[Closed] Anything chemical that can calm and relax a dog?

This is going to get interesting.

valium

DAP collars and some other meds like Kalm-aid or Zyklene from your vet may help but it sounds like a behaviourist might be more useful in the long term.

have you thought of asking your vet?

Hora, I think you know the answer. I think this kind of spells out why perhaps you should consider re-homing him, is there actually anything wrong with him, is he ill? I'm not sure he is, he is just a dog that needs to run his socks off, I think we all feel like that..

TBH you could get drugs to chill him out (one of my dogs as a kid was on diazepam) but I thinkt hat would be actually wrong, send him off to an owner who lives on farm or wants to do the 20 miles a day..

have you thought of asking your vet?

Sometimes walking into a vet is akin to dropping your secondhand car off at a main dealer and saying 'could you find out why its making that noise and cure it'? So that they use your wallet to investigate and figure out at your expense throwing parts at the problem until the hit the source?

Rather than using a forum/google to cut to the chase.

Funnily enough hes getting 'worse' as hora junior becomes more active.

He probably has all this energy because he needs a bit of 'how's your father'...

Be a good Daddy.

Oooh yes TSY is right, has he been done? If not then get that sorted and all will be well.

Shut up Toys, I'm on about Hora relieving the sexual tension himself, none of this vet malarky.

Mind you... cutting his nuts off would probably see him less than chipper for a little while at least.

He was done at 6months.

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Shut up Toys

Ooops sorry, I didn't mean to get in between you and your manual relief/beast fantasy, wrong un..

TSY, it's not clear; are you talking about the dog in your second sentence?

Be a good Daddy.

*voms*

I know nothing about the breed specifics, but could he need mental stimulation? Your comment about collies is a common misconception, but actually what most collies lack is mental stimulation - they need about an hour's worth of 'work' a day or they can be a real pain in the butt. Lots of folk tend to up the exercise for their collies, which just leads to super fit, bored collies. I think it woud be unusual to find a Westie that [i]needed[/i] 20 miles worth of exercise a day - most of ones around us get an couple of short walks per day and their owners don't mention any problems.

Don't know if that helps, but I hope you find an answer.

Cougar... I don't even know anymore... sometimes I type on here whilst my brain is working elsewhere... ummm... yeah. Cut off Hora's bits too I guess.

Hora
What food are you using? can make a huge difference, I have had Bearded Collies for 25 years now so know how active types of dogs can be!

Have a word in a food shop that has some knowledge (not a chain) and see if a change of diet helps

But you did get a terrier type so...........

Also have a look on doggy forums relating to terriers, theres lots of help on there

DAP collars

If he is that "busy" I would suggest trying to stimulate him mentally, try some dog training, you'd be surprised how tiring it can be for the dog. Dogs generally only need what they are given, so if he's used to 20 miles running, then he will be wanting/need the 20 miles. Maybe try weening him off the mileage instead of going cold turkey.

Castrating him should also help, but this won't happen overnight, maybe get the dog done too 😕

I know nothing about the breed specifics, but could he need mental stimulation? Your comment about collies is a common misconception, but actually what most collies lack is mental stimulation - they need about an hour's worth of 'work' a day or they can be a real pain in the butt. Lots of folk tend to up the exercise for their collies, which just leads to super fit, bored collies. I think it woud be unusual to find a Westie that needed 20 miles worth of exercise a day - most of ones around us get an couple of short walks per day and their owners don't mention any problems.

+1

ditch_jockey +1 on the mental stimulation

My springer can get by on a short walk a day if he gets plenty of mental stimulation ,

Reviewing his food is a very good idea - I'd forgotten that one of things we had to do with our collie when she was young was look for a food which had far less protein. Eventually we settled on Burns dried food, which we still use with a 50/50 mix of Wilson's working dog muesli. I was amazed at him much more settled she was within a week or two of dropping the amount of protein in her diet down to around 20%. I have some information at home that I coud double check for you if you want to know any more.

Yep, there is now way a Westie needs 20 miles a day, and if it did its hips would be ****ed in no time.

Stop ignoring him as you have a new baby, play with him, do fetch and find it games and may'be hire a dog walker that can take him out with groups of dogs so he gets some fun, if you really don't have *any* time to spend with him, bearing in mind you watching telly with the dog in the same room is not going to mentally simulate him.

The 20 miles is more to do with dedicated time with the dog rather than distance, and you have to remember that dogs aren't like bike bits that you can replace once you are bored with them.

basically MTFU, give you dog some attention and stop looking for quick/lazy fixes, because you can't arsed to play with your dog anymore.

The difference is our dog is a large/well shaped West Highland Terrier and I don't have the time to run him every day like that.

So give him to somebody who can and get a pet that is better suited to your lifestyle. In all honesty, you should be legally prevented from having animals.

Space cake.

Just think of his poor kid in 7 years, when he's bored of it.

Has anyone done the 'not just for Xmas' thing yet?

CHOMP. Three Fish, we've never had to cut our dogs claws, hes never had a skin allergy (which is common to Westies), the Vet can measure at least seven ribs, his weight is constant between annual check ups and he is a socialable and active dog normally.

Maybe I should feed him cake and walk him round the block in my slippers whilst smoking a cig?

Bachs rescue remedy drops in his water and mentally tire him out as well as physically. Leave him kongs full of difficult to get treats, even leave classic fm on very low in the background, worked wonders with our two when they were younger, even works in the car on longer journeys.

Bachs rescue remedy drops in his water and mentally tire him out as well as physically. Leave him kongs full of difficult to get treats, even leave classic fm on very low in the background, worked wonders with our two when they were younger, even works in the car on longer journeys.

So thats Hora covered. what about his dog?

I know nothing about the breed specifics, but could he need mental stimulation? Your comment about collies is a common misconception, but actually what most collies lack is mental stimulation - they need about an hour's worth of 'work' a day or they can be a real pain in the butt. Lots of folk tend to up the exercise for their collies, which just leads to super fit, bored collies. I think it woud be unusual to find a Westie that needed 20 miles worth of exercise a day - most of ones around us get an couple of short walks per day and their owners don't mention any problems.

Was going to post something similar but cut & past is quicker.

It does sound like you are using the '20 miles a day' to try and exhaust the dog into calming down rather than dealing with the problem.

20miles is abit of an exaggeration however he is worsening and its coinciding with hora junior becoming more active.

hora - Member
20miles is abit of an exaggeration however he is worsening and its coinciding with hora junior becoming more active.

Sounds like it's an attention thing to me.

Oh, and that GIF of a dog being thrown out of a moving car up there is pretty sick. I bet it really appreciated that.

Oh, and that GIF of a dog being thrown out of a moving car up there is pretty sick. I bet it really appreciated that

I think it jumped?

We had problems with our Springer when I was growing up...excitable, bitey. The vet wanted to put him down as he was 'dangerous'...but my Mum took him to a respected dog trainer who suggested cutting his balls off and a specific training plan. He was a big softy after that.

I think you need Cesar Millan to be honest.

Oh, and that GIF of a dog being thrown out of a moving car up there is pretty sick. I bet it really appreciated that.

🙄

&

it jumped

It's a pretty famous YouTube clip. But if you want to get all Grauniad about it, that's fine by me.

I think the do jumped out of the car to join the other one.

Hora seriously; have you considered a dog walker taking him out for 90 minutes or so twice a week, you will need to find one that takes out groups of dogs though.

Also look at his food, and ensure that you give him a bit below the amount recommended on the bag. As if you feed him either too much or stuff with too much protein that energy has to go somewhere.

Also limit treats to the low fat/diet ones as they have less calories.

Mainly though you need to mentally simulate him, just sitting in the same room just doesn't cut it, you need to play with the dog and make him work, so kongs, or even make him sit in another room wait, and then hide a treat somewhere and get him to search it out is a good start.

He's had a better diet than a lot of humans for 6yrs
He still exercised a fair bit
In the last few weeks he's eaten with a good appetite etc etc but become distant, anxious and restless.

This morning he went for my son and it wasn't a warning growl (he's never even growled before), just went snapping- luckily it happened at my feet and my son fell backwards away and I was able to provide a barrier.

So its all academic. I'm ringing round for advice from rescue charities and the vet.

Dog's jealous innit? Your nipper's arrived and now Bingo isn't as overindulged as he used to be. So he's feeling put out. Which is why he's playing up, probbly.

He might have ADHD as well.

Read "In Defence of Dogs", won't give you a definitive answer to your problem but may help you get inside his mind.

overindulged

I reckon this could be somewhere near the root of the problem.

I was against you rehoming him before, but feel it might be time.

Ketamine.

he's bored, most likely, as plenty others have suggested.
i'd have thought 20 miles a lot for a dog like that.
rather than kongs, which are 'ok' imo, but require some sort of gunk to keep the treats in, try food dispenser things for half of his food. a ball or some other shape with a hole in it, put half his food in the bowl, half in the toy, and it'll keep him amused for 10 mins or so. doesn't sound like much, but that's 20 mins extra a day he's kept occupied for, working both mentally and physically, for very little effort on your part. you can get these from pet stores.
the other comment you made about what happened with your sprog points to the continuing, underlying problem, where he doesn't know where in the pecking order he is.

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DeadlyDarcy aye.

Anal dilation causes vagal stimulation, apparently.

Maybe the dog just needs a home without children, good luck with re-homing him. Nothing wrong with that, it's nobodies fault. Life has moved on and the dog can't cope with the changes by the sound of things.

Oxboy in one/sadly totally agree. I'm attached to hora junior otherwise I'd move out with bingo 🙁

there is a chemical you can get. We have a different one for our cat called Feliway which we have used when he has cystitis to help relax him and we use it in the car when taking him on holiday. It is like a glade plugin so we plug it into an inverter in the car.

Back to the dog...have you seen someone who can help with his behaviour and also educate you? I agree with the others that chemicals are not the answer (we use them temporarily on the cat as cystitis turns fatal quickly).

You should be able to avoid rehoming but the behaviour expert will say if its just you, he and your lifestyle are not compatible.

He snapped at/tried getting to my son. Its not a risk that we can take. We have a duty of care to the lad first and foremost. Bingo will be happy with caring owners. A scarred child would live with one incident for life.

ahh just saw that - he sounds like he will be happier off somewhere else. 🙁

Probably a bad time to suggest it but (and this goes for others with kids) if you decide to get another dog in the future then there are breeds that are "easier" to have around kids (and your bike). The 'explore dogs' things are good at events like Crufts and the Game Fair. An example is our springer, she is amazing with my two nephews with ADHD and protects them like they are hers. The cat on the other hand will run away or hide all day and get cystitis due to the stress of them being here!

seriously - look into aromatherapy for your dog.

Lavender oil applied in a solution or bath is very relaxing for humans.

Sure it would be ok for a dog in smaller quantities - check with a vet or specialist though.

get rid of the dog, it could attack youre child dont risk it!

So I use aromatherapy and hope the dog doesn't try to reassert himself again?

Blimey. What next? Cambelt changes using elastic bands glued together?

Sorry to hear about your problem having had dogs my entire life i know how attached you get to them. The other posts are correct he doesn't know his place in your pack any longer an is trying to figure it out, this could probably be remedied with training/time but like you say you can't risk it. I own an English Bull and as fond as i am of her if she snapped/growled at a kid it would be straight to the vets for the injection, game over! Luckily she is amazingly maternal with everything but cats 🙄

have you considered getting a running machine? not for the dog you understand, you look like you're carrying a few extra pounds 😀

The pie shops of Trafford would fall into a recession. I owe it to them to keep the pie industry alive 😀

Hope yer not offended by this Hora, and no offence is meant at all, but whenever you post about you and Bingo these two always spring to mind:

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Strangely that's visually quite close.

He's sat on my lap now, on the sofa whilst the whirlwind slams and bangs round outside the living room door.

TBH he's probably going to a BETTER home. No small noisy child that keeps him awake at night. He won't get things thrown at him, chased and he'll get someone who gives him focus again. Just because I'm not a 55yr old woman (binners) doesn't mean he can't be content.

Monksie if you read this topic- I did think of you but thinking back Bingo has always acted alarmed by pre-teen children. He's tried bringing them down by nipping their ankles when run around/stiffened etc and the charity (yes ulterior motive is always there) described him as typical over-dominating male of the species. Sad really but he needs intense retraining and no-children.

Yeah but what if he misses you, pines away and dies of a broken heart? 😥

Bingo I mean, not Binners...

(meant in a light hearted way) aromatherapy for the boy? 😀

tbh you could probably sort it very easily. Make a bit of proper time for him and then gradually build up a relationship between him and your son by getting your son to play with him (gently for a short time) and feed him - little by little. Get the dog to associate nice happy things with your son - ie getting a ball thrown for him, food time, walk time etc etc.

Its a shame you need to go your seperate ways but i'm sure its for the best.

Check out a great book by Matt Haig called The Last Family in England, it's about family life from a dogs point of view,certainly leaves you with a different view of your family pet.

[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Kids-Dogs-Without-Losing/dp/1933562668/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312746800&sr=8-1 ]Living with kids and dogs without losing your mind[/url] book from Amazon is quite good.

Sounds like you've got bored of him, and now have found an excuse to get rid of the dog.

Mind you he will have a much better life away from you; so I guess things will have worked out for the best, just a shame you got a dog in the first place as you've always come across as the type of person who shouldn't be allowed to look after anything, other than a plastic plant.

Mind you; I am sure its not your fault ...... as it never seems to be.

i believe that adaptil is the thing you are looking for. i have no idea about it's effectiveness though. if it's like felliway for cats, that definitely works.

Have you tried the suggestions of DAP and Felliway plugins, works for most people.

As said before it does sound like you're the problem, rather than the dog, although it now shows that the dog is the problem, He needs the mental/physical stimulation, probably is getting jealous, but this isn't the dogs fault.

You seem quite set on getting rid of the dog, so I would go with that, doesn't seem you want to put a lot of effort in to it. With the amount of dogs trying to be re-homed he'll be lucky to live 6 months, try and give him away to someone that will care for the dog for all of the rest of its life. 😉

Dog psychology is quite simple once the penny drops.

chocolate - lots and lots of it, cooking for preference.

Sounds like you've got bored of him, and now have found an excuse to get rid of the dog.

Bored? You get bored within the first few months when the puppy-stage wears off not 6yrs later. Hes getting rehomed after TWO incidents involving a child. We've had dogs all our lives and I pride myself that Bingo has had 6 great years with us. Everyone remarks that he is very very active and happy for a 6yr old Westie.

I drop him off tomorrow. You know this is the hardest decision but one that I can not reverse.

Again, I'll repeat. Why do people thinking rehoming a dog is a sad thing for the dog? The home he goes to may be even better than the care he got from me. Hes a warm and affection dog- one that dog owners warm to so I doubt a new (Westie-experienced) owner wouldn't warm to his good points (of which there are many).

DAP never worked- we tried that after we brought the baby home.

Good luck with it Hora, would be in bits if I was in your situation.

I'm not good right now.

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Then MTFU; and live up to the responsibilities you took on when you got the dog, rather than giving up like you always seem to.

You seem to be under the impression that the dog is the problem, however from everything you've said about the dog and how you look after it; the issue is you.

Hopefully you will do better with your child; and won't *give* up after a few years as its too difficult.

West Highland Whites are known not to be good with small children. Are you suggesting that after two close misses the issue isn't the situation but more to do with an owner that has a puppy for Christmas?

Are you off your head?

I've had a closs miss on Friday with a claw mark across a toddlers eyelid then an thwarted-attack.

I have a duty of care first and foremost to a small child. The dog is secondary to this.

Happier times 🙁

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Oh do stop bleating you big blouse. You've got a dog and spoiled it rotten and now you've got a kid and things have changed.

Sort it out, preferably without all the drama and self pity, and preferably not here.

You never met Bingo. Crackers and a real character. 🙁

Happier times

You never met Bingo. Crackers and a real character

This thread is turning in to a Mills and Boon novel.

You never met Bingo. Crackers and a real character

I've had a closs miss on Friday with a claw mark across a toddlers eyelid then an thwarted-attack.

yeah, sounds lovely.