Panda monium

[gwyn]

I have a new foster dog. Things are not...great, actually, and I'm having a lot of problems with her. But fortunately for her, she's really effing cute -- a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix named Panda Bear (she and her pups are named in honor of the Build a Bear foundation grant our group received when she was taken in). I know some of the trouble stems from her coming here and leaving her babies -- she was preggers when they got her, and her pups are being adopted out, so she went to a new foster home after weaning, which is lucky me. I've never had a dog who whines like this, all the freaking time. It isn't even whining, it's more like shrieking. And there are all sorts of other behavior issues. Lucky me.

But hey, like I said, cute:






The good thing is that she's a bundle of energy, which means I have to walk fast and far with her. The bad thing is...well, everything else. Know anyone in the Pacific NW looking for a cute small dog who loves to play and cuddle?

Comments

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

WHAT is this and where can I get it RIGHTNOW?

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

It comes in the brand names Adaptil and ComfortZone and as a spray or a plastic collar or plug-in diffuser. The Puli breeder uses the diffuser but I'm paranoid about them shorting out and catching fire, so I've been using the collars. I haven't tried the spray. I get mine on Amazon, but my vet's office also carries them (for significantly more than Amazon).

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Feliway -- it's the dog version. I have heard of it, I guess I didn't think about it because Feliway never worked on my two shitmonsters, although I've heard friends say it saved their sanity with marking cats. But I'm willing to try it, just because I don't know how much more of this I can stand. Her whining never stops, except when she's asleep or when we go for walks. And I know it must be hard to be separated from her pups, when she's still a puppy herself.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

This looong article on treating anxiety in dogs just got mentioned in a dog list that I'm on. It talks about a lot of different drugs but there's also a section on natural/home remedies:
http://www.dogaware.com/articles/wdjanxiety.html

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I have a real aversion to drugging animals, but who knows what might end up happening with her...I think she would really benefit from going to a home where there is another larger dog. She seems most relaxed when we encounter other large male dogs. But there's no guarantee of a home like that, so...