Frustrated, please help...
 

Ok, so for most of you that know me and Foxy, you know Foxy's background, poor thing has had a traumatic life..Long story short, I cannot take this dog anywhere, my moms, the pet store, the vet, a car ride for that matter, without her totally freaking out as soon as the car stops..As soon as it stops she starts whining and barking frantically...I feel so bad for her. I took her to the pet store today for a new collar and raincoat, and the whole time in the store (me holding her) she is whining soooo loudly everyone is just staring at us, while I explain she has stress issues...Any ideas or thoughts? I am going to discuss this with her vet as well....:confused::confused::confused::confused::c onfused::confused::confused::confused:

That's sad that she is so anxious. I suppose she is scared? Mine cries when we're about to the place we're going, but she's crying because she is excited and she knows she's going to see this person or that person. I wish that was what was going on with yours, but I know it is not. I wonder if Rescue Remedy would help?

I have never heard of rescue remedy, I will have to google that...Has anyone used this for there babies??

Yes I have used Rescue Remedy. It has helped some. Wondering also about a Thunder Shirt for the car trips?

Thank you for the link, looking at it now!

I saw the thunder shirt at the pet store today, I wish I would have picked it up!

Follow the info on the pets and not the info for people, since they have it all on the same page.

Ok, I will thanks so much everyone!

I have heard great things about thunder shirts:) I know a few people that bought them and they love them! They work wonders:thumbup:

Yah I have heard the thunder shirts work too. I don't have one either. It we have talked about getting one for Taz to help him as he stresses easy.

Lucy hates the pet store too. I just don't take her in there anymore. Ringo enjoys it; she shakes the entire time. Usually they will let me bring a harness or something out to the car to try it on and make sure it fits.

My Cricket would have anxiety when I took her somewhere when she was younger. A friend suggested taking tasting treats and giving her a nibble periodically while on the trip to the store. I started doing it. She started to like travelling in the car to the store after I did this once or twice. She made the association w the fun of getting a nibble of treat.

Just wanted to add I know what you mean about a little one w vocal anxiety. Cricket could get very vocal on a trip. I asked the vet, and he said some dogs are more vocal about their feelings. She got much better w the treating on outings.

Acepromazine (or maybe something along the Prozac line if it happens often) if all the above fails.. Training may work, but it could take awhile. It's ok to use something in the meantime.

One of mine gets Ace before car rides now. We are both much happier this way.

Awesome, thanks everyone for all the suggestions!

I'm so upset right now. Ginger had a routine vet appt today and she completely freaked out. It started as soon as I open the car door in the parking lot. Over excited! She was whining, scream barking, jumping and panting. I stood outside until it was our turn. I had my daughter go in and tell them what the deal was and why I couldn't come in.

Then inside, it was worse with me in the room so they had to take her in the back to do her exam. It was terrible!!!! I'm in tears right now. She has always had some anxiety but this was thru the roof. I can't take her anywhere.

At home she is normal, relaxed and just a good dog. As soon as we leave our house, she is a different dog. She hates the car, scream barks at everyone and everything. I just don't know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Vet recommended a thunder shirt. I have read mixed reviews but I guess I will give it a try. I'll admit that I'm skeptical. Vet also recommended a couple of dog behaviorists for me to try. I'll call and get some prices on that. I have a feeling it's going to be expensive! Then if none of this works, she recommends medication but I hate to have her on meds when she is fine at home.

I miss having a dog to take everywhere with me. My first yorkie went EVERYWHERE with me so this is so bizzare. It breaks my heart. :cry2::cry2::cry2::cry2::cry2::cry2:

Lucy, my chihuahua is this way too. She had such a bad life b/f
we got her. At home she's fine. But any changes makes her so
nervous. I have used Rescue Remedy. Sometimes it works,sometimes not.
I love her just the way she is even when she screams at the pet store!

I donot know anything about your yorkie's background. However, to me I am wondering if she ever was socialized as a puppy? that could explain why she is so upset if she has to leave the house? Suzi use to be like this , but not to that extreme, she always threw up in the car, panted like crazy and was obviously very frightened. I think some yokies can be more nervous or anxious about things, Suzi still freaks out if the lights go out, thunder, baths, and is way overprotective when anyone walks by our apartment. I think some yorkies are just more sensitve to certain things. I've heard of thundershirts before and now our local Petsmart sells them. I've also heard of anxiety tablets perscribed by vets . Suzi is more comfortable in car rides now in the back seat with my son. A couple yrs ago I was driving, took my eyes off the road just to turn around and see how she was doing, found myself driving off the road, over corrected and landed in a field, with 2 popped tires and stuck in the mud. All the way my son screaming , dog completely shooken up scared out of her mind, I was trying to drive her to the vet , she been sick for a few days.
Called my brother, had the car towed back into our small town where we were living at the time, and my brother driving us to the vet. Terrible, horribe experience.
Anyway, things are better now, Suzi is older, we have moved, vet is only a mile away, and she has been calmer during car rides.

I too love Ginger so much! I want to help her. I want her to have fun and be able to go places! I want to take her on a simple walk. I have to wait until dark and if I see someone coming, I head the other direction.

Ginger screams - barks - whines - so loud that everyone stares and I couldn't even have a conversation with the Vet with her in the room. They said when they took her in the back she was better. I wonder why I bring the crazy out in her? When they bring her back to me she starts all over again. She tries to jump from them to me as soon as she sees me.

Thank you for your reply. This is what is crazy. When Ginger was a puppy we took the puppy class at PetSmart. It was like 6 to 8 weeks or so. She did GREAT in the beginning. Was a quick learner. Then on the second to the last class, I remember coming thru the front door of PetSmart and she compeletely freaked out - excited! I thought she was over excited to see the other pups. Ever since then, she has had an issue. It's like the class made it worse?! Is that possible?

I also saw somewhere they have calming anxiety treats. These are them Amazon.com: Pet Naturals Calming for Small Dogs...

That's interesting. I have never heard of those. Thanks so much for your reply!

Ginger is chilled out and back to her normal self. I just can't believe how bad it was today.

Glad to hear your little baby is doing better. :)

I actually use these Natural Pet Calming Biscuts, both of mine get anxious in the car. When we go on long trips I give them each a biscut and it takes the edge off. It's not like a "big" difference like seeming medicated just takes off the edge. I also give these at least an hour before we leave.

Further to all the other brilliant replies...:)

Sometimes I think they can anticipate OUR anxiety. They can pick-up on stuff that we don't even know we're feeling ourselves.

Here's a 'for instance'. We took Harry on holiday a couple of months ago. Andy and I were in holiday mode - Harry slept or looked out of the window all the way there, and all the way home :) 4 hours each way, no problem whatsoever.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, I drove Andy to an aerodrome about an hour away. I wasn't sure of the route - and I was very anxious about Andy going up in a helicopter over London....Harry grizzled and mizzled and cried and fiddled about all the way there :eek: He was a nightmare! Yet on the way home, he was back to his 'normal' self.

MY anxiety had gone, and it didn't really matter if we got lost on the way back, as there was no appointment to keep. Just wondering if those thoughts might help?! :) Sally + Harry x

Where do you buy these? Maybe I should have some on hand? :)

Thanks so much!

I have to agree with you. I was nervous about how she would behave and she was terrible. She was feeding off me, I'm sure. I was totally upset, my face was red, I was embarrassed and I couldn't calm her at all. I would speak to her and her eyes were glazed over and she was in hyper mode! I could not control her at all. I'm still so bummed out about it all. I can't put in to words how bad it was. :eek:

I did go ahead and order the thundershirt. It will be here Saturday. I'm also reviewing the trainers websites.

Just an update. The thundershirt came and she has worn it on her walks. I can't really tell much difference yet. I have thought about going to the Vets office this weekend when they are closed and just get out of the car to see what kind of reaction she has with it on. If she freaks out, what do I do?

When we are walking and she sees someone or something and she freaks out, I just tell her No and pull her the opposite direction. I'm pretty much dragging her and she is still freaking out. How do I get her under control? What do I do to get her attention? She just ignores me. I'm stumped. :confused:
How do I introduce treats and rewarding calm when I can't get her in to that state? Please someone help me. :(