Anxiety?? Help!!!

M

monicaann00

Forums Regular
My 18 month old, Berkley, has been developing new anxiety issues on what seems to be a daily basis. He throws these tantrums where he spins, paces, barks, cries, etc if we use the microwave, toaster, phone, open windows, or open the shades. These behaviors have been getting more and more dramatic as time passes. We have tried several trainers to no avail. We see improvement with storms using the thunder jacket, but not with anything but storms. I am so in love with my dog, but he has also started to want nothing to do with me when my boyfriend is around. He is exercised regularly, and most the time perfectly behaved. I am looking for any advice I can get. Berkley is my second sheltie, Huckelberry Finn, my first sheltie, never had any of these behaviors. I am set to get a puppy from our breeder Saturday, but thinking of backing out since I know Berkley's behaviors will be transferred to the new puppy. I really want him to have a friend and it makes me sad to think it may not happen now. Does anyone have any advice for Berkley?
Thanks so much for any help you can offer,
Monica, Berkley, and our hopeful new puppy
 
Geez. I totally understand and empathize with you. We have three shelties and one has anxiety issues. We also use a ThunderShirt and it helps, but she'll pick at it so I can't leave it on her unsupervised or she would surely destroy it! We've tried meds, T-Touch, more exercise, an expensive behaviorist and Zoey is still an over reactive mess.

Don't know what to say about getting another dog. May help or it could end up being tormented by your anxious one. When Zoey gets really spun up she's been known to run by Bentley and take a chunk of fur out of him. Poor guy. Luckily, this rarely happens. There are days when I feel completely exhausted dealing with her issues.

I read somewhere that as the popularity of this breed grows so will the behavioral and health issues because backyard breeders who don't care about preserving the wellness of the breed are selling these sweet dogs.

Best of luck with your little guy. Hopefully things will settle down as time passes. At least this is what I hope for Zoey.
 
Thanks! I feel better just knowing I am not the only one! I am still on the fence about another puppy... I, too, hope time corrects this. We also tried meds but I didn't see an improvement and felt I was giving up since he is still so young. I know there has to be something I can do!
Thanks again
 
The new puppy will most likely pick up on Berkley's bad behaviors. My sheltie also has anxiety and barking/lunging issues. I will not get another dog until her behavioral problems are solved. I don't want a new dog to pick up her bad habits. Also, what if the new dog has it's own behavioral issues? Now you'll have to deal with two dogs with anxiety.

My advice is to fix Berkley's anxiety before getting a new puppy. Anxiety/stress is unhealthy for a dog and can possibly effect their heart and hormones. A new puppy won't solve his anxiety and time will not correct it. He needs private training. Look for a trainer who focuses on positive training and has experience with herding breeds.
 
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Have you tried just putting him on a leash? Lexi had very bad anxiety and would get to the point where she was just walking around yipping and acting like she didn't know what to do with herself. For some reason, if I put her on leash, she'd settle. I held the leash and just had her walk around with me or stay by me where I was sitting. In just a very short time, I could let go of the leash and she would lay down and go to sleep.

She is almost 4 now and her anxious episodes are few and very far between. Good luck. I feel bad for the dog when they get into that state. It seems like it must be miserable.
 
Wow, thanks guys! I am going to try the leash and have talked with my boyfriend, we will not be getting another puppy yet.
 
I don't think this sounds like anxiety, i think it sounds like typical sheltie behaviour. Mine bark at all electrical equipment, bags, wraps and foils, fly spray, brooms, airplanes, the list goes on. This is a great video from youtube of some things Shelties bark at - and you may also find a few threads about it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y7KHu41U5c

I am surprised the trainers said there is nothing you can do. There are a number of options including treating for quiet, playing the sounds over and over again, removing the dog from the room and controlled barking.

My male is a shocker with his barking at everything, I saw a behaviourist and she recommended controlled barking for barky breeds. He has to wait for me to finish using whatever it is and then it gets to bark at the end. With several things (dishwasher, dryer and washing machine) he gave up barking at them all together, but we still use it for many other items. It is much harder to do with 2 dogs though.

Thunderstorms are a different issue and usually fear based so I wouldn't necessarily use the same techniques for this and his other behaviours.

I think its a very good idea to wait before getting the other puppy. Not just because of passing on behaviours, but you also need to learn to deal with the behaviour or train it to a level that you find acceptable. Having a puppy around is liable to make Berkley's behaviours worse as well.
 
Hi. I noticed you are from Lansing. Carol at Michigan Sheltie Rescue may be able to help you. I would give her a call. You can find all the info. On the website.
 
*Caro said:
I don't think this sounds like anxiety, i think it sounds like typical sheltie behaviour. Mine bark at all electrical equipment, bags, wraps and foils, fly spray, brooms, airplanes, the list goes on. This is a great video from youtube of some things Shelties bark at - and you may also find a few threads about it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y7KHu41U5c

I am surprised the trainers said there is nothing you can do. There are a number of options including treating for quiet, playing the sounds over and over again, removing the dog from the room and controlled barking.

My male is a shocker with his barking at everything, I saw a behaviourist and she recommended controlled barking for barky breeds. He has to wait for me to finish using whatever it is and then it gets to bark at the end. With several things (dishwasher, dryer and washing machine) he gave up barking at them all together, but we still use it for many other items. It is much harder to do with 2 dogs though.

Thunderstorms are a different issue and usually fear based so I wouldn't necessarily use the same techniques for this and his other behaviours.

I think its a very good idea to wait before getting the other puppy. Not just because of passing on behaviours, but you also need to learn to deal with the behaviour or train it to a level that you find acceptable. Having a puppy around is liable to make Berkley's behaviours worse as well.
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Yes, those are all neurotic behaviors that our shelties can have. But like Caro pointed out, they can all be controlled to some extend, if not totally, using positive training techniques.
 
you need to find better trainers.
your choices, put dog in the crate in another room if you lets say have to use blender for long cooking preparation. Smaller things like opening window- teach dog to "settle" or train to go to "place"- treat with high reward treats for staying when someone opens window. If opening window is too much, break the process into smaller parts, start with walking towards the window- reward, then touching the window - reward, opening the window and rewarding for behavior you want.
 
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