Dog behavioral problem - can anyone help?

[PM_Mama00]

I think if you have to take your dog with you everywhere you go, then perhaps you don't have enough time to spend with your dog and maybe shouldn't have gotten one. You need to spend quality time with them... cuddling, playing, etc. Do you think your pets like just sitting in the car waiting for mommy or daddy to run errands? (the "you" is general, not directed at anyone)

I'm posting this with respect and not to be snooty. If you can make it work then ok, but I just don't see it necessary to cart your dog with you everywhere.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

A lot of people here, including myself, have tried to offer her tips and advice, and besides the drugging one, she has shot down every single one.

The bottom line is we are not professionals. The way she describes her dog's problem, it sounds like a pretty serious anxiety issue that could possibly hurt her dog, or another person should someone else be near the dog when it's freaking out.

There have been posts on GC before that go something like "Hello - I have a (---insert some kind of symptoms here---), is this cancer or something serious?" And while we do have amazing RNs and even doctors that frequent these boards, they can't (and probably shouldn't) diagnose a problem over the internet. They almost always tell the posters to get a professional's opinion IRL.

Some of us ARE animal professionals, I'm a RVT, SthrnZeta is a long time Vet Assistant, cheerfulgreek is in vet school, and I know there are actual veterinarians on this board. No one diagnosed, they just offered options that she could discuss with her veterinarian.

It is obvious that she loves her dog, and wants what is best for it, and as they teach in vet tech school, you have a much more amenable client and patient, if they feel that they are being given options. If she likes the option of Ace or another light sedative, and her veterinarian agrees, then it is the best one for her and her dog. You don't have to agree with it.



BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by kstar

Some of us ARE animal professionals, I'm a RVT, SthrnZeta is a long time Vet Assistant, cheerfulgreek is in vet school, and I know there are actual veterinarians on this board. No one diagnosed, they just offered options that she could discuss with her veterinarian.

It is obvious that she loves her dog, and wants what is best for it, and as they teach in vet tech school, you have a much more amenable client and patient, if they feel that they are being given options. If she likes the option of Ace or another light sedative, and her veterinarian agrees, then it is the best one for her and her dog. You don't have to agree with it.



BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (Can't believe we agree...)

It's about presenting options to owners to help them find what works best for them, their dogs, and their specific neurosis.

She obviously does care about her dog and people are being so fucking self-righteous that it makes me want to puke. I would love to see half as many owners care for their dogs as much as she obviously does.

If she came on here and said her dog was having separation anxiety because it was being left at home alone all day, people would bitch her out for being a horrible owner, too. But, she cares enough to try and work HER LIFE around what might be best for her dog. She drives Marley to the next town every day for Pete's sake!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by kstar

BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

Thank you! Yes, I despise Cesar Milan as well. My lil chihuahua barks a lot and so many people will say "you need to watch 'The Dog Whisperer' so you can learn how to control him." Seriously, watching Cesar Milan bark like a dog, pant, and get on all fours is not going to teach me anything.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by epchick

Thank you! Yes, I despise Cesar Milan as well. My lil chihuahua barks a lot and so many people will say "you need to watch 'The Dog Whisperer' so you can learn how to control him." Seriously, watching Cesar Milan bark like a dog, pant, and get on all fours is not going to teach me anything.

Once again- glad I have a cat.

If I told her to stop meow-ing and got down on all fours and started licking myself, she'd just give me the 'kitty look of death' and walk away.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by kstar

BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

I don't hate Cesar Millan, but I've found myself getting easily overwhelmed by his advice. I've tried to follow it, but for some reason it does not work for me.

I came to the conclusion that I'll find whatever happy medium there is for me and my dog.


To the OP, I'd start with the drugs with the intent a weaning him off by training him at the same time. Also, I don't know if this was said or mentioned, but have you considered that maybe the dog is responding to your actions when getting in the car. I mean, if you are going off to work maybe you are a bit rushed and the dog senses that?

[FSUZeta]

the dog whisperer comes on the national geographic channel on friday nights, i believe at 8 pm est. if you have cable or direct tv, you most likely can get the channel and it's not going to cost you anything extra, other than you time. i think it would be worth your and your dogs time.

[libramunoz]

Cheerful--if you knew my 14 year old dog, Iggy (short for Ignatius Starbucks) you would know that dog--OMG!!! Today, my Mom bought the pedipaw for his nails--OMG, that mutt--Jeez you'da thought I was trying to cut off his head! He got into his bastard mode and acted a complete fool! That's just the way that he is.
I've figured since owning dogs since I was a kid, eventually, you get to KNOW your animal. You know their likes and dislikes. You know what they want to do and what they don't. This same mutt has to sleep with someone everynight like a baby, while my 2 year old won't sleep with anyone, but when the bed is empty, he hops on. You just get to know their likes and who they are as a person, and you LEARN to accept them for what they are, or better yet, who they are.
Thank You Tippie and kstar, you guys are correct and have offered some very valuable advice to Hot Damn.
Texas and Xi-Ree, if you would have READ what Hot Damn was saying, you would have seen that all the woman wanted was some help! She didn't ask anyone to dx Ms. Marley, she only wanted help from others who have dogs and knew of any suggestions as to what to do what their dogs. No, not everyone has HAD the same situation with their dogs, but if they have had a similar one with their dogs, then what's the problem in giving a damn suggestion?
You don't know EXACTLY who is on the board, what their qualifications/education is, or what in God's green earth they do for a living. Someone on the board may have a clue as to HOW to HELP! She didn't ask them to GIVE the script, she only ASKED for suggestions! So BEFORE you decide to OFFER up some tip, READ what the person has ASKED for. That tends to help keep mouthinfoot disease from occurring.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Cheerful--if you knew my 14 year old dog, Iggy (short for Ignatius Starbucks) you would know that dog--OMG!!! Today, my Mom bought the pedipaw for his nails--OMG, that mutt--Jeez you'da thought I was trying to cut off his head! He got into his bastard mode and acted a complete fool! That's just the way that he is.
I've figured since owning dogs since I was a kid, eventually, you get to KNOW your animal. You know their likes and dislikes. You know what they want to do and what they don't. This same mutt has to sleep with someone everynight like a baby, while my 2 year old won't sleep with anyone, but when the bed is empty, he hops on. You just get to know their likes and who they are as a person, and you LEARN to accept them for what they are, or better yet, who they are.
Thank You Tippie and kstar, you guys are correct and have offered some very valuable advice to Hot Damn.
Texas and Xi-Ree, if you would have READ what Hot Damn was saying, you would have seen that all the woman wanted was some help!

I know what you mean.

And lol at the other bolded comments. libramunoz is making me laugh so hard. lol

[libramunoz]

BTW-I take both of my dogs on car rides to town, etc. They love to go! My 2 year old knows his spot and when it's sunny, he knows to stand on it in the car and for me to open the sunroof for him. My 14 year old has his seat! When he's bored, he puts his head on my leg, as he does my Mother--again--I KNOW my pets!
And Cesar Milan cannot teach me a DAMN thing about my dogs! Whatever their problems are, I'll handle them, not HIM! Their MY PETS not his!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Thanks, Tippiechick and KStar.

I am not getting a new puppy. One of my pledge sisters got one a week ago and she emailed me to ask if I knew when the appropriate time to spay is. I'm sure she'll double-check what I told her with the vet next time she goes in.

I take my dog with me in the car because (1) all that time in traffic I get to share with Marley, and (2) SHE LOVES IT. I put the window down about three inches and she presses her little nose against the crack, smelling all the smells or whatever it is dogs do. She also loves BEING WITH ME, so if I have to drive 15 minutes each way to the grocery store and I run in for 5 minutes to buy ice cream, I just got 30 bonus minutes with my dog. 30 minutes where she's not sitting in my room, lonely and miserable.

My parents do a far better job taking care of my dog than a dog walker or doggie day care (which is EXPENSIVE) ever could. Marley has their two dogs to play with, constant access to food, water, and toys, and she's allowed to get on their couches. She is happy as a little clam over there and I count my lucky stars that I don't have to leave her alone all day.

BTW, I was thinking about drugs for long car trips, not daily use. We're talking three or four times a year here.

[SWTXBelle]

Have you tried something like Rescue Remedy? Not a drug - more like chamomile tea for doggies.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Thanks, Tippiechick and KStar.

I am not getting a new puppy. One of my pledge sisters got one a week ago and she emailed me to ask if I knew when the appropriate time to spay is. I'm sure she'll double-check what I told her with the vet next time she goes in.

I take my dog with me in the car because (1) all that time in traffic I get to share with Marley, and (2) SHE LOVES IT. I put the window down about three inches and she presses her little nose against the crack, smelling all the smells or whatever it is dogs do. She also loves BEING WITH ME, so if I have to drive 15 minutes each way to the grocery store and I run in for 5 minutes to buy ice cream, I just got 30 bonus minutes with my dog. 30 minutes where she's not sitting in my room, lonely and miserable.

My parents do a far better job taking care of my dog than a dog walker or doggie day care (which is EXPENSIVE) ever could. Marley has their two dogs to play with, constant access to food, water, and toys, and she's allowed to get on their couches. She is happy as a little clam over there and I count my lucky stars that I don't have to leave her alone all day.

BTW, I was thinking about drugs for long car trips, not daily use. We're talking three or four times a year here.

I thought you were the one getting a puppy. Sorry. Well, if you have your parents to take care of her while you're away, then, yeah, that makes sense.

I read some of the earlier posts (not all but some) about the drug use. Just remember that talking to people about giving psychiatric drugs to your pet tends to provoke a strong response of one kind or another, which I saw a few times on this thread. Everyone has their own opinion on the issue, but the reality is there are no magic pills for behavior problems. Resolving a behavior problem requires 1st and foremost, behavior modification, for the dog and for the owner. There are certain psychiatric drugs that can help some (not all) dogs with some (not all) behavior problems, but just remember no drug can work a miracle cure on its own. Some of the drugs that are good are Alprazolam, busprione and diazepam, just to name a few. I mentioned these because these are anti anxiety medications. You still need to speak with YOUR veterinarian about what drugs to give to him, because they should be prescribed by YOUR vet. Sorry I misread your post.

I hope everything works out for you, and your doggie.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

It's okay. I see where it looked like I was getting a puppy.

We had a Sheltie years ago that we had to medicate for long car rides. We gave him Dramamine (the vet told us what dose and everything.) The Sheltie got horribly carsick on long rides, so it was the best thing to do - according to the vet.

I have a friend who had to give her dog anti-anxiety meds during thunderstorms; the dog was so terrorized by the sound of the thunder it was inconsolable and bordered on hurting itself in its effort to escape from the noise.

So medicating a dog to make them not miserable doesn't seem like a criminal act to me.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

We had a Sheltie years ago that we had to medicate for long car rides. We gave him Dramamine (the vet told us what dose and everything.) The Sheltie got horribly carsick on long rides, so it was the best thing to do - according to the vet.

I have a friend who had to give her dog anti-anxiety meds during thunderstorms; the dog was so terrorized by the sound of the thunder it was inconsolable and bordered on hurting itself in its effort to escape from the noise.

So medicating a dog to make them not miserable doesn't seem like a criminal act to me.

Absolutely. Dramamine and no food for about 6 to 8 hours before a trip in the car works really well for a lot of dogs.

Though there are holistic approaches to keeping any pet healthy, there is absolutely nothing wrong with medication (drugs), provided that it is prescribed by your veterinarian.