Freaked out Frida - Advice needed

[Tanya]

Frida has a thing about stormy weather, which is not good considering where we live :045:

She was ok for most of yesterday, but at bed time the wind really picked up and our driveway became a wind tunnel. She started really stressing out, panting hard and stressed boggley eyes etc :( I gave her some Valerian ( http://www.dorwest.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VAL ) and tried to let her settle in the kitchen, but she was up on the dog gate trying to chew the door frame. So I let her out and upstairs onto the bed, where she calmed right down.

What would you do?......I know you're not supposed to make a fuss of them when they are worried, but is it 'rewarding' the stressed behavior by letting her sleep on the bed at times like this? What happens if the wind really picks up and we're not home to let her escape to somewhere more 'secure'?

All advice welcome :054:

[MightyMouth]

Not a clue. I understand not making a fuss of them when they are stressed but to me it seems a little unfair. I mean you wouldn't leave a human if they were distressed and a dog's distress is just as valid. I always feel there is a difference between ignoring behaviour you don't want and ignoring panic! Cannot help really as my two are ok.....I did (one year), get some valium type tablets for the girls around Bonfire Night.

Trying to say that I think there is a world of difference between stressed and distressed!

[jean]

I agree with MM.
I have a friend who had an older golden lab. he was petrified of thunder loud planes gunshots etc. they moved house spent a fortune doing it up and he was shut in a room while they were at work.. One day there was prolonged thunder and lightening and no one was at home. The dog went ballistic.. he ripped out skirtingboards and destroyed doors trying to break out. when the owners came home the house was covered in blood and the dog had to be rushed to vets where sadly he was PTS.
I think id give my lot the run of the house if they were that freaked, can you buy her a dap infuser / collar? they are supposed to be good for de stressing animals. maybe ask the vet for advice?
ps how about leaving them primula filled kongs, small plastic juice bottles with treats in ie smoked sausage etc as that might distract them a bit.

good luck xx:075:

[Pink Gundog]

Tanya, there is a well being spray you can get D.A.P (Dog appeasing pheromone) its a natural spray that helps comfort puppies and adult dogs in situations they find worrying. Will see if there is anything else that could help xx:001:

[Pink Gundog]

I know this isnt a fireworks fear Tanya but thought you could have a wee read of this

http://www.petfireworkfear.co.uk/

[Tanya]

Thanks guys....I have a DAP diffuser, I'll get that plugged in when storms are forecast. Unfortunately it isn't an option to let them have the run of the house when we aren't there, due to cats etc. I tried setting up a 'den' in a crate for her last stormy season, but she just doesn't like crates :( They always get stuffed kongs when I leave, but when she is stressed she won't eat.

Luckily OH can work at home if storms are due, but it's the odd occasion when she's away travelling and I have to be at work.....the dog walker always comes and will let me know how she is as well.

She is also happy wearing a basket type muzzle (greyhounds wear these very early on in life), so this would prevent her biting the wood and hurting herself.

But I think if she's stressed at bedtime then I'll just let her upstairs with us, rather than forcing her to stay in the kitchen with the others.

[Penelope]

Rescue Remedy worked for Suki - she used to be terrified of fireworks. Gave her RR and she was fine. TBH now she takes no notice at all - unless she is actually outside doing her business when one goes off, and then she bolts back inside, but on the whole she is fine now.
Good luck and hope you find something that will work.

[jean]

mark top barks showing how to get a spaniel to ignore fireworks,
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=topbarks#p/u/30/wwILjU9zPio
dont know if it works on greys tho. xx

[Meerkat]

Hope you find something to help Frida - poor wee mite

[Helen]

Give Emergency Essence a go - I find it works better than Rescue Remedy...just put a pipette full straight onto her gums, you can put it in her water as well but it's more effective 'straight up'

[Kimberley]

With my collie-x I used to give her valerium compound, in liquid form (from Dorwest Herbs) my lab used to have pre-med tablets from the vet, she used to look and act as if she'd been at the bottle, I used to hate having to give her them. Coco and Breeze go out and bark at them, so I dont have the problem.