As many of you know, we have been slowly reducing the anti-anxiety medication, that Ray has been on since he was rescued by our local Humane Society. He was initially given 40mg/day and, over quite an extended period of time, we reduced him to 10mg/day (at the end of this past June). Since June, we have had isolated events which may/may not be attributable to his meds reduction and so, not wishing to take any chances, he is currently still on 10mg/day.
As many of you know, Ray developed severe separation anxiety. He is attached to both of us, but more so to Carol. We have tried to address this numerous times, but other events/issues have always sabotaged our efforts.
Carol and I used to do a lot of cycling together before Ray entered our lives but, as a result of his separation anxiety, it has been quite impossible to continue. We have recently decided however, that Ray should not stop us from cycling, but it would have to be underΒ different circumstances. A neighbor also cycles and invited Carol to join their group … which she did. The idea worked well for Carol who is not comfortable cycling on her own.
As many of you know, dogs interpret things very literally. Ray, for example, would have no prob;em with me leaving by the back door, but had a huge problem if I left by the front door! So where is all this going?
Ray is getting used to Carol leaving in her car. He will complain for about 10-15 mins after which he will settle down. The other day, she took out her bicycle and road off down the driveway to meet the neighbor (and her cycling friends) as they had planned on a relatively long bike ride. She left mid-morning, and returned in the early afternoon … and Ray did not stop whining, moaning and barking during the whole time! Not only was he wearing me down, but the poor guy was so distressed. I made the decision that Ray’s meds would be increased to 20mg/day and we would monitor that for a while.
It will be a balancing act between his level of medication, and what is necessary for him to adapt to being on his own. Perhaps the 20mg dosage (and the standard separation anxiety training regimen of taking it a small step at a time) will create the “magic” for all of us? We shall see.
Poor Ray, but he will learn the new addition to Carol’s routine. He just needs to see it a few times to know that she comes back eventually. Good luck. π
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Thank you. He will certainly “get it” eventually but, based on the past 5 years, it will likely be slow progress. π
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It is so good that you and Carol have so much patience! Ray has taught you how to excel in the gift of patience, hasn’t he. π He is so fortunate to have found his forever home with the 2 of you.
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It’s much like having children. once you decide to have one, then you should take full responsibility for it regardless of the issues as it grows up. π
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Can’t argue with that! π
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Well you can … but it probably wouldn’t make much sense to me! π
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LOL! π
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Aw, I’m sorry to hear of Ray’s anxiety. He is a true child, he misses his momma. I can’t even imagine what he went through before being rescued that has him so upset over being left behind. Poor guy. Give him a hug from me. Tell him I said it will all be okay π On a side note, I think increasing his meds while you transition is a good idea.
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His history can only be based on speculation, but we’ll get him sorted out one day! π
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Sorry, to hear of the reversal. He’ll likely bounce back quickly!
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I am sure he will. We just have to progress very slowly. π
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All five of our dogs have separation anxiety whenever we leave the house. Especially whenever my wife leaves the house (she feed them). But we’ve never given them medication for it. That seems rather strange to me. So far they’ve survived. However on occasion we have one that will chew something up when we’re away, perhaps to punish us. Perhaps medication would have saved us a pillow or two, but I’m not ready to go down the meds road just yet.
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Ray was put on anxiety meds at the shelter because GSD’s can lose their self-control in confined areas (the caged pens), and worse when they cannot escape from the stares of passing strangers (potential adopters). They will often get into self mutilation such as chewing their tails. Our shelter’s goal was to prevent the stress evident from such behavior. Dogs have chewed through walls and doors and jumped through glass windows, with severe cases of separation anxiety, in an effort to find their human. Less severe cases offer a number of alternatives of course. Thanks for your comments.
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Okay, I think I understand this better now. It must be very traumatic for dogs to be locked in cages. Sad that some actually harm themselves.
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Some breeds adapt better than others. Probably not much different from us re enclosed spaces! π
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ππ
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It’s not easy but it will be good eventually π
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Of course it will. Patience. Patience. Patience. π
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π
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Look at me tablet free for over a month no longer counting days π
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I too have a rescue with lighter symptoms than Ray and it makes me wonder about previous owners who created or accentuated this issue. Hoping the med increase helps.
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Ray does respond to training very well so I would expect that he will respond better to one of us leaving (and later, both of us leaving) once we get his meds sorted out. π
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Weβre rooting for you Ray. Any chance you could learn to trot along with the bike Ray? Do they go to far?
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Hey Carol! I’m not a high energy dog. I had heart-worm a long time ago … remember? Of course I also might just see a squirrel, or a cat, and take them both off their bikes! BOL!
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Thanks for Ray’s progress report. Sometimes even human meds need “adjusting.”
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Absolutely. π
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Oh, saw Zack the other day. Vogue’s training is coming along slowly but surely so because she has other dog and people issues, we wave from a distance rather than upset her progress.
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Some dogs have to be taken in very small steps, and an interruption of the training program can set things back. Keeping your distance is very thoughtful. π
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I would hate to jeopodise their efforts, especially
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π
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(hit send too soon), especially as Vogue has been attacked by a little dog locally which even had a go at Zack. He swatted him away with his paw (good boy!)
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Ray tends to be very cautious when being approached by a small dog for the same reason. He has had a couple of bad experiences.
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The little ones always seem to be the worst thugs.
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That has also been our experience. π
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Thinking of you and your dilemma. Poor Ray. Hopefully it won’t be long before he accepts the new routine, even if he’s not exactly happy about it.
We have a similar issue with Maggie as if we leave her alone in the house, she howls. Yet if we take her with us in the car and leave her in that for a little while (never long I hasten to add, and NEVER EVER on a hot day) she will curl up on the front seat and snooze. However, there are dognappers around, and she does not look like an old dog, so a good candidate for breeding at a first glance. We won’t take the risk, and if we can walk her with us, that’s fine, or if it is hot and we can’t, one of us stays in the car with her, leaving all the windows and a couple of doors open.
There are a few people locally who have little buggies attached to the back of their bikes and the dogs love it. Mind you, they are either westies or JRTs. Somehow I can’t see Ray riding pillion. Hugs to the big guy by proxy.
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Yes, his size is a factor which we cannot overlook. Hugs duly given! π
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome! π
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Hopefully just a small set back! Good luck with this.
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Thank you Michael. We’ll figure something out that works for all three of us! π
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Awh, sorry to hear about Ray’s setback. I can imagine how his whining, moaning and barking would get draining for that long of time and how you felt helpless at trying to soothe him. I think you made a good decision about moving his dosage back up to 20mg. Whatever it takes to have him feeling good. Hoping the “magic” does happen for all of you, and that you guys can continue to enjoy cycling again!
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It’s either that or we teach him to ride a bike! π
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Now that would be quite the sight to see!! π
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Have you ever considered CBD to calm his anxiety? It’s quite effective helpful when pups get stressed out, without being in a drug induced haze.
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We have tried many things that have apparently worked with other dogs, but his current meds are the only ones that impacted Ray. We are aware of the CBD potential but, given that his meds do work (albeit in a higher dosage), and he does function very well even at 40mg/day, we don’t want to “rock the boat” just yet! π
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Poor Ray. If only we could explain that she is coming back. Maybe he was deserted or unnaturally separated from his mother too early and that bad feeling hovers in his dog brain. If there is a dosage that helps him, that’s a good thing.
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Because he had zero social skills re other dogs, there is a strong possibility that he was separated from his Mom too early. She would normally have taught him those things. He was afraid of everybody and anything that moved, when he moved in here, so there is a strong suggestion of some form of abuse and, because he had no collar, tags, other i.d. and was not reported lost or stolen, there is a strong possibility that he was taken somewhere and abandoned (it took him some time to be happy getting into a vehicle!). Poor guy … but we’re working with him! π
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He’s very lucky.
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He is ……… but so are we! π
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Perfect match.
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Poor thing. Maybe Carol can get a wagon to attach to her bike and take Ray with her.
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We have joked about that. The problem is stability with 80lbs of dog suddenly deciding to leap out after a squirrel! One can imagine how that would work out if he was strapped in! π
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I was going to say that,xx Rachel
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π
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