your thoughts

[Jane Austen]

Duchess has occasionally shown signs of anxiety. She will seem to want to go out for no reason. When I try to get her in again she pulls away. When I do get her in she runs around and acts like something needs doing.
It hasn't been a problem till recently. Lately the episodes are more frequent. I can not calm her with strokes or words. One night I brought a crate in my room and she seemed to like staying in it because it was dark. She settled down then and was fine till the next day it started again. She wants to get under things and hide. That day it didn't last very long.
I don't want to put her on tranquilizers, but is there any other way I can calm her?
She gets at least two hours of walking every day. and she is with me whenever possible.
I would appreciate hearing about any techniques that would help me to allieviate her fears.

[corgimom]

Is there anything specific going on outside(loud noises) or inside when she
is showing fear or anxiety? How old is Duchess again and how long have
you had her?

Linda

[glencorgi]

Jane,

Might want to have her checked out by your vet. There might be some pain or maybe something going on with her equilibrium?

How has your weather been since this behavior began? I have a couple for which thunderstorms are a real issue and are overall just very weather sensitive. You might also want to try some Rescue Remedy for her (available from some of the online dog supply catalogs as well as local health food stores and whole food type grocery stores) or something like "Calms" or "Pet Calms" which are available at PetsMart or Petco - maybe just something to help take her edge off. Sometimes the triggers are pretty easy to pinpoint, sometimes they are more vague and take time to figure out (IF you can even do it then).

Debbie

[Jane Austen]

Linda,
Duchess will be eight in July. I have had her for ten month. She must have been abused, but she is friendly/sometimes reserved, when we meet people outside. there is no noticable trigger for her anxiety.

Debbie,
I am going to try to get some Pet Calm. She is not showing any signs today but I want to have something on hand. The last episodes happened on the weekend. I suppose I should take her to the vet, but I fear the fee especially if they can't find a reason. I have had the vet check out her body that she has sometimes had some discomfort when I picked her up. They couldn't find anything.

thanks for the advise, I will let you know if this continues. Jane

[glencorgi]

Jane,

Did you get any history on her when you adopted her from the rescue group? Abuse is too liberally thrown around and truly there are very few cases of beaten and tortured type situations that do come along. Now, was she given the time, nuturing and love you are showing her? Probably not.

Having had her 10 months, I'd say she is feeling truly at home and now some of her past baggage is finally emerging. With rescues it can take even a year or two for them to feel secure and comfortable enough for some "issues" to come out. While not typical of Pembrokes usually, a reserved size up the situation/person type personality is not uncommon among herding breeds and does appear in Pems from time to time.

I mentioned the vet check as I have a friend who had a dog with an inner ear type problem and I believe he'd have moments kind of like you described Duchess having. She's out of town now, but when she returns I'll find out more about that and let you know. Then you'd at least have an idea if it is something to pursue with a vet or not. (I understand about not wanting to go in without more "specifics" if you will. )

I hope the "Pet Calm" (not sure that is the exact name - but it is something similar and close enough you should be able to find it ) helps. I've got to pick up a bottle on my next trip to buy dog food as my Rescue Remedy supply is running low and thunderstorm season is picking up here.


Debbie

[Jane Austen]

The woman who was the main owner of Duchess had a good relationship with her. If she was abused or tormented by others in the family it was most likely male because she tends to not like my brother so much although he treats her exceptionally well.the dog is sensitive to him raising his voice or banging a door, as men will do. She shows signs of being well trained in obedience. Someone took a lot of trouble to train her.
I got some vet papers that stated she had bit every one in the family except her mistress. She was often limping and had been stepped on at least once. She was given up for financial reasons I was told. I got Duchess from her breeder who said if there was ever a need to return her she would be glad to take her back. I am sure if I couldn't take care of her my family would keep her.
If she had a physical problem ,would she be anxious all the time?

[Shelly]

When I adopted my Reba she was an 8 year old rescue. It was not an abuse situation or a run-away, but elderly who had to give up their pet. Not long after I got her was 4th of July, then there was a mild earthquake (we're in California) and she freaked, jamming herself between my headboard and the wall, another time she dove under my daughter's desk and cowered. She also gets stressed in thunder storms or the sound of hard rain or hail. Sometimes my corgi will all of a sudden get up, look over her shoulder both ways and get that look like maybe she'd better go hide. I put her in her crate for 30 minutes when she does this. Maybe it's her sensing earthquakes too small for me to feel, I don't know, but I don't want to have to move the mattresses again to try to get her out from under the bed again. The vet prescribed Clomicalm - 25 mg, twice daily as needed to get her through these infrequent episodes. The vet called it "doggie prozac", and each time she only needed it for maybe 2 days to get her through it. It is prescribed medication but you might ask your vet about it. Good luck.

[glencorgi]

Oh man, the Duchess' just really tear at the heart in their own way. Now some dogs just prefer men over women and women over men, but I think suspecting a bad experience with a male has some definite merit. While there may have been a wonderful loving relationship with the primary owner, might not be able to say the same with other family members which caused her confusion about the mixed messages as well as some anxiety.

A physical or medical problem might not make her anxious all the time. Her limp from where she was stepped (possibly?), might cause her more discomfort if the weather is cooler for example. The discomfort might trigger a memory associated with the injury/pain thus bringing on a higher anxiety level. In the case of the inner ear thing, I believe it was also seasonal, could last for a period of time. With the equilibrium effected, disorientation increases anxiety levels.

You might talk to her breeder about the temperaments of her other dogs and what you are seeing in Duchess and see if she has any insight or ideas.

While out getting dog food today I picked up some tablets called "Comfort Time" made by the same company which makes Lipiderm (a great supplement for dry skin, btw). I'm testing it tonight. They also had a plug in thing like the room deodorizers which releases pheromones pleasing and relazing to dogs. That might be something for you to look into as well.???

Debbie

[corgimom]

They also have something similiar for cats called Feliway. It comes in a plug
in thing and also a spray bottle which I use to spray the inside of one of my
cats carriers before I take him to the vet - it does seem to work in calming
him down once he gets there. So maybe the dog version will work for you.

Linda

[Michael Romanos]

Jane - Duchess is suffering from stress and anxiety and I wouldn't be giving her any drugs - because that doesn't solve the problem - nor taking her to a vet. What she needs is you personally (your soothing and bonding undersanding, companionship, love and affection) with probably the help of a good canine behaviourist. Hold off from drugs and vets and I'll be able to give you a pretty good assessment either this coming Friday or Saturday.

[glencorgi]

Jane,

The "Comfort Time" tablets I got contain herbal extracts of valerian root, passion flower, chamomile flower and lemon balm - all calming. The description of it is: "International Veterinary Sciences Comfort Time for cats and dogs is a great tasting naturally flavored chewable tablet specifically formulated with all - natural herbs to support relaxation and calmness. Great for travel, veterinary visits, new surroundings, uncomfortable changes and area activity (thunderstorms/fireworks/etc.)" Ideally it should be given one hour before a stressful event happens. A trial run before a visit from your brother might give you a chance to see how effective it might be. Other products I have used like it have never drugged any of my guys out, just helps take the edge off and they can cope and/or handle situations better.

A behaviorist could be helpful, although the trick might be finding a good one. I know of a lot of Joe's, Vern's and Di's that call themselves behaviorists, but I would be very wary of trusting their opinion on anything. A good one though, can't beat them.

With my thunderstorm phobic ones, I don't coddle or do the "there, there now; it'll be okay" type routines. That only sends the message that there is something for them to fear. Instead, I act nonchalant and go about routines as if there is nothing out of the ordinary happening sending the message "Mom's not worried, so maybe things aren't so bad." If they pop in my lap or are lying by my foot, they get petted just as they would if there wasn't a storm going on. A few have found comfort in their crates with it covered making it like a dark den. There are also such things as anxiety wraps (a google search should bring them up). Some people even put them in a dirty t-shirt of the owner's as the smell helps comfort them. Now most of these work for specific triggers for anxiety, so how adaptable they might be for Duchess, I don't know. She sounds more like generalized non-specific spells. Which brings me to the question of how were things with you? Was there anything happening you were reacting to that she might have picked up on? You never know what they might key into.

Debbie

[Jane Austen]

Duchess's anxieties seem to be the general type as Debbie mentioned. My brother and sister live with me so she is used to them both, but she reacts negatively to my brother being noisy. He gets on my nerves sometimes and of course she can pick up on that. But at the time of her problems there did not appear to be anything going on. She seems okay with strange men at the dog park.
I am going to try to find the "Comfort Time" I am not afraid of it being addictive like a prescription drug. If she gets, worse a behavioralist may be called for. Duchess was good all day yesterday and showed no sign of nerves.
Michael: I look forward to hearing what you come up with.
Thank you to the others that responded. It is comforting to me to know I have a place to ask questions and I am not alone. Others have had similar experiences.

[Michael Romanos]

Drugs - no, natural herbal substances - might assist. Vets - no (for this kind of problem), a knowledgeable dog behaviour analyst - great for both dog and owner.
I watched an episode of Cesar Milan's half hour TV programme earlier tonight and it was another of those shows that for special dramatic effect, he dealt with a dog that normally one would term impossible and would have put down. But Cesar did his thing, brought the American Pit Bull Terrier to his centre (center in USA) and mixed the dog in with his 40 other former vagrant dogs and after six weeks there came forth a placid, reformed pooch. So dog behaviour specialists can not only save the lives of dogs but turn them into worthwhile 'citizens' to be able to acceptably fulfill their role in the neighbourhood, in society and with their owners.

[glencorgi]

Does Duchess have a drool inspiring almost do back flips over favorite treat? If so (or you might have to experiment around to find one), then anytime brother is being noisy and before she has a chance to go into "will he please be quiet mode" give her one of those treats. Stock your brother up with these treats and so anytime she approaches him, have him give her one of the super good stuff treats. This might help desensitize any apprehensions she feels about him and help associate him with good stuff. If you know he's going to be getting into something noisy for a while, give her one of the calming tabs before he gets started to help her get through it and add the treats, lots of praise and good girls throughout.

For the times brother is getting on your nerves, try turning it around into a joke between you and Duchess. Instead of a frustrated groan type reaction of him stepping on your last nerve try - "Duchess, you know if he bangs that cabinet one more time, we ought to put his head in the door before it closes, don't you think?" Do it in your very best Mary Poppins type voice and with a very big smile. You can still vent your frustrations - but the negative emotions won't be coming through as strongly. Some modifications like this might help put her more generally at ease.

Debbie - in a brainstorm mood

[corgimom]

Debbie,

I saw that "comfort Time" Plug in thing at the pet shop today - the intial plug
in cots $45 and last 4 weeks and the refills are $26.00 - so not necessarily
an inexpensive thing, but may be worth the money if it works.

It said it covered about a 500 sq. feet area, so it could get on the expensive side if one needed additional plug ins for other rooms.

Linda