Almost 3 and some very sudden issues...

[BAMCB]

I'm so sorry, it must be very upsetting for you to deal with. Any answers from the blood work?


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[QY10]

Blood work came back normal.


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[Boxergirl]

What anxiety chew/treat did they send you home with? Composure or Compsure Pro?

 

[QY10]

Thera-Bites Mellows


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[Boxergirl]

Thera-Bites Mellows Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I supplement with L-Theanine and Lactium (a milk peptide), and valerian. I've never heard of that chew before. Our vets generally recommend Composure Pro, which is why I guessed that. Give it some time. L-Theanine is cumulative so it takes some time to build up to a level where it really helps. I give higher doses than what appears to be in one chew of the Thera-Bites to my smallish boxer. I hope it helps and if so, L-Theanine and Valerian Root can both be found for very reasonable prices if you wanted to supplement directly rather than in a chew form. The colostrum I don't know, but Amazon has Women's Stress Formula which is Lactium and should have a similar effect.

 

[QY10]

I think the Mellow chews I have have all those ingredients. Just not sure of the amounts. Should I be giving more of these ingredients than just the chews?

They do seem to mellow him out a bit... I think it is the stress of the new business. There have been some pretty heated arguments and nights spent on the couch lol.

Was getting ready to go out and caught a picture of this...

They were near each other! Ignoring each other, but still! He was even sniffing at her with a very curious expression on his face like he was wanting to engage with her nicely. She just toddled off and did her own thing though.


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[marke]

as someone who has 3 dogs bitten by each other multiple times a day , and breaks up 3-4 fights/skirmishes a day only to have them sleep in a puppy pile at night , I doubt you got a problem ...... the fact when he accidently bit you ,you have to know he wasn't really trying to hurt his intended target ..... I've been accidently bitten by dogs who intended to hurt the other dog they were looking to bite , nothing gentle about it , and it's extremely painful ..... personally i'd correct him and let him know clearly it's not something i approve of , and go on as normal ..... .. I've broken up little fights distracted the participants and had them doing something else together within seconds of being in a fight , and just forgot about it , I can pet 5 dogs at the same time without a problem ........ I think aspects of a dogs temperament change throughout their lives , a dog not yet 3 is not even mature yet ...... I had a sweet little bitch puppy , when she turned a year and had her first heat , from that point on the best word I could describe her with is "wicked" , I think one of the more dangerous temperaments I've had ..........maybe none of that will apply , or be helpful , but my dogs get pissed off at each other everyday , I break something up everyday , and they sleep in a pile every night .......if there is a big disparity in size in your dogs i'd definitely be more worried , I've never left a pup alone with an adult until they were big enough to defend themselves ..... I think you will probably find there is nothing wrong with your dog ............

 

[Boxergirl]

I think the Mellow chews I have have all those ingredients. Just not sure of the amounts. Should I be giving more of these ingredients than just the chews? They do seem to mellow him out a bit... I think it is the stress of the new business. There have been some pretty heated arguments and nights spent on the couch lol. Was getting ready to go out and caught a picture of this...

They were near each other! Ignoring each other, but still! He was even sniffing at her with a very curious expression on his face like he was wanting to engage with her nicely. She just toddled off and did her own thing though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, I wouldn't say you should necessarily be giving more than what's in the chews. It depends how he reacts to the supplement. If you have to give multiple chews, then it may be more cost effective to supplement separately. L-Theanine is my staple. Not just for the dog, but for my daughter as well. In our case, it really does help. I give Al, who is 53lbs, 100mg of L-Theanine a day. I was told to give it about two months to be completely effective. I found the chews to be more expensive than supplementing separately. I can get 100, 100mg capsules for $6 at Wal Mart. 100 capsules of Valerian for around the same at Wal Mart. The milk peptides or Lactium I get from Amazon. I don't always give the Valerian. That's not something that needs time to build up in the system, so I use that as necessary.

 

[karennj]

The description sounded like resource guarding. Maybe he is reading your stress and protecting you but does not know what he is protecting you from. Interesting that he also went after the dogs at the nosework class though. Was it only when he was in his crate or was he reactive as well when he was on the floor and the other dogs were "away". Does it only seem to be when he is near you?

 

[QY10]

Only when he was in his crate at nose work.

Definitely seems to be only when he's near Jason or myself.

Today, I came home from the office and he was in bed with Thalia. I asked Jason to sit between them on the bed and pet them both. They were both totally fine with it.

I have continued to leave him out with the other dogs because he really is okay when we're not home.

Angus is definitely calming down a bit. There was a period where he lived each moment with whale-eye.. Just totally on guard and ready to snap at any moment.

Jason and I talked and we have committed to trying our best to not bring our stress home.

It would also make sense because Jason doesn't work with the dogs with me. When I'm outside, I'm calm, I'm happy.. It really is my happy place. So, it would make sense that they are calmer outside when I'm calmer outside?


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[karennj]

I do think that plays a big part. I would still watch for resource guarding since you don't know for sure what it is yet. Just because he doesn't guard you in the back yard does not mean he wont guard in the living room. It is a different dynamic to a dog. I would just be aware when the other dogs approach, which it sounds like you are already doing. Start documenting the times you notice him tense/react so you can try and identify the trigger.

 

[Boxergirl]

I agree with Karen, it does sound like resource guarding. Al isn't a resource guarder, but he had other issues that we needed the help of supplements to take the edge off of the anxiety so that he could actually *hear* what I was asking him to do. It helped him disengage. Training - whatever is appropriate to the individual situation - should always go hand in hand with any supplements. Whether they be natural or rx. I know you know that, but someone reading may think that the meds are the solution rather than a way to get the dog back to a place where they are able to learn again. And maybe you'll find that he doesn't need supplements at all and you can work with this as just (not just, you know what I mean) resource guarding. I also second documenting. It's helped me see patterns that I would have missed otherwise.

 

[season]

I'd get back to working on groundwork and leadership with the dogs and family. Like I said earlier, most times we look at the dogs to find out what's wrong but most of the time it's us.


Carpe Diem

 

[Iulicris88]

Here's an interesting read http://www.reuters.com/article/us-dogs-emotions-idUSKCN0VP1DH
If thing were not great in your house, maybe it got to him too.

 

[QY10]

I do think that plays a big part. I would still watch for resource guarding since you don't know for sure what it is yet. Just because he doesn't guard you in the back yard does not mean he wont guard in the living room. It is a different dynamic to a dog. I would just be aware when the other dogs approach, which it sounds like you are already doing. Start documenting the times you notice him tense/react so you can try and identify the trigger.

I will definitely still watch for the resource guarding. So far the only time he reacts is in the living room and bedroom. He's fine with the dogs being around him and I in the kitchen. Our house is very small, so most arguments happen in the living room and there's nowhere to really go other than outside to get away from the situation, so sometimes we both end up just sitting in the living room being angry with each other lol. I would say it's probably the most tense area of the house. I will definitely document when he reacts.

 

[QY10]

I agree with Karen, it does sound like resource guarding. Al isn't a resource guarder, but he had other issues that we needed the help of supplements to take the edge off of the anxiety so that he could actually *hear* what I was asking him to do. It helped him disengage. Training - whatever is appropriate to the individual situation - should always go hand in hand with any supplements. Whether they be natural or rx. I know you know that, but someone reading may think that the meds are the solution rather than a way to get the dog back to a place where they are able to learn again. And maybe you'll find that he doesn't need supplements at all and you can work with this as just (not just, you know what I mean) resource guarding. I also second documenting. It's helped me see patterns that I would have missed otherwise.

Definitely. I gave him an extra Mellow chew last night before bedtime just to see what would happen if I invited him and Thalia up on the bed. They both cuddled up under the blankets together. Angus was comfortable, content and Thalia felt more comfortable around him, too. Things were almost normal except I was feeling anxious kind of waiting of the growl to happen... but the growl never happened and they both cuddled with me all night. It was really nice..

 

[QY10]

I'd get back to working on groundwork and leadership with the dogs and family. Like I said earlier, most times we look at the dogs to find out what's wrong but most of the time it's us. Carpe Diem

Oh, trust me, in doing dog sports I have learned that the problem is ALWAYS with me, haha. I agree, I do need to work with Angus more and go back to basics with him.

 

[QY10]

Here's an interesting read http://www.reuters.com/article/us-dogs-emotions-idUSKCN0VP1DH If thing were not great in your house, maybe it got to him too.

Thank you. That was an interesting article.

 

[season]

Ok, I'd start with that before forking out money. What do u typically do with Oscar when ppl come over. What are your expectations for him? What do u do?


Carpe Diem

 

[season]

My bad, that was totally off topic


Carpe Diem