Please help. What am I doing wrong?!?

    • Puppy

    Please help. What am I doing wrong?!?

    We rescued Lainey 7 months ago. She is a younger lab/beagle mix about 36 lbs. Lainey has severe anxiety. We've been to numerous vets, one that specifies in Chinese herbal medicine as well as regular medicine. We've tried thunder jackets, plugins, drops, medicine, you name it we've tried it. She shakes in her crate alllll day long. We tried rotating her out (vets recommendations) she chewed, accidents, knocked over the TV. We then locked her in the kitchen, which she figured out how to both unlock the door and bolt lock and run free all day. The maintainance men at our complex put her back in and locked the doors again, which continued all day... Long story short she's back in the crate. She has lost weight, she seems depressed. We take her everywhere with us when we are not at work, she growls at any dog she sees. I run at least two Miles every morning during the week and on weekends she comes Mountain biking with us, she has more than enough exercise, we make sure of that. She eats organix wet and dry, she has a special water fountain. I have no idea what else we can do, she still has accidents on the floor, she has ruined out whole apartment. We love her dearly, we just want her to be happy. She's obedient, just filled with so much anxiety and depression when we are not home. Is it us? Are we doing something wrong? Please help!
    • Gold Top Dog

    What medication did your vet have her on and for how long?     My advice is to consult with a veterinary behaviorist.    Anxiety and fear can be overcome with the right help.  I'm also going to give you a link to a site that will help you find someone in your area.    

    Having an anxious fearful dog is not easy.  Remember, when choosing someone to help, to  ask if they use positive reinforcement.  I'll also give you a link to an article on separation anxiety.  Hope these help you and your dog.  

    http://fearfuldogs.com/

    www.dogforum.com/.../finding-trainer-behavior-consultant-behaviorist-113946

    www.whole-dog-journal.com/.../Canine-Separation-Anxiety_16044-1.html

    This is written by Nicole Wilde.  She has a great book on separation anxiety that you might find helpful.

    www.whole-dog-journal.com/.../seven-separation-anxiety-myths_20800-1.html

    • Gold Top Dog

    I meant to say that you're probably not doing anything wrong. You've obviously been trying very hard to help your dog.