My Dog's Daily Anxiety Problems- advice needed

So our 4 year old Coton de Tulear was always a pretty excessive licker. Obsessed with licking couches, sometimes the floor and our bed. I guess that was his nervous tick but otherwise he's a happy excited dog. Doesn't have too much seperation anxiety but he's pretty protective.

- lately he has been on high alert. He's constantly licking and he's not nice anymore. He barks at every sound he hears now too!! we just had a baby (3months) and it probably comes from this. He growls at our relatives and us sometimes too. If someone walks by his food, sits too close to him or if someone comes over to the baby if me or DH are holding him, he growls. This week he's trying to show his teeth while growling. If we try to pick him up he will pee. My MIL watches DS and my other nephew and she said our dog growled at him and tried to bite him BC he got too close. (Don't think dog would actually bite but he's saying get away from me)

- don't really know what to do. Is there any natural calming remedies out there for him? We tried more exercise to reduce licking but no difference.

Message edited 11/16/2012 7:42:04 PM.

Re: My Dog's Daily Anxiety Problems- advice needed

I would definitely consult a trainer. My ILs have a very anxious dog and they have unfortunately never been consistent with a trainer, and she is a really difficult dog. I'm worried for when we have kids because she doesn't know her size, and just today was trying to bite DH while he put her calming shirt on. We use Thundershirt which helps a bit, but just getting it on her is a hassle. To me, without knowing more, it sounds like he needs more structure and definitely needs to work with a behavior specialist. Especially with a baby who will grow into a toddler in the house you need to nip this in the bud now before it gets out of head.

Good luck!

Re: My Dog's Daily Anxiety Problems- advice needed

I have a very nervous excitable dog. Well two of them. They took a long time to adjust when our DC came along. We did use barkbusters.com to learn some training techniques but intime, with patience, and a lot of exercise to keep their frustrations and energy released, they adjusted and went back to their regular normal in time.

Try barkbusters.com. They helped us gain control and learn how to train our dogs around our DC.

Re: My Dog's Daily Anxiety Problems- advice needed

We did a trainer, then medication and then allergy testing. Now with the allergies under control both of my dogs are better behaved and need Xanax much much less. My male dog was abused so there are nights he still needs a little.

My Dog's Daily Anxiety Problems- advice needed

what about those anit-anxiety sweaters that helps calm dogs?