she used last year for the firework season. This spring I was talked into taking on a little staffy cross who had come through a rescue home having had a very unsettled first 18 months of life. He had great trouble settling in, showing all the symptoms you have described. It never occurred to me to try any supplements, I thought he just needed time, but my friend gave me some of her Stress-Less tablets to try.
The difference was incredible, after a week he had settled so much and then he continued to improve steadily. He stopped hiding under the curtains and learnt about using the garden for his toilet stops. I stopped giving them to him after a few weeks thinking he would have settled in but he soon started reverting back. Since then I have continued to feed them to him and as long as nothing dramatic happens he is just like any other little dog. I started with a double dose and now, several months on, I have been able to reduce to a conservative daily dose without him becoming any worse. I just give him a bit more if I know I’m going to be having strangers in the house.
They work because stress means that they need more magnesium, so when they go through a period of change their diet sometimes does not provide them with enough and you get a rise in stress hormones. This explanation fits your dog perfectly so I would really recommend them and it’s nice to know you are helping them rather than just sedating them.
To introduce myself, I am "just" a pet owner with a Staffie.
ReplyDeleteJack is naturally feeling unsettled as I'm sure you are. It sounds like he is getting too dependent on you which isn't surprising with the recent upheaval & you feeling very down too. Jack will be picking up on all that.
I would give him less attention at home. I would keep picking up my bag & keys or whatever as if to go out, then putting them down again in a very casual way without even looking at Jack, & then make a cuppa or something. Then progress to going out for very short periods, literally seconds - without fussing Jack. When I came back in I would keep it a low level greeting.
Over a period of a few weeks or however long it takes I would keep doing this several times a day, very gradually increasing the time away.
If Jack starts to show any distress you might be progressing too fast for him, so will have to go back to an earlier stage.
I would also try & put on a cheerful face & voice to keep Jack's spirits up.
You could also try giving him toys to occupy him so he can play alone more. A stuffed Kong or Busy Buddy are ideal. Search for them on the internet. Also you could try Nina Ottoson interactive toys to keep his mind occupied, or devise your own. I often hide treats all over the house or garden & send Tala to hunt them.
I hope that by doing this you find the chewing & lapse in housetraining resolve themselves.
Good luck for the future.
I have a lovely dog called Buddy who can be very nervous around new, unfamiliar situations. Whenever we know a one off situation is going to occur; like a trip to the vets, time in kennels, work men at the house, or even fireworks, we give him some squirts of Bach Five Flower Rescue Remedy Spray. Normally a few squirts on his tongue helps to calm him - its not a miricle cure but it does seem to stop him from getting super upset and getting so nervous that he shakes like a jelly fish.
ReplyDeleteI've also had some good experience with a DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) difusser as a more everyday solution. I find the plugs in and sprays hardwork because you have to limit your dog to one location for them to be effective however the DAP collars ar fantastic - they go where the dog does. If only they weren't so expensive i would buy them for him all year round and not just for fireworks month in november!
I used this Separation Essence on a nervous dog ( due to not being socialised as a pup).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.avogel.co.uk/shop/products/petcare/separationessence.php
It worked quite well, in combination with lots of exercise, so they are tired.
Rosie Peace said...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda that Rescue Remedy may help, but it is also worth considering some of the other Bach Flower Remedies which can be used individually or mixed together to specifically target particular emotional problems. Here are some remedies which could be helpful to Jack:
Chicory - for over-attachment and possessiveness; should help him feel less clingy.
Walnut - for any period of change; helps an animal adapt to new surroundings or a new situation (this can be especially beneficial for rescue dogs in kennels or going to a new home).
Honeysuckle - for homesickness or over-attachment to the past; particularly useful for adapting to the loss of an owner or home.
To make up a treatment bottle, put two drops (four drops of rescue Remedy) from each of the remedies you have selected, into a clean glass dropper bottle. If possible, give four drops, eight times a day from the treatment bottle directly onto Jack's tongue but you'll need to take care as the dropper is made of glass so could easily be broken if he is very agitated. If you're worried about this, you can add 16-20 drops to Jack's water bowl. For very acute states give four drops every 30-60 minutes, reverting to the normal dosage when more balance has returned.
Bach Flower Remedies can also be taken directly from the stock bottle if preferred, although it is not the most economical way of using them.
Visit www.bach-flowers.co.uk for more information.
Rosie Peace said...
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to mention the drops are added to WATER in the treatment bottle...doh! Correct instructions below...sorry
To make up a treatment bottle, put two drops (four drops of rescue Remedy) from each of the remedies you have selected, into a clean glass dropper bottle containing no more than 30ml of spring or spa water. If possible, give four drops, eight times a day from the treatment bottle directly onto Jack's tongue but you'll need to take care as the dropper is made of glass so could easily be broken if he is very agitated. If you're worried about this, you can add 16-20 drops to Jack's water bowl. For very acute states give four drops every 30-60 minutes, reverting to the normal dosage when more balance has returned.