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I had not heard of them before so I did a search. I cannot speak to the collar, but I use essential oils for my dog and I can say it does work. I bought my first bottle of essential oils specifically called Zen Doggie from a trainer I was in contact with. She has her own proprietary blend but I have found other calming mixtures helpful as well. I don't have a particularly anxious dog but putting a few drops on her collar has her yawning and relaxing in just a few minutes. I would definitely give it a try.
Not a collar but I know some have had luck with Rescue Remedy. It really depends on what is causing the anxiety as to what the remedy will be. If it's a problem with storms, many people have said that Thundershirts are very effective.
I don't think a thundershirt would work on my shepherd.
He jumps away whenever I try to give him a hug, so the closeness of the shirt would cause him more trauma.
His problem is fireworks, thunder, and gun shots.
He goes balistic whenever he hears any one of these.
I don't think a thundershirt would work on my shepherd.
He jumps away whenever I try to give him a hug, so the closeness of the shirt would cause him more trauma.
His problem is fireworks, thunder, and gun shots.
He goes balistic whenever he hears any one of these.
Bob.
Not necessarily. It may be different because he can still move around in the shirt, not so with you hugging him. If it were me, I'd find a place with a good return policy and get one.
Hope you find something that works, GSDs are not typically noise sensitive. I wonder what scared him to start with.
Kona and Sophie both had issues with fireworks and lightening, gun shots were not heard often so not as big of a deal. If we were expecting a big storm or fireworks I would give them a Happy Traveler Pill to take the edge off. It really helped but didn't make them loopy. http://www.amazon.com/Ark-Lighting-1...veler+for+dogs
Put him in a room with tv or radio on whr thunderstorms are coming DONT say its OK or Pet to Calm IGNOR cause when you do the Ok Petting hugging etc YOU are Tell the Dog its OK to Be AFRAID!
We do the following:
Melatonin 2-3 pills about an hour before the storm (same kind as for humans, just basic kind no time-release or lozenge)
DAP- Dog Appeasing Pheromone spray about an hour before the storm, or dusk in the case of fireworks- helps to take the edge off.
Alprazolam as prescribed by vet
He goes into bedroom with the white noise machine and tv on to help block sound
LOTS of comfort and cuddles- the theory that you need to ignore your dog during storms is wrong, and was debunked a long time ago. Here is a link from a very well-respected behaviorist on storm phobias and comfort: You Can’t Reinforce Fear; Dogs and Thunderstorms
A thunder shirt may help your pup- it needs to be properly fit and routinely used when there isn't a storm so that the dog doesn't come to associate it with storms.
Dogs don't like hugs; a thunder shirt is different.
One other thing- I make sure to get my dog out to play, walk, potty before the storm or fireworks start so that they can stay inside and feel safe for the duration.
My parents lived a mile from Disneyland so had to deal with nightly fireworks. When their dogs were young it was not a problem but as they aged it became a big problem and about an hour before the fireworks they would be anxious and pacing. The city they lived in allowed the safe and sane fireworks for July 4th and there were several days where people would be setting them off and the dogs would go crazy and if that was not bad enough the people that lived behind them set off professional fireworks ( yes just like Disneyland even though it was illegal) on the 4th an some times for new years too.
My mom found that giving the dogs Melatonin an hour or two before the fireworks and keeping the dogs in the house after giving it helped. It did not totally do away with the issues but it did take the edge off.
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