New dogs next door - My dog is freaking out

[bewitched]

If the barking continues, despite your best efforts, you could try a citronella collar. I have never personally used one but I know several people who have with great results.

[Not Afraid]

Xanex works too, as does anti-depressants. Personally, I would try the other methods first before going the prescription medication route. It seems in this case to be a temporary anxiety situation rather than a long-term one where Xanex would be a solution.

I use Sleepytime Tonic with Kimchi with great results. It just eases her anxiety enough so that she can concentrate on the behavior modification training I want her to focus on. It is like a cup of chamomile tea for my dog. I like the fact that I've been able to help her ease out of her constant state of anxiety while she regains trust in humankind.

I'm not a fan of citronella collars, but I have pugs and they aren't the best solution for brachycephalic breeds. I also have a dog where the prior solution to barking was to de-bark. Dogs bark. That's how they communicate. Debarking burns be up.

Now, cutting the vocal cords of a toddler, I may be up for. (I'm KIDDING!)

[bewitched]

There was just an article about debarking in the nyt. I agree, extremely inhumane.

Citronella collars aren't for everyone (or every breed). If they are set on sensitive, they can often inadvertently punish the dog when another dog barks near them. As with all behavior modification tools, they are most effective when combined with training.

In rereading my post, I meant to say my doggy psych uses Xanax (with or without an antidepressant) and/or behavior modification. (As opposed to always prescribing Xanax...which is how it sounded). Nonetheless, Xanax has worked wonders in some of my dogs.

As an aside, my mother swears by both Rescue Remedy and Calm Down! Personally, I have just never seen noticeable results, but of course, YMMV.

[bewitched]

BTW,

I reread my post and realized I came across kind of bitchy. I wanted to let you know that while I respectfully disagree, I didn't mean to be a bitch about it.

[CoasterMatt]

Socialize them, away from their "home" turfs- that's helped us quite a bit with our dogs and neighbor dogs- but we're lucky enough to have neighbors that would be up for doing that.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by bewitched

BTW,

I reread my post and realized I came across kind of bitchy. I wanted to let you know that while I respectfully disagree, I didn't mean to be a bitch about it.

No problem. As with child rearing, dog training is filled with a myriad of ideas about what is best for the dog. I tend to have and/or see better results using "holistic" (such an overused term) treatments and would prefer to go that route first before adding other drugs. My work at Pussy and Pooch also enforced that as I became more familiar with other effective treatments.

The most heated debates I have gotten into involve feeding. I'm a raw food feeder and I won't feed kibble to my dogs at all. If I could get my cats eating raw, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I am not opposed to classic veterinary treatment using prescription medications. However, I tend to think that we rely on pills rather that treating the cause (and I feel the same way about human medications). But, I like to keep my tremendous vet bills at a low roar and a raw diet for the pugs seems to achieve that.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by bewitched

If the barking continues, despite your best efforts, you could try a citronella collar. I have never personally used one but I know several people who have with great results.

I like the citronella collars. It doesn't hurt but it's unpleasant enough that even the threat of "the collar" is enough to quiet my dogs down. Though I think half the "punishment" of the collar is having to wear it. Bark collars are a bit on the heavy side and I'm sure they don't appreciate having a heavy box at their throat. Then again, like I said, the mere sight of it is enough to get my dogs to cool it.

[Betty]

What is "raw food" for dogs? Do you mean actually raw food that hasn't been cooked or just not commercial dog food?

Our little Mousey girl - small chihuahua - doesn't seem to eat much at all if she gets commercial dog food - wet or dry.

I've been throwing some chicken into a pot to cook in water and then shredding that and mixing it with some rice and whatever frozen veg may be in a bag (carrots, peas, potato, whatever.)

She eats that right up.

My bigger chi, Rocky, has seemed to gain weight on dry dog food. He was very svelte when we fed him the high priced little packages of wet food - but it seemed pretty expensive and he often woudlnt' eat it all and it would go bad, attract ants, etc.

What do you feed your little doggies?

[CoasterMatt]

Originally Posted by Betty

What do you feed your little doggies?

Even littler doggies

[Not Afraid]

I feed prepared raw nuggets to my kids. I go between brands of Nature's Variety and Primal. The nuggets are a pre-mixed with the meat, veggies and supplements with no added by-products and, importantly, no grains. It is fed defrosted and raw. Both brands come in little one ounce nuggets and in a variety of protein sources. I vary the protein source on a regular basis for variety, nutrition and to keep the likelihood of allergies to a minimum.

I've fed Thurston raw since he was 6 months old. When I got Kimchi, I started her on raw right off. Within 6 weeks her coat had gone from Brillo Pad to super soft and her ear and wrinkle infections were gone.

I choose a raw diet because of my experience pet sitting. The dogs that were fed raw had fewer health problems - especially allergies, weight problems - than dog that were on other types of food. Since I've learned more about pet nutrition, it makes sense. It is the most nutritious form of food with no fillers or extra added stuff dogs don't need. I've now seen some amazing changes in dogs that have switched to raw.

I have a few clients and friends who prepare their own raw formula, but I don't have that kind of time so the prepared raw is my next, best choice.