anxious dog

I use the Thundershirt with great success with my Scottie's while in the rv. My daughter has a dachsund and when she is nervous she needs to be in a "den" you could try a kennel with a roof or a bed with a cover for your stressed out pooch and perhaps it would feel more secure.

dturm wrote:

Pawz4me wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I wouldn't go to medication as the first choice. Medication won't change her reaction to being left alone, it will just block the reaction. It's always better to change her reaction to a positive one.

The purpose of medication is to calm and relax the dog enough that it can learn new behavior(s). Stressed dogs, like stressed people, don't learn easily or well.

You beat me to respond. :B

Actually the correct medication can change how she will respond. The exaggerated anxious response is associated with a change in brain chemistry and the proper medication and dose can moderate that chemical change. The normal response can be trained as others have indicated when there is no or little stress.

Paws is totally correct that learning does not go well when people or animals are stressed.

The days where sedation is used to treat these situations are a thing of the past.

Doug, DVM

I didn't say medication shouldn't be used. I said it shouldn't be the FIRST solution. Many of these anxiety problems with dogs are more about the owners' behaviors encouraging a specific reaction from the dog. Changing the owner's behaviors can have a major effect on the dog's reaction without the need for medication. Medicating the dog without addressing the owners' behaviors often fails at changing the dog's reaction.

Pawz4me wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I wouldn't go to medication as the first choice. Medication won't change her reaction to being left alone, it will just block the reaction. It's always better to change her reaction to a positive one.

The purpose of medication is to calm and relax the dog enough that it can learn new behavior(s). Stressed dogs, like stressed people, don't learn easily or well.

You beat me to respond. :B

Actually the correct medication can change how she will respond. The exaggerated anxious response is associated with a change in brain chemistry and the proper medication and dose can moderate that chemical change. The normal response can be trained as others have indicated when there is no or little stress.

Paws is totally correct that learning does not go well when people or animals are stressed.

The days where sedation is used to treat these situations are a thing of the past.

Doug, DVM

toedtoes wrote:
I wouldn't go to medication as the first choice. Medication won't change her reaction to being left alone, it will just block the reaction. It's always better to change her reaction to a positive one.

The purpose of medication is to calm and relax the dog enough that it can learn new behavior(s). Stressed dogs, like stressed people, don't learn easily or well.

I agree with the idea of getting her used to the TT. Right now, she gets all excited because you're taking her some place. Then you get there and you leave her alone in a strange place.

First, just spend time in the TT while it's parked in your driveway. Give her special toys (if she likes them) and/or treats that are ONLY given when she's in the TT. Let her look out the windows and get familiar with it at home. Make it a special treat to spend time in the TT.

Then, take a few trips where the focus is to spend time WITH HER. Hang out at the campsite, take walks with her, etc. Let her get used to the idea that the TT is your home away from home. As she gets comfortable with the TT as a home, make short (2 minutes or less) trips away without her - use the campground restrooms, take a short walk before dinner, etc. If she does well (no barking), then try a slightly longer trip (up to 5 minutes). If she does well after a few times, stretch it a bit longer again; if she gets upset, go back to the previous time frame and start again. Keeping extending the time away in increments and go back down a step if she falters at any point.

Don't make a big deal about leaving. Just tell her to "be a good girl" and leave. You can give her a toy or a treat when you leave. But no hugging, cuddling, etc. When you come back, give her lots of love (if she behaved).

I wouldn't go to medication as the first choice. Medication won't change her reaction to being left alone, it will just block the reaction. It's always better to change her reaction to a positive one.

P.S. I did the above with my dogs when I got my first TT. We since switched to a MH. They both LOVE their clipper and can't wait to go places in it. I can leave them alone in the RV for a few hours as needed. One thing I do make sure of doing is to have trips that do not include my leaving them alone for much of the time. We do real camping trips and they swim and hike and hunt lizards and just have fun. Those trips seem to make the others more bearable.

We had a dachshund once. She had separation anxiety when we were gone. Tried a wire crate - didn't work. Got her a vari kennel, and she was fine. Seems that breed likes the closed in feeling - gives them more of a sense of security.

I'd also recommend the Thundershirt - they've worked well for me on numerous dogs.

You can also try some Bach Rescue Remedy. It's not a drug and helps calm the dog.

I agree with the folks who recommend letting her spend time in the trailer with you, when it's at home to get her used to it.

We also close the blinds and leave the tv on when we leave them in the MH and we go away. The tv helps to mask outside noises.

Good luck.

When we leave I always draw down all the blinds, put the tv/radio on and the ac or other fan. In our current trailer I lock them in the bedroom which is dark. They never make a peep (I always ask), but I don't know if that would be the case if there was just one of them.

You might try a crate as well. It would feel more secure for her. If she is scared, a punitive approach will only worsen the problem.

X2 on acclimatizing before leaving her alone. Make sure it feels like home to her.

Good luck.

Maybe she's just scared in the TT when your not with her. Would be helpful to acclimate her to it at home.
Could be too she needs a traveling companion, I have found that many of the complaints at the RV park are directed at people that leave their one dog alone too long, it gets lonely so it's listening for you to come home.
Just a thought....
Make sure you also leave the ac on, a radio on, the dark shades down so they can watch outside...kinda like a cave.

Sher

kountry kamper wrote:
We have recently started to go camping with a travel trailer. we have a Dachsund that is the most mellow dog ever. For some reason when we take her away with us she goes nuts. She loves to ride and is fine as long as we are with her. We took her to the vet after the first trip and they gave us some meds that will make her relax. If you know my dog she is always relaxed so it is hard to tell if it has worked. On the second trip it obviously didnt work. We also gave her a chew called happy traveler. It is made with turkey and it is supposed to make them tired. We ended up giving both to her only to come home and find a note on the door about her howling while we were gone. Unfortunately it wasnt signed so we couldnt apologize. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks

Maybe, if your travel trailer is parked at your house when not in use put her in it often so she can distribute some of the thrill.

Our ****zus acted the same when we took our rig out on the road. Now since we have lived in it for close to 2 years the thrill for them is way gone till we stop at least.

Heap64 wrote:
I have no personal experience with these, but I have heard people say they helped their dogs.

http://www.thundershirt.com/

That's what I'd try next.

I'd also work on getting her really acclimated to the travel trailer. Let her hang out in it (with you) while you're at home as much as possible.

On trips bring along a couple of her favorite toys, a familiar blanket or bed, etc. Also, when you leave her in the TT make sure you leave on something for white noise. We leave the TV on for our dogs, and sometimes we leave the AC fan in the "on" position so it will run constantly.