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03-10-2011, 10:14 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 2
| Generalized Anxiety in my yorkie? Hey everyone, I've been a lurker for a while, but I've been having an issue with my yorkie and I wanted to get some advice. I've had Bentley for almost a year now. I purchased him from a breeder when he was 13 weeks, and he'll be a year old next week. He's been an absolutely wonderful dog - I've socialized him well, he gets premium food, he absolutely loves people, is never nippy or snarly, and is just an all around amazing dog. He's got the typical yorkie boldness, and loves to explore and investigate. He also has never been overly yappy or scared of things, and would only bark very rarely. Over the past few days, I've noticed a change in his behavior that started with a rain shower the other night. The rain was beating down on the skylight in my apartment, and he became very nervous and started barking, running around, and unable to focus or settle. He eventually calmed down and was able to finally go to sleep after an hour or so of pacing and small barks at strange noises. Fast forward a couple days - I've noticed a huge jump in his general anxiety. He has never been an anxious dog, but lately he's been very nervous and bark-y. He doesn't bark at full volume, but kind of gives a "ruff" sound at any little noise he hears. He trots around my apartment and is unable to settle and stay in one place for more than a few seconds. This came to a climax last night when he literally paced around my bed all night long, "ruffing" at any little noise and was completely unable to sleep for more than a few minutes. Every time he curled up, he immediately got back up and started pacing around again after a few minutes. At 4 in the morning, I finally got up and put him in his crate with a blanket draped overtop, and that seemed to help. He's crate trained, but he sleeps in bed with me normally and we've never had any problem - he curls up and goes right to bed normally. He gets walked multiple times a day, goes to daycare twice a week, and nothing has changed in his diet or environment. He's generally a very happy go lucky dog, but I can't figure out why he's suddenly become so anxious all of a sudden. I'm going to take him to the vet in a few days if this behavior continues, but does anyone have any advice about what to do? This is not separation anxiety - he is fine at home alone when I'm gone, he just curls up and goes to sleep in his crate. This is a more, generalized anxiety that sprung up over the past few days and has been escalating. I'm just not sure what to do to help him relax and calm down, so any advice you guys have would be fantastic! Thanks in advance. |
Welcome Guest! | |
03-10-2011, 10:51 AM | #2 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Sounds like my Tibbe. He develops an anxiety from time to time - as do I. I have methods to work through mine and a lot of people to talk about it with, books to read, errands to run - things that get my mind off it until I sort of move on. Tibbe doesn't have much to help him through his but me. I try to distract him with games, training, taking him outside, anything to not allow the situation to percolate too long. I try not to soothe him(as hard as that is) when he is acting so unstable but just to get all that energy redirected into another activity ASAP. With a lot of patience and persistence, we have worked through any issues that came. It has all worked out so far with Tibbe but from time to time, up will jump something else probably. As I am currently disabled, I think he senses my difficulties and he is reacting to it by being a bit unsettled. But 99% of the time, Tibbe is a pistol and tearing around the house running the world as only he can do. Last edited by yorkietalkjilly; 03-10-2011 at 10:53 AM. |
03-10-2011, 10:52 AM | #3 |
Owned by Shadow Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Medford, NJ, USA
Posts: 576
| Shadow, 10 months old, is like that. A knock on the door, even if it's on TV, gets her to "ruffing" and barking. I just keep telling her it's OK. If that doesn't work I tell her to "Quiet!" not loudly, just a bit sharper than usual. She is beginning to learn. Whenever she quiets down, she gets a little treat. She doesn't always stop right away, especially if her big sister dog is barking also, but she is learning. We've always shown the dogs what it is that startles them, whether it's a truck going by or something on the TV. Hope it helps. |
03-10-2011, 11:00 AM | #4 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Any recent changes at your apartment? New neighbors or dogs? I wonder if Bentley can hear something different and it is bothering him. My younger boy, when we have something unusual like a strong thunderstorm or an unusual visitor that spooks him (like a serviceman that showed up at our back door), he will stay on edge, on guard, for several days. Normally he is a confident, easy going little guy, but he re-lives anxiety-inducing moments.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
03-10-2011, 11:06 AM | #5 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,505
| Anxious dog Have you tried the product called DAP that contains dog appeasing pheromones that lactating female dogs emit to calm the pups? This pheromone is also said to have the same affect in adult dogs. It comes in a diffuser (like Glade) that plugs in the power outlet, a spray and a collar. I have used it and it does appear to calm my dog when he is anxious or I am going to leave him alone. However, you would have to try it for your dog to see if it works for him. My dog really was affected by a thunderstorm and ever since he reacts to almost any noise, particularly aircraft. I try to remain calm and pretend it is nothing and talk quietly and that seems to calm him. It does not take much for dogs to remember bad things! Good Luck! Last edited by dottiesyrky; 03-10-2011 at 11:07 AM. Reason: Typo |
03-10-2011, 11:16 AM | #6 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL
Posts: 1,400
| Not sure if it will help and you won't really know if it does- but.. it won't hurt- Give him a little extra calcium (cottage cheese, yogurt).He might be having his last little growth spurt. |
03-10-2011, 01:40 PM | #7 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 2
| Thank you all so much for your input. dottiesyrky, I had been looking into the DAP after the breeder recommended it, so that's something I'll definitely try out and see if it works. Maximo, that's exactly what Bentley's doing...it's like he's on guard all the time, in a way that he wasn't before. Hopefully he'll settle down again in a few days and this will be a rare incident, but I just worry about how to help him relax, because I know he's stressed out and there's no way that can be good for him...=( I'm just a worried mama. I'm off to pick him up from daycare in a few hours; I told them to keep an extra eye on him today, so hopefully getting the chance to run around and play in an environment that he likes will have helped him get rid of some of the demons from last night. I'll keep y'all updated. Thank you so much for all the wonderful advice, you guys are all fantastic and incredibly helpful! |
03-10-2011, 01:52 PM | #8 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| Daisy got like that too. She was terrified of our new refrigerator when she heard the ice maker dropping cubes (we didn't have an ice maker before). I figured out it was "new" sounds that scared her. When we were in the car she would suddenly panic and cower on the floor in the backseat. We didn't have a clue as to what was wrong with her, and nothing would calm her down. Turns out that in the car she got scared when we ran over a grate in the road or a soda can. They weren't sounds that she was used to hearing and it scared her. Maybe some of the sounds (like the rain) are different in some way and they are scaring Bentley. Now when we run over something in the road we ignore her and she snaps out of it almost immediately when she sees we aren't reacting to her panic. She is used to the new fridge now and is doing much better. I don't know why all of a sudden she started getting scared of sounds, she wasn't like that before.
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
03-10-2011, 02:00 PM | #9 | |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Quote:
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy | |
04-16-2013, 02:28 AM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Howard Beach, NY, USA
Posts: 2
| Help! I have a yorkie named Austin. He is reaching 5 years old and such a loving little guy. I always had noticed his little "tough guy" attitude.. I would always have a hard time walking him because if he would see any1 or any other dogs, he would lose his mind. He tries to get out of the leash, and want to run up to anyone he sees. I believe that he just wants to meet the people he sees and get the attention that myself and my wife give him. Anyhow, for the past few years his barking was not terrible, he simply would "ruff" if he hears someone walking into the building and from time to time bark alot if he thinks that someone is trying to come into the apartment. If I have to bring in a plumber or something, he loses it. He will bark non-stop until the guy actually leaves or at times if the visitor actually picks him up and shows him lots of love. Now, we lost our apt during Hurricane Sandy a few months back and he was pretty shaken up after seeing the absolute mayhem that happened that night. He had to stay with my mom for a few months and now that we got another apt. on the same block (almost identical apt), he is a different dog. He barks non stop all day. He is on high alert 24/7. He doesnt eat out of his bowl, he cries until I pick the bowl and him up and let him eat that way. Our old apt. had wall to wall carpeting and this one is all ceramic tile. Im not sure if it is because he slides alot because of the tile or what but I hate to see him in such distress. My neighbors are going to complain sooner or later because of the barking and the other issue is that he gets rough with my wife sometimes. He will cry for her to pick him up and when she goes to get him, he runs away and barks and growls a bit. If she gets upset with him about this then he will lose it from time to time and recently tried to bite her legs while jumping at her. I am so worried about him and need to know what can be done to control him. With me, he is my 2nd child. He loves me and never tried to bite me. I think once or twice in his lifetime he has lost it with me, but other than that - He loves me and doesn't want to leave my side. I want him to be this way with everyone, and most of all, I need him to calm down and stop barking all day long as he does. I get worried that this is becoming permanent. This has been a little over 1 month since the move and it does not seem to be changing. Please Help! |
05-17-2013, 07:47 AM | #11 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 10,534
| Quote:
You may want to exercise him more, take him out for a couple walks a day for at least 20 mins. Get him tired, a tired pup is a happy pup. He'll want a lap to cuddle on, you can softly pet him and let him know that you take care of him. Make him sit and wait for his food, do not free feed anymore (if you do). When he acts up or growls or snips/bites, immediately put him away from you. If he's attached to you, he may not like sharing you with your wife, either you or your wife, pick him up and put him in an Xpen or gated room where he can see you but not get to you, for 5 mins. Take him out and repeat as often as needed until the behavior stops. You need to do it right away, do not wait, the second he snaps, growls or gets mean, gate him for 5 mins saying "NO!", then let him out. This little guy is scared, nervous and protective of you. You need to reassure him that you'll take care of him, not him take care of you.
__________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz | |
05-17-2013, 08:29 AM | #12 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Pixie at age 5 developed a terrible fear/anxiety of thunderstorms. It has now progressed over the past 2 years to a fear of rain, planes, motorcycles. I use the thunder short with some success and my vet gave her a natural calming medicine and between the 2 they worked pretty good. But this spring with days of rain I had to have her go on Xanax when she gets really worked up. She just seems to be on alert for any loud noise that will set her off. I feel so bad for her. Usually if a plane goes over head she gets alert and starts shaking until it has passed, same with motorcycles etc. The real problem is rain. We have many days of all day rain and she is a wreck. Just now a plane went over and she panicked and ran in to the closet. I don't understand why she was fine for 5 years. I would give the thunder short a try. It has a money back guarantee. It does help.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
05-19-2013, 08:37 AM | #13 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,505
| Noise Since my last post I saw a post somewhere here for a Calming Collar that worked for a poster with similar issues as we all describe here. It is filled with herbs. I ordered one but have not had the need to use it yet as most are transient noises that he soon gets over. July 4 th is the next hazard to deal with and I will test it then. When he gets into this frenzy nothing I do can calm him, he runs around like a mad thing and hears nothing I say. He behaves as if a major attack on his territory is upon him and he cannot get to it to stop it. Very sad that he feels that way. The effects of severe noise also affects him for days sometimes. I walk him three times a day plus a car trip to the park, so he is not without action! The web site is. [url]WWW.Calmingcollars.com |
05-19-2013, 09:33 AM | #14 |
YT 2000 Club Member | Just be cautious with anything you use. My Yorkie will chew things and swallow them. I cannot trust JoJo with any stuff on him. He gets very shaky in the motorhome or with loud noises. My husband chops veggies and JoJo goes nuts. In the motorhome I put blankets and pillows around him and hold him and he calms down. I hope you can find something that helps. |
05-19-2013, 09:47 AM | #15 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,505
| Do the pillows etc just block out the sound or is it a comfort thing in the motor home? I wonder where this fear comes from as many dogs have it with no obvious cause? The strange thing is that some noises he hears in the house that he reacts badly to have no effect if we are on a walk. It must be a guarding the home thing? I have not tried the biggie, fireworks, outside yet and will have to see if he is scared there. The TV ads can catch me by surprise as there are some with fireworks noises, he goes mad then! I feel so bad that he is so disturbed by the noises. I hope that you find a magic cure for this noise ultra sensitivity. |
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