Need help with separation anxiety

[lucyaboo]

Originally Posted by YorkieMother

Actually TV or radio on is a bad Idea for dogs with anxiety for few reasons.

1 They need quiet time so if you want to have it on for a little while put the radio on a timer.
2. You can not control what comes over the TV or radio.. what if they have an emergency call out that is to high pitched and scary and will or could make it worse for a dog with anxiety. Or a show that has loud bangs and pops??
3. If it is sound that is the trigger you will only muffle it not stop it and it can concern them more to not hear it clearly.
4. not all music is calming but sets them in motion.
5. we tend to listen to things much louder then a dogs needs them to be. It hurts them long term.

That said if you listen to a radio station with your dog all the time and it is normal it is on all day. then go for it. Classical is better then most radio for dogs but some have loud bands and will concern a dog.

There are Cd's and DVDs for use with dogs with anxiety. I have a look at the stuff from Through a dogs ear.

JL

I do not leave the volume blasting, it is set very low. My TV has been on everyday since I got Lucy in 2004. Lucy was my only dog until July 08 & has not shown any signs of seperation anxiety. Maybe because of the TV being on. So, I believe my dogs are well adjusted with the TV on, luckily.

[lucyaboo]

Originally Posted by carmensmama

Last night, I surprised my husband with a new puppy! He was pretty excited (he did want to pick out the new puppy, since I came home with Carmen too). I got our new puppy from the same people we got Carmen from. He is 5 months old and is only going to be half the size of Carmen. Hopefully, now Carmen will have someone to place with. We are going to have train the new puppy (because Carmen was older and already trained when we got her). Wish us good luck with that. We are going to need lots of pointers!!!

Congratulations on your new puppy!! Let us know how it is going.....for me, in the beginning, it took time for Lucy to warm up to Pebbles, but it is better now.

[YorkieMother]

Originally Posted by lucyaboo

I do not leave the volume blasting, it is set very low. My TV has been on everyday since I got Lucy in 2004. Lucy was my only dog until July 08 & has not shown any signs of separation anxiety. Maybe because of the TV being on. So, I believe my dogs are well adjusted with the TV on, luckily.

I was not addressing if or if not you leave on your radio or not I was addressing that for some dogs and many with true Separation anxiety the radio is a bad idea.

I very aware that some vets still recommend the use of them but as a person working in the field of anxiety and aggression and having attended and kept updated on these concerns I tend to be ahead of many vets that think what they learned in school is enough. Sadly they are wrong.

"As with many humans, it is believed many behavior problems in the dog stem from disorders in brain function. Recognition of such disorders and the neurochemicals that determine behavioral patterns has led to the development of strategic approaches to treatment that involve a combination of pharmacotherapy with behavior modification training. These more specific pharmacologic interventions can accelerate and enhance the benefits of behavior modification by targeting specific neurotransmitters of the central nervous system."

It a panic attack plain and simple and there is no easy solution but hard work and behavior Modification.

JL

[carmensmama]

Originally Posted by lucyaboo

Congratulations on your new puppy!! Let us know how it is going.....for me, in the beginning, it took time for Lucy to warm up to Pebbles, but it is better now.

So far everything is going pretty good, given we have just had the new puppy for a day. Carmen is already doing better, she just acts like the puppy annoys her a little. She doesn't act aggressive, she just will move away from the puppy. But the new puppy follow Carmen around every where and does everything Carmen does. He doesn't really get pee-pee outside, but I know that will take a while. I have taken the new puppy and Carmen out every hour, so that maybe the puppy will see what Carmen does outside and start doing it too. After Carmen will potty outside, I'll praise her and give her a treat. But pup pup (that's what we are calling him until my husband gives him a name), he has pee-peed inside so far. But I'm sure that will get better.