Long-story short, my 9-year-old Corgi has separation anxiety that results in her pooping and peeing on the floor when I'm gone. It can literally be in the first 15 minutes I'm gone and sometimes even when my roommate is here asleep or taking a shower. Right now, she's crated, and I'm torn between getting her a slightly larger crate that she can really move around in (right now she's in a 36" long one that she can stand up and turn around in), and a Thundershirt.
Does anyone have experience with this and separation anxiety, either negative or positive? I looked on Amazon.com for reviews and they were mostly positive, but I know a lot of those can be planted by the manufacturer.
Thanks in advance!
2013-05-18T09:53:45Z
Oh yes, I'm definitely planning on training at the same time, not just throwing on the shirt and crossing my fingers. I'm thinking something like putting the shirt on 15-20 minutes before I leave (so she doesn't learn the association between the shirt and my departure), and then only leaving for about 10 minutes the first few times. Then slowly lengthening how long I'm gone.
2013-05-18T10:00:51Z
My dog can sit: I would definitely be interested in buying it, but my dog needs a medium one, and I'm betting your MinPin used a small.
2013-05-18T10:02:13Z
Oh and on the comment about crating, that's RIDICULOUS. My dog adores her crate, she'll sleep in it with the door wide open, even when I'm home sometimes. She feels safe in it and it certainly isn't causing her mental harm.
Before you criticize how people train their dogs, do some research. I have never heard in any of the dozens of training/dog behavior books I've read that crating is bad. 99% of them suggest crate training to begin with.
heart2013-05-18T09:46:52Z
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It helps definitely. But as with any thing (shirt, rescue remedy, pills etc) used for canine anxiety you must do a part in training/desensitization also.
ADD - If you want there is a yahoo group called SATZ_Main with professionals there who are excellent at helping anxiety dogs. Worth a shot joining the group if you would like. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SATZ_Main/
I would even put the thundershirt on if you aren't going out at all, maybe 10 mins at a time at random times. And there are many crate games you can play!
Marci.... You do not know best. My dog will go nap in the crate with the door open.
Thundershirts aren't extremely expensive. It's worth a try. My parents dog has extreme separation anxiety because my mom stays at home all day so on days she's gone, she uses that. He's still stressed, but he no longer cries and howls.
A tired dog is a happy dog. Take him for an hour long walk, or longer, before you leave. A really tired dog is going to just sleep while your gone. Pair that with the thunder shirt and hopefully your problem is solved!
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I have used this on my very fearful and aggressive Min Pin. It helped, a little...
He used to be both human and dog aggressive. He is now dog aggressive with dogs he does not know. It helped calm him, but he snapped a couple times at a puppy and growled at other dogs while wearing it.
Works on some dogs, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it HELPS, but is not the 100 percent solution... Almost like adding Abilify to an antidepressant.
You can try it, I'll sell mine for a few bucks on eBay if you're interested... it may or may not work, so I wouldn't pay the full 40 bucks for it... just 5-10 bucks at most. You should crate your dog when you're gone.
Add; The company says it is to "feel like a hug" on the dog, so it feels safer...
At the pet store, they said it is used to keep the dog from hyperventilating, since it's a wrap around the dog...
ADD, I think we got size small... It's pretty adjustable, it may fit. I really had to squeeze it on him.
I have heard that Thundershirts work for thunder and loud noises for some dogs, but I have never heard that they work for separation anxiety.
Get a copy of Patricia McConnell's book I'll Be Home Soon. It is THE guide for treating separation anxiety and related issues. You may need to work with a dog behaviorist. http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/store/I-ll-Be-Home-Soon.html
Prolonged crating causes mental and physical illness which may be why the poor dog is so stressed out.
Here are links to the best trainers: The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors http://www.nadoi.org/ The Association of Pet Dog Trainers http://www.apdt.com/ International Association of Canine Professionals http://canineprofessionals.com/