We are pleased to be co-hosting the 4th WOOF blog hop along with Oz the Terrier. WOOF (Working Out Our Fears) Support is where reactive dogs and their owners can come together to share similar experiences. Are you a reactive and/or fearful dog or its owner? Then please join us and share your story. The Blog Hop is open through Sunday.
What I’ve learned with Cricket’s issues and also from reading all the other informative posts from our blog hops, is that working with a reactive or fearful dog may always be a Work In Progress….they probably won’t ever be completely “cured”, and there can often be setbacks. Every bit of progress we make is to be celebrated, and we’ll probably be working with a lot of different tools along the way; some might work, some might not.
We currently have three tools I’m using right now with Cricket:
- Continued “watch me” training.
- Taking her favorite toy (a ball) on walks with us as a distraction.
- The Anxiety Wrap
“Watch me”. I’ve been doing better at remembering to take treats with me on walks. We periodically stop and I call Cricket to me, say “watch me” and give her a treat when she makes eye contact. She’s been doing very well with this, and will often come and look right at me without even hearing the command (though she may be hearing the rustle of the treat bag too!). I think these periodic stops break up her intensity at walking a bit. She’s been somewhat up and down….on some walks she seems much more relaxed, but on others she’s plowing forward with her usual intensity.
“Her favorite toy”. We’ve only tried this once so far (we don’t take daily walks like others do, fetch is our dogs’ main form of exercise…it’s their favorite and we have a great yard for it. Plus our weather has been cold and rainy). The ball really did distract her, and she seemed pleased to have the job of carrying it. The only thing I did notice was that she did seem a bit intense about that…..and I’m trying to get her to relax more. But I do think the ball could be a very good distraction when we meet other dogs. At the least, I’d know she couldn’t bite them if she had the ball in her mouth!
“The Anxiety Wrap”. We were offered this product at no charge to try. Let me tell you a bit more about it: The Anxiety Wrap was designed to treat many issues such as fear of thunderstorms and other noise phobias (Cricket is fearful of storms and fireworks), separation anxiety, car travel anxiety (Cricket has this also), and unwanted jumping and hyperactivity. It works by calming the dog through pressure and acupressure. It gives a calming, hug-like effect that activates and maintains key pressure points that enables pets to relax.
From a press release we received: “According to Dr. Roger Mugford, Pet Psychologist and Founder of The Company of Animals, “Fear and anxiety are at the root of many canine behavioral problems.” Unaddressed, these fears can result in aggressiveness, leash pulling, separation anxiety, excessive barking, and hyperactivity. “We’ve been using and recommending the Anxiety Wrap in The Company of Animals’ own British Behaviour Centre for Years” continues Mugford.”
“A recently published Tufts University Clinical Research Study, titled “The Effectiveness of Anxiety Wrap in the Treatment of Canine Thunderstorm Phobia: An Open-Label Trial” even deemed the product 89 percent effective!” So you can see why I was pleased to get this offer and the chance to give the product a try.
I don’t have any results for you yet…..we are in the beginning stages of getting Cricket used to wearing it. She dislikes having anything put on her, so we are gradually trying it. They suggest that you may only need one introductory session in which you should put it on and not interact with the dog while they get used to it. We did 20 minutes the first time and 25 the second. She initially stood stock still with it on, and then wanted to go outside to roll on the ground, which I let her do (what’s a little grass and dirt…it’s already covered with fur anyway). The second time after I let her do that, she then came in the house and laid down for a nap. So she’s adjusting to it, and I hope to try it on a car ride soon, our first step.
It does fit very snugly, but it is made of a lightweight and breathable fabric. I like how there are openings for their front legs to go through, compared to some other similar products I feel like it does fit just a bit more snugly. The rear leg “calming straps” are optional and removable, and are supposed to help release tension in their hindquarters. I found it much easier to put on the second time I used it, since I think it had stretched and loosened up a bit, and it really does fit her perfectly (it comes in 11 sizes).
I will share more on the Anxiety Wrap in future posts, but I wanted to let anyone know about it that might be interested in trying it. The price is $39.95 and you can find out more about it through their parent company’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and there are other available calming products at The Company of Animals.us.
*Disclaimer: We received a complimentary Anxiety Wrap to try and were in no other way compensated. Wag ‘n Woof Pets only shares products we think will be of interest to our readers, and we are honest in our reviews.*
Be sure to visit Oz the Terrier through the link below this week…he and his Mom Gina have some exciting news to share!
OK…I received an anxiety wrap too, which I gave to my mom’s dog to try since he is completely fearful of not just thunderstorms, but now just rain! I didn’t even think to keep it for myself and try it for Oz’s reactivity. Duh! Please, let me know how it goes with the wrap…if it helps, etc. We still work on a similar command to “watch me”…”look”…it works sometimes and others it’s like I am talking to a wall (a short hairy stubborn wall). Baby steps…right?!?
Thank you for co-hosting the hop!
Gina
That’s understandable that you didn’t think of that with the anxiety wrap, Gina, they don’t really market it specifically for reactivity. I’ll definitely let you know how we make out.
Sometimes I try to work with Cricket on “watch me” in the yard, when we’re playing ball and she doesn’t do very well then…definitely like talking to a wall! Yup, baby steps, and we just keep plugging along!
We do the “watch me” thing, too–but it sounds like you’re having much better success with it, haha. Mine are so hyper on walks that they won’t take a treat even if I shove it in front of their noses (not even cheese). But I’ll keep trying… Perseverance is the key. Right?
I’m curious to know how you do with the anxiety wrap; I’ve thought about using one (don’t know where I’d find it, they don’t sell them here in Curaçao, but I can probably order one online, or buy one when I’m in civilized land next) with Sam but I’ve heard mixed reviews. Like Cricket, he’s terrified of thunder and fireworks, and New Year’s over here gets pretty crazy on those last. I’ll be looking forward to reading about your (and Cricket’s) progress–maybe it’s a solution for Sam, too.
Thanks for hosting the hop, Janet! I look forward to this every month now 🙂
Guilie @ Life In Dogs
You are very welcome! I look forward to the hop so much too, because I always learn something from someone! Plus the support is invaluable.
There was a time when Cricket wouldn’t take a treat on a walk either, so we have definitely made progress there…so do keep trying, you are right that perseverance is key!
We have a neighbor that sets off fireworks for every holiday he can think of…so it’s a big concern here too!
I’ve been thinking of bringing a toy that Buster loves with us on walk but I would specifically only use it on walks or during other times he’d be on high alert and more prone to being reactive; I wouldn’t let him have it at home so it holds its value to him.
He’s not food or toy possessive or aggressive, but I was worried that maybe if he did see a trigger and gave him his toy maybe that would cause him to be more reactive to guard his toy.
I’m glad it works for you, and it seems like you are doing great! Maybe we’ll play around with the toy and see how it goes for us.
I agree with you, and have those same concerns for Cricket. Though I do know a ball will hold it’s value for her no matter how much she has one….she loves them that much. But she is toy possessive so I am concerned she would get more protective if she had a ball, so that’s something I definitely have to watch for.
It is a long road, but hopefully Cricket will learn to be less reactive. That wrap looks warm for summer, that would be my concern.
Thanks, and I did think of that, Emma. The first time I put it on her was one of our rare warm days so I did keep an eye on that and not leave it on too long. It does say it’s lightweight and breathable, but still, it’s black and that will attract the sun. So if we’re going to try it on walks it will only be on cooler, maybe cloudy mornings during the summer. During storms and such, we usually go down into the finished basement anyway, where there is a/c in the summer.
I’ve heard lots of good reports about anxiety wraps/thunder shirts, keep up the good work.
Sheba.
Thank you, Sheba!
Well that was very good. The first steps are often the hardest so keep going sweet woofie!
Thank you for your support and encouragement, Brian!
Can’t wait to hear about the results of the anxiety wrap, we sell a product called the Thundershirt and clients really like it.
We had a thundershirt for Moses, who hated thunderstorms the most. He would get so wound up and then the girls would as well. It really did help him calm down, and when he did the girls did somewhat as well. We did try it on Sheba last year and it didn’t seem to work as well with her. But we will give it another try this year when we start getting storms. Maybe if both girls have something on to help, they will both calm down.
It sounds like you have a lot of tools to try…and so great that you received the Anxiety Wrap to try. I’m looking forward to hearing how it works for you.
Cricket is lucky to have such a thoughtful, caring owner to help work through her issues. You know, some dogs may always be a work in progress, like you say, but those are the dogs we often bond with the most – since we spend so much time working with them. 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words, Donna! It is so true that we bond more with the dogs we have to spend more time working with. Cricket really enjoys our one on one time and I hope that in itself helps her overcome some of her issues.
I’ll be interested to hear more about that anxiety wrap too! That might be good for Rita. It’s cool that it comes in so many sizes so you can get a good fit. I wonder if it would help her calm down when strangers come to the house. That would be PAWESOME!
Oh, I definitely think that is something it could work on! I loved the many sizes too, so you really know you’re getting a good fit. I’ll keep you updated!
My favorite reactive dog tool is the calming cap. I can’t get over how peaceful car rides are when Leo doesn’t bark at everything out the window.
I remember reading your post about that….it’s so great when things work, isn’t it? I hope we’ll do as well with the wrap!
You iz doing a marvelouz job 🙂 Big Hugs xxxoxxxxx
Mollie and Alfie
Thanks, sweeties!! xxxoooxxx
Delilah does very well with look command or when I stick a treat under her nose. It doesn’t happen often, but there have been times when we’ve encountered something and she will look at me. Those moments are the ones that tell me how awesome we are doing.
Keep up the great work, Cricket will get there!
Thank you, Jodi. It’s so great to hear that Delilah is doing so well. I look forward to the day when Cricket looks at me without being told to!
Dangit. I don’t know how I keep missing this blog hop. Sigh.
I LOVE the “watch me” tool. So valuable. I’m really curious to see how it goes with the ball. I don’t think either Lucas or Cooper are toy/ball motivated enough for that to be a good distraction? But I’ve never tried. I’m looking forward to seeing how you and Cricket progress!
The linky list is open thru sunday!
Probably because you’ve had a zillion other things going on! 🙂
I would think it would definitely work better if they are very ball or toy motivated….Cricket is definitely that so in her case I have high hopes, and hope to have good news to report!
Coco is reactive too. We use the “look” command. It works….mostly. Getting Daddy to behave and use it too is another story. I’m working with him too. 🙂
Hee hee. I made my hubby take Luke to obedience school so he could learn some things too!
I chose “watch me” over “look” just because of Luke…since we’ll want to use it with him as well, I thought it would be less confusing! 🙂
Interesting anxiety wrap, I should maybe look into that for Lexus!
I think it may help her with a lot of different things!
Thank you for sharing, and it sounds like you are taking all the right steps, so good for you!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Thank you, Jenna. You definitely should look into the wrap for Lexus, I think it could help with many different things. And even if it only helped with some, that would be something, right?
What great work. I know it’s a long slow process, especially with older dogs, but you are really dedicated, so that’s the first hurdle.
Thank you! I know it will be worth the effort even if we only make small steps forward.
I will be interested to hear how the wrap works. I also like your idea of a ball for a distraction. Back when Storm was doing shows, which she hated, we tried a pheasant wing in the ring to try to get her to relax and show expression…lol…did not work. She was still worried about the whole thing.
Cricket is so ball obsessed, I’m sure she will be worried about the ball, which means she’ll still be worrying, but at least not about other dogs (hopefully)! 🙂
I hope the wrap does work, at least for some of her issues at least.