Have a 5 yr old Lab that suffers from anxiety during storms. Has torn up 3 wire crates. Don't want to have to buy Impact dog crates due to the expense but was wondering suggestions on others that might help. Thanks!
KM
KM
suggestions for crates for anxiety issues such as storms
maliretriever
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Have a 5 yr old Lab that suffers from anxiety during storms. Has torn up 3 wire crates. Don't want to have to buy Impact dog crates due to the expense but was wondering suggestions on others that might help. Thanks!
KM
KM
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What is the cost of one good crate compared to 4 wire crates?
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Keep the dog with you, on leash and moving during such events. You'll probably find the dog does better over time.
If he breaks out of a crate why would you just put him in a stronger crate? The crate is adding to his anxiety.
If he breaks out of a crate why would you just put him in a stronger crate? The crate is adding to his anxiety.
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Tried a lot of natural ones plus one recommended by my veterinarian. They help some.
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My other 2 dogs are crated at night and no problems. Have been putting her in bed when storms occur but not ideal.
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Promazine, acepromazine, Prozac, Elavil, Clomicalm, trazadone, sometimes used in combination e.g. trazadone and acepromazine.
Thundershirt always worth trying and might not work alone but could enhance the effect of pharmaceuticals.
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Behavior modification as you describe with the addition of effective pharmaceuticals is the best long term solution.
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Agreed.
In addition, most dogs with thunderstorm problems have a host of other issues going on that the owner either likes or doesn't notice. They're usually very clingy around the house (people like this), they tend to bark a lot at windows and fences (they like this too), act out on leash and so forth (usually frowned upon but not always).
A lot of times if we can get the owner to address the underlying issues holistically, the thunderstorm problem fades on it's own.
It's very difficult to address if you only work on it during the event.
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I had a Golden years ago that was like what you have mentioned. Long story short, vet suggested keeping him out of crate during storms. He stopped destroying things and found that he spent the storm in my bed and on my pillow. Vet thought because he could smell me it calmed him down.
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This is not a fix, just something to mitigate the problem while you work on a fix, but loud music that masks the thunder (or fireworks or whatever,) can help with the anxiety during an event, especially in a basement or other place that insulates the dog from outside noises.
I observed this years ago while camping on a public, drive-on beach for Independence Day. We had four dogs with us, a couple retrievers, a big oaf of a mutt, and a Pomeranian. None of the dogs was thrilled with the fireworks going off up and down the beach. We had a 4-door SUV blasting rock & roll with the doors open. Every one of the dogs loaded itself into that SUV and sat there calmly looking like they were ready to go for a drive.
I observed this years ago while camping on a public, drive-on beach for Independence Day. We had four dogs with us, a couple retrievers, a big oaf of a mutt, and a Pomeranian. None of the dogs was thrilled with the fireworks going off up and down the beach. We had a 4-door SUV blasting rock & roll with the doors open. Every one of the dogs loaded itself into that SUV and sat there calmly looking like they were ready to go for a drive.
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We have raised many litters of Boykin Spaniels and Labs. Also have purchased many pups. Anytime we have storms or during holiday where neighbors will be shooting fireworks we take all dogs to our garage, lower doors, turn all lights on, and turn music on REALLY LOUD. If you don't have garage put dogs in a room. Guess we have just been lucky, but never had a gun shy or shy dog. When we have a litter of pups, from day 1, we play music for them.
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My first lab loved gunfire but thunder drove her crazy. My present lab sleeps through storms. Old lab was much more ‘calm’ than this one is. Thunder shirt helped somewhat. My vet told me that dogs sense the pressure change before storms, and that helps to give them anxiety attacks. Go figure.
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This is great advice. If your dog has torn up several wire crates why keep going to stronger crates? It's a behavioral issue that isn't going to be solved by a stronger prison. Its a tough problem to deal with but pharmacology and behavioral training and things like thundershirts can be part of the answer. I sympathize because I went through this with a rescue. We worked through it with patience and time, lots of it. But a wire crate (or any crate) was a no-go. The panic he displayed trying to get out was heartbreaking. Once I recognized this, and that this strategy wasn't going to resolve the problem, I didn't try to win that battle. It was clearly making the situation worse. Good luck.
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Have had good luck with the 'Thundershirt'
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