A word about DAP diffusers

[PucciNPoni]

Okay, just started a new job yesterday, grooming from a veterinary surgery.

One dog that I've been handling since he was a small pup (and he's still pretty young now - he's 7 months) was always a handful - very sharp and from what I could tell, extremely noise sensitive. The owner was given some homework which did seem to help a bit. I used somethign called a Happy Hoodie (looks like a snood) which is an elasticated towelling over his ears to block the worst of the noise. But the biggest thing I think to have helped him with his anxiety was the DAP diffuser in the studio. Even crating, which seems to set him to barking and screeching - didn't seem to bother him as there was a diffuser in the kennel room too.

I wasn't sure how they would work as I'd never tried one before. But was well impressed.

 

[RichmondPark]

They work by releasing pheromones into the air which is supposed to help calm a dog in a stressful situation. Some rescues use it for that specific reason, to help the dog relax more. You can also get the DAP as a collar for dog that are stressed when out and about also.

The hoodie that you describe is similar to the Thundershirt which wraps tightly around the dog again supposed to help the dog in stressful/anxious situations by applying pressure around the dog, calming it somewhat.

However these are products that help allievate the stress/calm the dog but do not help cure the dog of the exact reason for the stress in itself. Only training/habituation to the cursor of his fear of noises in this instance can do this.

If the dog is noise sensitive, using the noise CD on a daily basis for quite a period of time should help to reduce his noise sensitivity somewhat by way of learning that there is nothing to be afraid of with noise.

Say all that on the build up to that dreaded time of the year, Guy Fawkes night, I had used the noise CD to habituate my dog to fireworks, used the DAP diffuser and also go the dog used to the thundershirt. Unfortunately nothing worked to calm my dog during the 3 weeks that fireworks were being set off despite doing everything possible. It was so bad she ended up on Diazepam from the vets to help her "forget" the stressful nights.

 

[Booboos]

I've found DAP to be very helpful in a variety of situations, e.g. most recently my bitch got very attached to me when I was pregnant and DAP helped her relax a bit.

 

[Jools1234]

i have found the dap diffusers great in the couple of recent moves we have had

 

[gunnergundog]

PPoni.....DAP also do collars.....maybe a suggestion for your client as well as the diffuser depending on the needs of the dog. Has worked well on a neurotic viz I had in to train.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I was very cynical about the DAP concept; thought they were an expensive waste of money TBH. Then I tried one and was amazed at the results on firework night when my rescue dog would normally go totally ape.

You can also get the Spray-On which you can spray onto the dog's collar.

Fantastic stuff. Pity they don't have one for horses (or humans!!).

 

[PucciNPoni]

They work by releasing pheromones into the air which is supposed to help calm a dog in a stressful situation. Some rescues use it for that specific reason, to help the dog relax more. You can also get the DAP as a collar for dog that are stressed when out and about also.

The hoodie that you describe is similar to the Thundershirt which wraps tightly around the dog again supposed to help the dog in stressful/anxious situations by applying pressure around the dog, calming it somewhat.

However these are products that help allievate the stress/calm the dog but do not help cure the dog of the exact reason for the stress in itself. Only training/habituation to the cursor of his fear of noises in this instance can do this.

If the dog is noise sensitive, using the noise CD on a daily basis for quite a period of time should help to reduce his noise sensitivity somewhat by way of learning that there is nothing to be afraid of with noise.

Say all that on the build up to that dreaded time of the year, Guy Fawkes night, I had used the noise CD to habituate my dog to fireworks, used the DAP diffuser and also go the dog used to the thundershirt. Unfortunately nothing worked to calm my dog during the 3 weeks that fireworks were being set off despite doing everything possible. It was so bad she ended up on Diazepam from the vets to help her "forget" the stressful nights.

Some good points in there and agree that it doesn't FIX the problem. In my case, as I'm not a trainer or a behaviorist but merely a dog groomer trying to get a dog groomed safely (well, for both our sakes safety is an issue) it DOES help at least to let me accomplish that much. And as for the changing the habit - I do think it has to help at least let me get the message across that the dryer isn't goign to eat him! Sedation I should think wouldn't help with that but only allow me to work on a drowsy animal which is pointless and not necessarly safe.

The hoodie I think does seem to work like a Thundershirt but I do believe it also muffles the sound which seems to be important to this dog in particular.

The owner bought a diffuser to take home with her because she says that between 6 and 8 pm the dog goes nuts barking every night. She isn't sure what it's about and why just that time. I think perhaps something happens outside that she's not aware of - a noise or an event that he sees or hears that she can't.

Anyway, she's a very sensible owner and has done everything I've asked of her in terms of retraining his behaviors and it has helped lots. She's recently retired and this is her first dog but he is a challenging one especially for a first dog. I don't think that she's inadvertently caused the behavior but hopefully she can right it with her careful handling.

 

[stencilface]

I really think the DAP diffusers helped my dog with SA settle down - ok, it still took a few months but we're there now (most of the time at least). I'm lucky if he looks up from his kong when I leave now, and when I've managed to sneak home without him noticing I'm found him sparko on the sofa

Not had to use it for 2 months now