Dog Community

Anxiety

Posted : 2/24/2011 12:11:38 AM

About a week and a half ago I got a DVR in the bedroom. Abbie & Layla have always slept in bed with me and the tv is typically on. It has never been an issue until now. Whenever I turn the tv on or off Layla jumps off the bed and runs out of the room terrified. If I bring her back in the bedroom she leaves again and won't come back until morning. I can tell she hasn't slept much all night. It's gotten to the point that if she sees me reach for the remote her hackles go up and she starts to react. I dread the time that I am ready to turn the tv off and go to sleep because I know what's coming. Something is stressing her out and it's stressing me out because I can't stand that she's clearly reacting to something. Plus I feel bad that she's leaving the bedroom at night and then I can't sleep.

I don't know what's causing this sudden anxiety that she's feeling with the tv. I will say that as she gets older her behavior is definitely changing..... she stays clear of other dogs and will snap at most if they get too close to her. Large dogs don't seem to be an issue... there are only a couple of dogs, besides Abbie, that she will tolerate and she hates puppies. Thunderstorms and fireworks send her into a catatonic state.... I have come home during or after a storm and found the house torn apart and can tell that she's tried to get into the shower. Now I leave the sliding door open on my step in shower so she can go in.... I know she's going in there because it's grounded and stops the static reaction in her fur.

I'm wondering what is causing this recent issue with the tv and am seriously considering a natural relaxant, but I'm not sure which one to try.... Kava Kava or Valerian. Can anyone please suggest something? I don't really want to have to resort to that, but I don't know what else to do. It doesn't seem to be getting any better. Thanx!

Jewlieee

Posted : 2/24/2011 8:49:02 AM

She sounds very noise sensitive. If this started when you got the new dvr box she is probably hearing the noise (that you can't hear) that the box is making. Dogs have a larger frequency range than we do for hearing.

I've tried valiarian myself and didn't think it did jack, so my belief is that it doesn't work on dogs either. However, that is just my 2 cents. I would consult your vet and see if they have suggestions.

tzu_mom

Posted : 2/24/2011 10:49:49 AM

I know a lot of people have had luck with valerian, and I have had mixed results with it---it did nothing for one of my dogs, but works really well for the collie that I sit for, but only if paired with passionflower.

What I have just discovered that has worked really well for our thunderphobic/fireworworks sensitive girl is Composure Liquid---a combination of theanine, b vitamins, and colostrum---my holistc vet recommended it after we tried valerian, passionflower, rescue remedy, thundershirt--all to no avail (she now sleeps through storms, no problem). I know that you can get it online---it's made by Vetri-Science, and available through many pet/vet supply companies.

shadowsgin

Posted : 2/24/2011 12:30:59 PM

Question; Is the problem only when you turn it off and on??? Have you tried turning it on and then letting her into the room?? I have a Thunder phobic BMD but he has never been bother by the DVR. However, at our house we turn off the TV but not the DVR. We leave it on all the time, basically, when left on it can do its downloads thru the early morning hours. We also have a sleep timer on one of the tv's so we are fast asleep when the tv shuts off. I am wonder if there is a noise that is related to the Power up and power down on the DVR

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 2/25/2011 2:36:33 PM

It seems like a combination of things.... mainly that ever since I got the DVR and I turn wither the tv or dvr off she panics. It was never an issue when I had regular cable. She reacts if she even thinks I'm reaching for a remote or put my hand near the bed side table. I have been shutting the dvr off when I shut the tv off because I can hear what sounds like a vcr rewinding and then I can't sleep, but she must be hearing something that I can't hear when the devices turn on or off. I feel so bad for her and it is definitely disrupting things.

I just set the tv timer so maybe that will help somewhat. Abbie is on Amiltryptiline (sp) for anxiety, but I really don't want to put Layla on it too if I can help it. I'd rather go natural if possible. I'm trying to show her when I have the remote in my hand that it's nothing to fear, that it won't hurt her and take her up close to the tv when I'm turning it off and on, but I'm not sure that she's not feeling some static or something coming off the equipment or something. :(

I'm taking the girls to the vet today and will ask about the kava kava and valerian. I've tried Rescue Remedy and that does nothing.

poodleOwned

Posted : 2/25/2011 2:42:19 PM

Sunshinegirl
. Whenever I turn the tv on or off

HI

I am putting my EE (electronic engineer) hat on here. It is highly likely that your dog is hearing supersonic (just above our hearing range) noises coming from the TV. Even when you turn off the TV it still has a small bias supply that continues to operate. Have you tried switching it off at the wall? When you do this, the bias supply no longer operates.

I would also get her checked out for ear infections etc.

She seems to be one smart dog and has learnt to predict an event that is dependent on another event that are quite loosely coupled. It is a pavlovian repsonse.