Dog Help Please

[Lupins71]

I have a 9yr old border terrier, he has always been highly strung and has suffered seperation anxiety, however now he is just getting ridiculous, I have spent untold money on cures and none have worked I have had in a well known behaviourist which did work to a certain degree, he has had dap diffusers, clomicalm, all manor of pills and potions. now he just barks if the wind blows and its driving me mad, he is always more unsettled when we move house which we have done recently - anyone got any ideas what else i can do - i love him to bits and have had him since a puppy but hes driving me nuts

I can't help but I'm going to bump for you ... Beautifulgirls is especially good when it comes to animal matters...bump for BG!!!!

Behaviour is much more of a specialist subject than I can really assist with right here. My advice would really be to seek advice with a different behaviourist. Not everyone addresses the problems in the same way and it may be a different approach works for you this time. Other than that my best advice is probably the things you have already tried like the DAP products. Are you aware though that they now make a collar with DAP in it, so rather than having a house full of diffusers to get the effect it can follow the dog around? More cost effective though still not cheap.

Have you tried crate/cage with the dog? If you consider using that for sleeping at night so the dog gets used to it in a calm happy manner you may be able to use it for when you are out to help keep the dog calm too. Herbal remedies such as vallerian can also he helpful in some cases.

Sorry but going to hijack - my mums dog is similar to yours. Vallerian, is that the regualr one in health food shops??

Thanks i was wondering about valerian, he has always had a crate altho i must admit im not strict about him using it - i even did a course on canine pschology to try to get to grips but he stumps us all, really he is just a soppy old boy - but when you've just got baby to sleep it can be a bit much - luckily baby sleeps through it most of the time lol, i will look into valerian tomorrow - do you know what a safe dose is?

Scullcap and valerian preparations specifically made for dogs are available from vets, so contact yours and see if they can get hold of it for you. A company called Dorwest Herbs makes it. Dosage is all on the packaging.

Thanks have just found the website here

thanks so much i will get some of those

Yes, those are the ones we use

Yes, those are the ones we use

Hi - glad to see Beautifulgirls has been a help..again! Good luck Lupins x

We spent a day with a tape player with a dog we took in. It just recorded us talking etc...We also got a crate and got him used to it so it was his haven. We left it in the back room and when we went out we would crate him and switch the tape player on which was near the front door. gradually we turned the recordings down everytime we went out until eventually it was silent. It really did work as we taped him over the period of time. Also closing the curtains really helped so there was no distractions and limiting the time we were gone for.

good ideas thanks x

I have had dogs all my life and I have found that dogs that show alot of this behavoiur are dogs which feel there are FULLy responsible for the house you and its contents...ALL the time.

This does not give him the opportunity to have a break mentally. He is always feeling as though he has to bea protector 24hours. Did this increase when you had a baby???? -

He may need you to become more of a leader of the pack....take the stress out of him. you will find he will become so much more relased and affectionate.

However this could be something you have already tried and if so....I think perhaps he needs more routine.

Hope this helps...