Lexie is staying with us while Diane and Derek are in England. She suffers so badly with anxiety. I think she is also a little depressed and now add a very loud thunderstorm. About the only thing that helps is her crate covered with a blanket which is at Diane's. So, I hear the thunder and see the clouds, I have time to run to the barn to bring Chance in AND get back with the crate before the storm hits. Right? Maybe not.
I make it to Chance with his halter, a few rain drops. We leave the paddock, a few more rain drops. I decide to run and ask him to trot with me despite the fact that I am in flip flops. The sky opens up on us and the wind picks up hard. We make it to the stall as the first bolt of lightning hits and as I turn him around the white chair in front of the shed goes flying. We both handled it pretty well. Chance was scared and I think his feet may have gotton stuck, but maybe he just decided that running out into the bad weather just wasn't a good idea. So he looked and snorted, (snorting is good, right?) I remembered to breathe while petting his neck reassuring him that he was fine. He looked at me a couple of times, his eyes softened and he dropped his head to eat some hay. I stayed with him until the storm blew by, about 10 minutes. I told him that I was so proud of how well he is doing. And that in time when we are BOTH brave enough we will be doing everything we ever dreamed of. We are in this together and we are doing very well. Shadow looked at us through the crack in the stall wall and said he will do whatever he can to help us. I love days like this!
Oh, I did make it back with the crate and I'm soaked. A little to late for this storm, but I think we have more on the way. I could use some help with Lexie. I want to be supportive of her without encouraging the anxiety. She takes on so much of Diane's stress. I think her purpose here is to help Diane, but she has such a hard time relaxing. I think I'll try and give her 3 weeks of doggy spa treatment. Lots of walks, playing and maybe a job. I could use help at the barn keeping whatever animal is visiting at night away. Lexie can mark her territory everywhere down there and that would help. Maybe it would be good for her and Chance if we went on some walks together.
Anybody have any ideas?
Well, enough for now, I've got to get back to work.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Is this Lexie that I know? I didn't know she was afraid of thunder. :( My dog Helga is as well and what she needs is to be in a crate and covered. Poor girl.
BUt for overall stress, I think, no I KNOW that it helps dogs to have a predictable routine. If she is stressed, keep her meals at the same time and try to walk her at a regualr time, etc, etc. Change is hard esp for older dogs.
Besides a nice routine, stressed out dogs are helped by quiet nonpressured time. You sit. You touch or pet if they want it. Sometimes just laying ahand on without moving is good. You let her make the moves. (Even if you know her.) Just get quiet enough that SHE changes things, yknow what I mean? Sometimes you have to choose a small room, like a bathroom so that you are close to her without having to hold on. The quiet times seem to fill the dog with your calmness if you can let it happen.
I am even more zen psychic mindreadery whack with dogs than I am with horses. :) Find calm in yourself and give it to her. Use words if you have to. Tell her aloud, tell her with your mind, tell ehr with images that you are ther for her and you are giving her peace... I used to do this ALL the time as a kid and that is how I got chipmunks and sqirrels and little birds to come to me and land on my hands. Heh.
Oh and one last thing-- teach her an easy trick, maybe even one she sort of knows. Let her be successful at that trick and reward her. This builds her confidence. :)
Yes, this is Lexie that you know. We have tried a couple of medications. One seems to help with her leg licking but does nothing for all of the other anxiety and the other was helping with the thunderstorms but not the licking and she walks around like a zombie. I think a more natural approach would be better for her.
Thank you for the ideas. I think teaching her a trick will give her something else to think about and help with her confidence. Every once in a while she will come to me and sit at my feet and look into my eyes. I think she is trying to find some peace. This is when we just sit for a few minutes as I tell her she is a wonderful dog while petting her. I'll just continue and make sure I keep her on a routine she can count on.
Thanks again.
aww, I love Lexie. She is such a quiet dog. Even if all you do is practice things she knows-- like sit, lay down, or whatever-- it will be a little job for ehr and the success will help. For a new trick, maybe teach her to touch a target with her nose. That's such a simple trick and rewarding for the dog.
Post a Comment