Anxious JRT

daheff

So we have a nearly 3 yo female JRT, spayed.

Shes quite an anxious dog. We've tried a number of things to help her, but need more advice please.

Firstly, even at home, shes not very trusting of anybody. Don't really understand why as we've been her owners since a puppy and she is well treated. Shes not always happy to even be petted during the day. but when shes tired and crashed out on the couch shes happy enough then. Sometimes though when she is on the couch she can growl at people (even for no reason. just lying beside somebody and starts).

The other main issue we have is people coming to the house. Be it kids, postman, family, salepersons. She will growl & bark at people. Shes happy to go investigate them, and take treats off them, but will follow people in the house and continue to bark/growl.

Shes too anxious to go to day care (we've tried a few places and all said shes too nervous and not suited). this means its difficult to leave her overnight anywhere if we go away. With her being anxious around visitors it makes it difficult for people to come into the house to house sit her (family etc).

And halloween last year was a terrible time. We got medication from the Vet to try to help her. Vet said give 2 tablets and a 3rd if she was really worked up. we had to give her 3....and she fought them. She was wobbly on her legs from it, but still very worked up and unsettled. Even long after people stopped coming to the house.

What have we tried?

OTC calming tablets -no effect.

CBD oil -started at low dose, now on a higher dose. limited effects

From the time dog was a puppy we introduced her to every person and dog we could to try to socialise her as much as possible.

Shes afraid of big trucks/buses and when on a walk was trying to run away. We've managed to train her to sit as they go past rather than bolt.

With people coming to the door we've tried to get the dog to go to her blanket and sit/wait quietly for people to come in, but very limited results. She'll run to the blanket and run straight to the door.

we've tried getting people who do visit to ignore her until shes sits & is quiet, then drop a treat. she'll do that and then start barking/ being worked up/growl (hair on her neck stands up).

So any advice on how to keep her calm for people to visit/ stay over and look after her would be much appreciated.

DBB

I think you would benefit from a good chat with a clinical behaviourist, or veterinary behaviourist.

Anxiety is very strongly heritable, in fact it is probably the most strongly inherited behavioural trait... It'd be interesting to know if either/both of her parents or grandparents were anxious, fearful dogs too... do you know?

If she has such a genetic predisposition for anxiety, then you were always going to be on the back foot despite all the socialising and work, and at this point, you're unlikely to make any real progress, at least not without help from anxiety-relieving medication, and a concurrent management plan to help her feel that she can manage her environment better, and consequently develop better coping skills. Allowing her to have access to visitors coming in the door is one thing that needs to stop for now: just sending her to her bed is too much of an ask at this stage.

Treats from visitors is backfiring on you, by the sounds of it, because it puts her in a place of conflict... she wants the treat, but she doesn't want to go near the visitor. Sometimes, a dog will focus on the treat, will go to get it, and only then suddenly realise "uh oh... I'm wayyyy too near that stranger for comfort", and that's possibly why she's growling. So, whilst I totally see why you tried this, and well done for trying to encourage her in such a kind way, it can backfire and have the opposite effect to what you were hoping for. Similarly, when she's resting on the couch beside someone... they can wake up and suddenly realise there's proximity they're not comfortable with, and that's where growling starts.

As a matter of interest, what was the drug the vet gave you at Halloween, do you know?

daheff

thanks for your response.

Her parents are generally well behaved farm dogs. No anxiety issues for them (at least not that we've been told).

Vet prescribed Diazepam for her at Halloween.

edit - i should also say I have an appt with the vet this week to discuss her anxiety.

Anawilliam850

It sounds like you've already done a lot to try to help your dog with her anxiety, but there are a few additional things you can try:

1. Counter-conditioning and desensitization: This involves exposing your dog to the trigger that causes her anxiety (e.g. visitors to the house) at a low level, and rewarding her for calm behavior. Over time, you gradually increase the intensity of the trigger, while continuing to reward calm behavior. This can help your dog learn to associate the trigger with positive things, rather than anxiety.
2. Pheromone products: Products like Adaptil (for dogs) can release pheromones that are meant to mimic the calming scent that dogs experience when they're nursing. These products can be used as sprays, diffusers, or collars, and can help some dogs feel more relaxed.
3. Prescription medication: In some cases, medication prescribed by a veterinarian may be necessary to help manage a dog's anxiety. There are several options available, including SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants.
4. Professional behavior modification: It may be helpful to work with a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist who can create a behavior modification plan tailored to your dog's specific needs.
5. Management: In the meantime, while you work on training and behavior modification, it may be necessary to manage your dog's environment to prevent her from becoming too anxious. This could involve keeping her in a separate room when visitors come over, using a baby gate to block off certain areas of the house, or keeping her on a leash and harness during walks to prevent her from bolting.

It's also important to keep in mind that anxiety is a complex issue, and there may not be a single solution that works for every dog. Patience, consistency, and persistence will be key as you work to help your dog feel more comfortable and relaxed.