Extremely nervous dog - help and ideas please

J

Jane_Lou

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my mum has a 5 year old Yorkie x Jack russell, it has always been a very nervous dog but she is getting worse as she gets older. She got her as a 2 year old with very little training and she does now have some manners but the slightest noise sends her off. Rain, wind, storms and fireworks send her quite demented, she litlerally goes mad trying to "hide" she rips up carpets trying to get under them, she pulls out contents of cupboards, today she destroyed the dvd player in her efforts at getting behind the telly and the electrical items below it. My mum is elderly and lives alone, she is getting to be afriad to go out and leave the dog alone in case it rains. The dog bit her today when she was trying to get her on the lead (the only way she can control her) She has tried every type of herbal calmer and the vet has finally agreed to give her chemical calmers but will only do this for 5th November. She is at her wits end and I am worried that my poor mum is stressing so badly about this, she has health problems and the dog is her companion but neither of them are having much fun at the moment.
So I am appealing to you lovely people on here to see if you have any ideas that I can suggest to her to help this situation.

Sorry this is so long - a large glass of red wine to anyone with ideas.
 
How does your mum react when the dog becomes nervous? It is natural for us to want to comfort them but that can make them worse as it reinforces the behaviour. It's better to ignore them.
 
She has tried ignoring her, she would shut her in the kitchen and let her get on with it but she gets worse. For a small dog she can jump up very high, she ends up dragging things off the work seufaces, digging up the lino etc and my mum gets worried that she will injure herself. today, after "killing" the dvd played my mum let her into the loo (she likes to be in a small place) and she pulled the toilet roll holder, complete with a tile off the wall! My mum has had dogs all her life, this one is just a whole different matter! It is hard as she is at home alone with her and I think you are right, she probably does try and comfort her but I think a lot of the time she just wants to control her and stop her from injuring herself. I forgot to day, about 3 weeks ago my mum was out when it rained, the dog went mad and somehow managed to slice her side open requiring 6 stitches......
 
Blimey that is an extreme case
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I have never had a dog which reacted so badly before, so others (well, Cala
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) will have better advice, but have you tried a DAP diffuser? It did work with my newest rescue greyhound, who had seperation anxiety (not the same as your mum's dog I realise) as it sends out general 'chill out and calm' pheremones (sp?) to the dogs?
 
I don't think she has tried that, I will suggest it to her, it is such a worry as we all assumed she would get better as she got older but she has got worse! Do you know here I can get one for her?
Good luck tomorrow by the way
 
Thanks
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I got mine on the internet - from www.vetuk.co.uk - they are an excellent website, and do very quick delivery too at reasonable prices. I am sure you can get them from big petshops too however
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Wouldnt recommend your vet, as they will probably charge double the usual asking price for them
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You need to be careful when dealing with anxiety on this level, u may even need to enlist a behavioust, a reputable one that is familiar with this type of behaviour.
Im currently working with a dog that is displayng the same behaviour, we have started off by introducing an crate, this is to offer him a secure place to be when he hears anything that gets him stressed (as he does so to the extreme) the crate has been introduced in a positive manor, he gets fed, and treats when in there and the door is always left open for him, and he has indeed been taking himself in there when he feels stressed to which he curls himself up, the crate is covered to make more of a den for him.

The crate has stopped the manic behaviour of him trying to dog into the settee and pacing the floors to the point of exhaustion.
We have also introduced a CD which has a varied mix of everyday noises plus thunder, his owner has been playing it everyday for 10 mins at a time and gradually increasing the time and volume, no fuss must be made or attempts to physically calm the dog as this only heightens the fear and gives a false sense of comforting during the noise release.
Literally it's just desensitizing him to the noises in a controlled manor.
it's also best to tire the dog out physically before these exercises, in order to take away some of the energy that add to the anxiety and places the dog in a calmer state physically.

I cannot stress how important it is the introduce a routine in a careful manor, and atleast speak to an experienced trainer/behaviourist, in extreme cases you may also need to consult with your vet to discuss mediaction options when introducing the above and as suggested Dap collars/diffusers can help.
The problem may never be fully cured but they can be with the right help be less severe.
 
I checked with my mum and she has tried a DAP diffuser to no effect. She does have a kitchen cupboard that she goes into sometimes for sanctury. Can you recommend a behavioust that she could try, she is in Enfield, North London?
Many thanks
 
I was going to suggest a crate too, like Cala. It's a safe place. But have you tried Rescue Remedy? Give it BEFORE the stressful event and I find it really does help.
 
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