Calming tablets for rescue dog

Poppy3008

I have been giving my 2yr old rescue Staffie Zykelene for a few months, before that Kalmaid. She is still very hyper at times making training very difficult - this is why we give them to her, not to sedate her. I was recommended this by the trainer and the vet also agreed it was fine to use these products.


Has anyone had success with a particular brand?


I don't want her knocked out but just taken down a level so she can concentrate on learning new behaviour. Her manners are poor - mouthing, jumping and since moving house she is really ignoring our instructions. I have asked the trainer to come and see her again so we can get back to basics with her but last time she came Ruby ended up on the table and most of the woman's arm in her mouth! I love this dog but she is like a toddler on skittles sometimes. She is sooooo over excited when people come to the house its embarrassing.
Any suggestions on medication or even training most welcome.

krlyr

What food is she fed on? Diet can make a huge different to hyperactivity/training issues.

GwylimT

She sounds like a typical staffie to me. I was always told by the vet that zyklene, calming spotons etc just reduce anxiety rather than sedate.

What food is she on?

How many walks a day?

What training are you doing?

What do you do about undesirable behaviour?

Poppy3008

She is on Arden grange grain free as her skin was very flaky on stuff with grains in, two walks a day - 30 mins each. Yes, I know - she needs longer!
We have been clicker trainingher but kind of stopped as although she is very food orientated she only does things when she knows she will get a treat - if I put my hand in my pocket etc. I am not sure how to keep training her - to sit and stay sat without constant food! She does not walk to heel but I know we have not invested into this as we are quite rural areas and don't often need her to but when we do clearly she can't as not taught how!
She is terrible at mouthing new people - well, anyone but me and my husband. Jumps up at people all the time. Even the vet today was uni prsssd with her mouthing telling her she is too old for that behaviour. I had to explain her rescue status but it is inappropriate.
I agree there is a lot perhaps which is her breed - and a lot of that is her best bit by being so loving and adorable. And friendly, but too friendly!
With her behaour we don't like we say no very strongly and I pull her down if she jumps up. We have tried treats but it seems it has to be endless! She is not easily distracted other than with food.
Any help appreciated!!

Person_one

I think you should look for a new trainer to be honest. If all this one has done is recommend medication and tell you to say 'no' to unwanted behaviour they don't sound fantastic!

Have a look here:

http://www.apdt.co.uk

Poppy3008

Thank you. The first trainer we had suggested she should be muzzled! I will check this page out.

elsien

Sounds just like Gitdog when he landed - EBT staffie cross.
Especially the jumping and the mouthing.

A good trainer will show you how to use the clicker so that the dog works for the treat, and doesn't just perform when there's one on offer.
With Gitdog, when he's stupidly excited and over the threshold, it's not worth trying training because it's not going to sink in. So it's catching him when he's calmer and slowly building up. Slow and careful exposure to new places and people. Doggy time out when he's being an @rse, which us regularly. And teaching him to be calm and to relax before he gets so worked up he doesn't know what to do with himself.

My trainer also said I'd never tire him out by walking, especially when we regularly had to return home because he was being a plonker. Mental exercise is far more effective. Start at 30 seconds at a time a few times a day and build up - Gitdog had the attention span of a gnat and a very low boredom threshold.

It is doable. With time, patience and consistency. But there isn't a quick fix, just slow steady steps.
Moving house has probably stressed her out all over again. Dogs don't generalise so as well as the upset, it's almost like starting from scratch. Stick with it, she'll be worth it.
I use a head collar when I know I need to be in control, and there's lots of people around. It was helpful for the jumping. Then as they start to learn (no fuss till they're sitting calmly to say hello, for example) you can use the head collar less and the harness more. Now my head collar rarely comes out, although it was on 231/2 hours a day to start with!

Person_one

Poppy3008 wrote: »

Thank you. The first trainer we had suggested she should be muzzled! I will check this page out.

Well, that's not terrible advice if she mouths and you can't stop her, just for when she's out in public around other people of course, and you'd have to train her to get used to wearing the muzzle. Better if you can stop the mouthing quickly of course!

elsien

Do you use a house line?
Gitdog goes in his crate or in another room when people come. When he's calmed down a bit, he comes out on a lead. If he tries to jump on them, I tell him he's a silly boy, and move him away. I ask guests to ignore him until he's sitting calmly. When they say a quick hello, then we carry on. It's time consuming, so I do tend to put him back in his crate if he can't behave otherwise he's getting more attention than the visitors. But people don't come to my house to get jumped on.

Poppy3008

Elsien - thank you for your advice and your experience with your own dog. I think we are still deluded to her breed and age as our last dog was a placid old Labrador. Different ends of the spectrum! I am probably trying to do too much with her when she is over excited. I have been playing 'find it' games with high value treats which seem to tire her mentally. I agree I doubt we can ever physically tire her - we did an 18 mile walk and she still could not switch off.
It's really helpful to have others opnions on this - and I need to remember that's there is no over night fix. She is adorable and I know she can be a good example but I have to remember too unless I teach her how can she know.
With regards the muzzle - I want to avoid this route especially due to her breed and as it is just mouthing not biting I feel we can overcome it. But, like every responsible dog owner if she cannot stop then yes, that is gong to be considered. Thing is she is always worse with a trainer than with anyone else so to them she looks like an out of control maniac. We have used a head collar but she gets it off very quickly now, but I think I'll try again with it using squeeze cheese as an incentive.
Thanks everyone.

Jackieboy

Have you tried an Adaptil spray or plug in?

http://www.adaptil.com/uk

Some people find it very helpful in your situation.