Calming remedies

[BACI]

Has anyone tried any of the calming stuff that is out there like calm down dog or problem pet solution? My Baci is having a real hard time when he goes to school. I thought if I gave him somthing to calm him down he might do a little better. He has known all commands even with hand signals since he was 3 months and now he is almost 9 months and barely got through beginner level obedience (second time). He gets crazy and at 73 pounds I can hardly hold on. My other two goldens never behaved like him.

[konabear]

Great question. I've always wanted to try some Clomequam (sp?) on Kona, but haven't. We took her to an MS 5k walk a few weeks ago with our new GR and she FREAKED the whole time. She wouldnt stop shivering and huddled between our legs. I had to pick her up at the start of the walk because a drum band was playing and she just freaked out. People were going ahhhh...how sweet, while I was thinking...would you like to carry her? Granted she's only 46lbs, but she ain't no toy poodle!

Was your GR just scared of his surroundings, is that why you want to try some calming remedies?

[KATERINA & TSOUFI]

Great question...Keagan had the worst scare ever. Last week we had our Greek Easter, unfortunately i have a church about 50 metres from my house and its a custom in Greece that every year on Saturday we throw millions of fireworks. The result? Keagan was shaking really really bad, he was desperatly trying to hide any place he could think of, he even jumped in the bathtub. His tongue and eyes were dark red, from all the blood going up. He was panting like hell. First time i got really scared he might have a heart attack. Anyway, day after, i thought of calm medicines and would they work in such a case. His fear for sudden noises is getting worse every day. Especially thuders and fireworks.

Katerina

[viru]

I use flower essences for my Sasha to help her calm down and take off the edginess in new situations. Sasha is a very shy girl and gets easily startled. Our trainer recommended Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy (she uses that for her own dogs before competitions and shows). I however spoke to an animal healer and communicator and found the essences that would work for Sasha and so far my experience has been great. They really helped us. We get our essences from http://healingforanimals.com/

[elvira]

I have read that the medicin they give dogs who are scared of firework, only calm the dogs, but make them more sensitive to noises. So the dog is still scared (or even more) only he can't show it because he is a bit sedated.

You can try DAP, calming signals, bach flower therapy.

See below for more information about DAP
http://www.dogclub.co.uk/advice/fireworks.php

I have heard from dogs who benifite a lot from DAP and others didn't.
Calming signals :
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB527
It worked great for the dog of my niece, who was afraid of thunder.
http://neholistic.com/articles/0099.htm

[Tailer'sFolks]

We tryed the Bach Rescue Remedy for puppy school (16-18 months old...) It worked, but I had to give Tailer the first dose 15 minutes before class and at least once during class...he just wanted to play wiff all the other dogs!!

Is that called "Lack of Socialization?" I used it for class too!

[Jasmine Skyes Mom]

I used Bach Rescue Remedy to bring my 8 week old puppy home on teh plane. Worked wonderfully! Also used it the first couple nights home to help him get use to the kennel, and before vet visits. Doesn't make him druggy at all which is why I really like it!

[Baylee Golden]

When I attended a Suzanne Clothier seminar she recommended a Vetri-Science product that contains L-theanine and prefers that to Rescue Remedy. KV Vets sells the product called "Composure Liquid". I recently purchased some but don't know how well it works since I haven't used it with my dog yet. A friend of mine found it to be helpful with her dogs excessive barking due to separation anxiety issues.

[BACI]

Thanks for all the great replies. Baci is very excited when I take him to school. He will not pay attention to me at all. If I had a steak he would not listen to me he pants and pulls and acts like he has had no training at all. He has been through 14 weeks of school and at almost 9 months has not changed when he goes to school. He doesn't behave like this at home (I am home all day with him). He is afraid of his own shadow though.

[Tailer'sFolks]

How old is Baci? Tailer is 18 months and we just finished our firs training...Tailer wanted to play wiff all the others...we had to sit way away from all the others so he would not pull to go play! He would do what I asked, but he really wanted to play!

We all got together an hour before the class and let them all have a free for all and ball throwing session. We all called our dogs and got them to come & sit during play...but get 'em into class and I called Tailer a Wild-Monster-Bully-Brat Dog!!

We passed class, but still need some more socilazation! Good Luck!

[BACI]

Baci is 9 months and I have had him since 7 weeks. I started taking him to Petsmart and everywhere like that to try and socialize him. He does seem to be afraid of alot but getting better. Yesterday another Golden charged him barking while we were walking and Baci wanted to get out of there fast. The electric fence kept the other dog back.

[Brooklyn's Mom]

Thanks for all the great replies. Baci is very excited when I take him to school. He will not pay attention to me at all. If I had a steak he would not listen to me he pants and pulls and acts like he has had no training at all. He has been through 14 weeks of school and at almost 9 months has not changed when he goes to school. He doesn't behave like this at home (I am home all day with him). He is afraid of his own shadow though.

Oh dear... this sounds very familiar. Brooklyn was the star of her puppy kindergarten class - it was almost embarrassing how well she did (for the other dogs, I mean ;) ) Then we moved on to our "Family Dog" class a few months later which was geared more towards obedience than socialization and basic training. Boy, did we have an ENTIRELY different experience in that class. Brooklyn wouldn't listen, tugged at her leash and was the WORST puppy in her class. My husband was beside himself with frustration with her. She was very distracted by the other dogs and when they brought out the agility equipment -whoo boy! She broke her leash to get up the A-frame !! (funny now - not so much at the time) Maybe Baci is just excited to be at class? We just continued to work with her and reviewed everything with her at home to be sure she got it. The next class she took a few months after that...well, she had grown up some more and handled herself better.

Baci is 9 months old? Just keep working with him. You may want to take the class over again later when he's through what may just be a difficult puppy phase.