Anxious Wiener

[LoveDoxies]

My 3 year old Wiener, Loui, has been showing some signs of stress.  When we watch scarry movies for example, he hides under a blanket or sits behind the couch.  Then, when it's time to go to bed, instead of contently settling down on the couch, he runs underneatch our bed and cries.    :scratch:

He's also been more anxious when people come over to visit.  He barks at them longer than usual and paces around the house nervously.  We mentioned this to our vet during our last vet visit and he suggested anti-depressants/anti anxiety medication.  We've tried the pheramone plug - in and that only helps a little bit.  We also bought dog treats with valerian root but are concerned that it makes him too drousy.

Sadie, my 2 year old Wiender is totally cool.  She just chills and goes with the flow.   :thumb:

Any other anxious wieners out there and if so, any suggestions for remedies?  Do you think that dog obedience school would help?  He doesn't listen whenever he gets stressed out.

[cheryl186]

I wish that I could help you but I have never had any experience with such.  Hopefully someone else here has some answers for you.  I know my Winston actually likes to run under our bed and hide.  But that has become a game that we do...momma has to find da baby and gib him loves.  Quite a bit different from your situation.  My guess would be to try the anti-anxiety medications the vet suggests and see how Loui does on them.  I wish I could offer more.  Good luck!

[peterparker]

Obviously something has threatened him. You may want to reassure him that he's safe and okay. Perhaps you could have the house guests offer treats when they visit. Perhaps he could sit on your lap during scarry movies, and munch on a chew toy. I don't know what else to tell you. We had a jack russell that couldn't handle visitors as he got older, and we put him in the back bedroom with lots of blankets and toys. When he seen us preparing the room, he knew we were getting visitors, and actually would try sneaking in to the room before the visitors arrived. He preferred the safety of his den, to strangers in the house. I think what we did was just offer him a coping strategy to a situation that he wasn't sure of.

[doxielady5569128]

Porky and Bandit both have some anxiety issues like what you are describing.  I don't like the idea of medicating them so here's what we do for them.   

When a person knocks on our door, we immediately crate both of them by the front door where they can still see who it is.  Then we open the door, let the person in.  Give them a hug or handshake to show the dogs that the person is welcome and have them sit in a chair or on the couch.    Then after the two have quieted down a little we let them out of their crates to investigate who it is.   We talk in soothing voices to them and give them treats when they go say "hi" to the person.   It has helped quite a bit because they know they will be safe in their crate.   

As for the scary movies, those screams can be quite a scary thing for hoomans, let alone dogs.  My advice there would be go to the theatre to watch them.   I know we can't all afford to do that, but I'd rather go without watching them than freak out my dogs.   

At bedtime, I have Porky's bed right next to mine.  I cover him with his blankies and  then lay my hand on his side until he falls asleep.  I can do his while sleeping in my bed by just reaching down.  It is comforting for him to know I'm there.  If that doesn't calm him down, I put him in the bed with us and he calms down and goes right to sleep. 

I hope some of my ideas may help you.   Hope you can help your Loui out.   Poor little guy.

[Madderoos Mom]

Doxielady has some great tips.  In addition, perhaps some Rescue Remedy would help.  It's all natural extract that you administer with a dropper in water or directly to the mouth.  This has worked great with Maddie when she's restless.

[papbouv]

Know this sounds backwards but if you are calm and act like anything that stresses the dog out is no big deal he will do allot better if you are comforting him allot it will make the stress allot worse.Some one wrote into the newspaper here about a dog that shook when the oven was turned on or the George Forman rotisserie was turned on.?They wrote back saying to video the dog doing it to make sure the dog was not having a seizure but most likely it was a behavioral problem. Take the rotisserie to another room turn it on slowly let the dog get closer & closer to it. If the dog shows fear back up you are going to fast,the dog should get use to it in time.?
Note: my 90# Doberman barks & growls at the TV if some one on the TV is having sex doing the moaning and groaning bit?He watches TV and Patches does not.

[doxielady5569128]

Papbouv is right, if you act scared or ar expecting your dog to be scared of something, they will pick up on your feelings and freak out.     A lot of Porky's fear of strangers coming to our house is my fault.   We used to have a landlord from..... well...anyway she wasn't nice.    Everytime someone would knock or ring our doorbell, I would  unknowingly tense up.  Porky picked up on that and thought he needed to be afraid when someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell.     I'm trying to fix that and feel awful for giving him my fear.   

I really hope you can help Loui. It is awful when they feel so scared.

[LoveDoxies]

Thanks y'all for your advise.  It is true that Loui seems to pick up on my feelings.  When he's in the car with me and I get nervous cause I'm not sure where I'm going, he starts to whine.

We watched a scarry movie last night and I kept him covered up in a blanket the whole time - he did fine.  We've had a lot of people coming in and out these past few weeks and he is just not used to that, plus he is very territorial.

I might try those stress relief drops too.