Dog scared of ..... everything

[Belladog1]

My cockerpoo is 10yrs old and I have had him since a puppy. He has always been an anxious boy, but the older he gets the worse he gets. These are some examples:

He is scared of his own food bowl. I have to hold him as he eats and shake his bowl gently until he finishes. He has a chrome bowl and I thought it was the light hitting the bowl that scared him, so I bought a dull bowl - but that scared him even more and he went on a starvation strike until I changed it back.

He is scared of going on a walk. He wants to go, but he is terrified the whole time. He is excited, I put him on his lead, he then shakes and generally poo's on the kitchen floor. He then wants to get in the car, but refuses to get out again. I have to coax him out, and then he quivers and shakes for the entire walk.

Any noise or unexpected sight scares him. He won't go in the garden unaccompanied because a crow scarer went off about 6yrs ago. I have to put his lead on and walk him outside to wee. If he walks into the kitchen and sees the edge of a bag or anything on the kitchen worktop, he will jump and skid his way out of the room (I have wooden floors) in panic.

I can't have anyone come over to see me as he won't stop barking and looking terrified. He calms down eventually, but I now refuse to have anyone come over to the house.

Yesterday I put him lead up near the back door as he was eating, and it swayed slightly on the peg, which made him run away in distress.

He generally just seems terrified of living. I don't know what to do. The only people he isn't terrified of are me and my other dog (who adores everyone, but doesn't get socialised as much as he should as I can't go anywhere). I have even started paying for private use of a dog field. He loved it at the beginning, but now I have to coax / drag him out of the car, and he spends the whole walk stuck to my calf ... staring up at me. I use the private field as he hates other people / dogs, and he will bark relentlessly and poo himself if he sees anyone else.

Any ideas what to do? I adore him, he is my world ... but quite frankly, I feel trapped.

Bless him, have you considered medication what has the vet advised ?

That does sound quite extreme. Ours is a cockapoo and has fancies (doesn't like traffic cones) but will bound out of the car at her favourite walks.

Is there anything calming the vet can give. Also daily walks aren't a necessity (obviously has to do his business) but playing inside can be good. Can he be left on his own while you take the other dog out?

Any chance he’s got sight issues?

What has the vet said?

Eyesight?
Dementia? If he's also pooping in your kitchen, I'd wonder if there's something medically wrong here - this is way beyond basic anxious dog.

However you look at it, your dog has very poor quality of life. It might be worth considering how much is too much for you both.

Some of it might be learned behaviour for attention? You fussing with his bowl might be a.trigger for him. Would you consider a tray or slow feeder something plastic so it doesn't clatter. And just leaving him to it or hand feed him food as a treat?

I haven't actually discussed this with the vet in all honesty. He goes for his annual check ups and he is fit and healthy. I try and get in and out as quickly as possible as I worry he will see another dog in the waiting room and go mental! He has always been nervy, but over the last year it has become extreme.

Maybe it is something medical? Don't cockerpoos live to ripe old ages though? My precious dog, a Vizsla suffered with dementia, but they are prone to that. His eye sight seems to be fine and his hearing is definitely fine. He can hear the lid coming off the treat pot from a mile away!!

I even bought some dog food that was specially formulated for calming dogs, but it hasn't done anything (been on it about 6 months now).

I always have 2 dogs as they keep each other company when I'm not around, and when one of them is missing, the other goes slightly batty due to separation anxiety - so they go everywhere as a pair, including the vets.

I think I need to book him into the vet don't I? I am just envisioning a myriad of tests only to be told there is nothing wrong with him.

I have considered this. I have perhaps babied him, so he is playing up to it for attention. If I stroke him as he eats, he will eat. If I leave him to it - he won't eat.

In the house he is the most special and loving boy with me. He adores cuddles and love. But take him out of the house - and he either becomes terrified or (quite frankly) nasty.

Why haven't you mentioned to the vet have they not asked about temperament? I think you need to speak to the vet about it. Take him on his own so he isnt hiding behind the other dog. I don't think this can be trained out of him with tips. You need professional help i think.

My dog's always been weird about food bowls.

I gave up and now she just eats off the floor. She's very happy with the situation.

What has been your end of tether with this you have had this for 10 years.

They have never asked me about his temperament. I walk in, they listen to his heart, check his ears, feel his chest, check his teeth - sometimes weigh him ... then give him a treat while they jab him.

Like I said, he has always had a nervous disposition, but in the last year it has become a different league.

Some dogs are, just weired out by bowls , my friends dog eats off a plastic tray hates food in a bowl

It hasn't been this bad for 10yrs. It's only been the last year when it has become unmanageable.

I actually separated from my husband in March this year. Maybe something changed in him then? His behaviour got more anxious and he became very protective over me.

Right, sorry I mis read your post sorry if the vet hasn't really noticed anything different in him he must be okish there, age might be a factor get the appointment say what you have said here and see if they can offer a solution,

I would say you need to have a vet check and also hire a qualified behaviourist. Be careful to research and not get someone calling themselves one that uses aversive methods

We used a behaviourist and she mentioned a lot of the dogs she sees are actually in pain and sometimes the vet initially say they are fine and it does turn out in the end to be pain.

It sounds like your dog is currently so frightened their quality of life is poor. I hope you can find something to help. It sounds a sad situation all round.

Try some calming biscuits. These are fantastic.

If they work then you know it’s anxiety and not a neurological condition.

I did try these NutriPaw Calming Treats, but they didn't work. I am now giving him Pooch & Mutt calming dog food - but again, they aren't doing anything.

I think you might need training methods along with the food iyswim,

If the valerian in dog biscuits is not helping then sadly I think it’s either ingrained behaviour that has not been addressed or a neurological or other health problem.