Anxiety wrap
 

Has anyone tried something called an anxiety wrap for a nervous dog? My little puppy mill Chi is so afraid of everything and she seems better if I wrap her in a blanket to hold her. Just wondered if anyone has tried it.

Oh that poor baby ! I hate hearing that ....Maybe gradually introduce her to the world in little bits and talking softly to her will help her stop shaking ?

We have awful Fireworks in my neighborhood during every holiday and I would take my girls close to the door and act like it was a FUN event even though I can't stand hearing them....I'd clap my hands and pretend it was entertaining especially during the BIG Booms - -gradually the girls overcame their fear of the loud noises cause they thought I liked them LOL

Bless her heart - what a horrible life you saved her from...

I have had dogs all my life, lots of different kinds and temperaments, but this is my first experience with a puppy mill dog. Kozanna is 9 months old and had spent her entire life in a little wire cage. She is still afraid of me, although she wants to be friends and will lick my fingers and will let me stroke her a little. She doesn't respond to comforting words from me yet. I have no idea how she was treated, but know she had no socialization or human interaction. I have heard of this anxiety wrap for nervous dogs and thought I might give it a try with her. I do wrap her in a blanket now and then and hold her for just a little while. I am moving very slowly with her and letting her adjust at her own pace. She trembles when picked up and spreads out her little legs like she's afraid of falling and wee-wees. Just breaks my heart to see her so scared when I would just love to hold her and cuddle her and comfort her.

Poor baby:cry: Maybe you could try just curling up on the floor, next to her little bed, while she's lying in it? Just get down to her level and try to gain her trust that way, since picking her up has such a negative reaction from her. Bless you for giving this little girl a wonderful new home:love: In time, she'll know she's loved and wanted:)

Bless you for saving her from a horrid life, and for having such patience with her.

My mother had a toy Fox Terrier, "Tina", who was most comfortable if she was wrapped (loosely) in a light towel. She was a gift from one of my sisters, so I have no idea where they got her. Mother and Tina lived with us the last 9 years of mom's life, and Tina was mother's constant shadow. But, ONLY my mother. She never did get very comfy with other people, and remained territorial until her passing. When they first moved in, I gave Tina her space and patiently waited for her to feel "at home" here. So, it had been several months that they'd been here when, one evening, I was in mom's apartment (half our home), and Tina started her usual grumpiness when she decided it was time for me to go away. I mean, I couldn't even sit on the bed with this dog! LOL So, I said "Hey! This is MY house, and MY mother...you can just get over it, 'cause I am in your life!" :p Of course, that really didn't change anything, except make me feel like I was in control :rolleyes:

Your furbaby will, eventually, come to trust you. Just keep doing what you're doing.

I sure hope your Kozanna overcomes some of her fears. It is so very difficult having a dog that is nervous like that. Many years ago we purchased a Sheltie that had spent the first 4 months of his life in a wire crate. To say that he was nervous was an understatement. Eventually he overcame most of his fears but was always a bit nervous.

My best suggestion would be to make Kozanna feel safe and secure and slowly work toward teaching her that the big wide world is a wonderful place. It will take a lot of time and patience, but perhaps she will be able to overcome some of her fearfulness.

Good luck -- hugs to you and Kozanna! :ghug:

I am seeing some improvement in Kozanna. She will come to the side of the crate and lick my fingers and will let me touch her sometimes. She gets all excited to see me and wants to be friends. I let her loose in the kitchen and sit in the floor with her and just talk to her and try to get her to come to me. I don't pick her up from a standing position. If I'm going to pick her up, I get down on her level and move slowly and talk to her a lot. I thought my little male Bichon, Cosmo, would be the one to want to play with her, but it is my female, Lacy, who wanted in the kitchen with Kozanna to run around. They had a good time for several minutes and then Lacy wanted away from Kozanna. Kozanna wants to play, but tends to bump into the other dogs. Lacy and Cosmo are very calm and accept other animals very well. I hope they will be a calming influence on Kozanna and show her how nice it is to be petted and held. My Bichons are real snuggle bugs. I have ordered some panties for Kozanna so she can be loose more and run around with Lacy and Cosmo and do like they do. Kozanna is alert to everything that goes on and pays attention. I think she's smart and will catch on to how things go once she gets over being so afraid. She's a little cutie.