Kenya has slowly made improvements as far as being more comfortable with strangers in the house. The improvements have been slight, but when taken all together, my friends and relatives who met her the first week I got her and then again over Thanksgiving say she is a changed dog. The lingering issue seems to be men that are larger/louder/outgoing. She's done well with my cousin, my brother (who is tall but skinny), "strange" men at classes and in public, but she still expresses hesitation and nervousness around Phil and Phil's dad, to name a few. Ironically, she has always been more nervous inside our house than out in public.
In a few weeks we are going to Phil's parent's for 8 days and we are taking Kenya along for several reasons: 1) I think leaving her in boarding would really set her back as far as her trust issues and coming out of her shell, 2) I don't have any friends or family that I trust with her (my little sister is staying in our home to take care of Coke and my cats), and 3) she travels well, she is quiet, she likes her crate and as long as she is exercised hard, she really spends all day sleeping in her crate anyway (I keep the doors open at home, she goes in there). Phil's family has met her and his parents say it's OK. His SIL says it's OK with her (they have a new baby). Phil's parent's have a small laundry room so we are going to use that as Kenya's space. They do have a dog, and old cocker, so if he doesn't want her around she can be crated by me or have the laundry room which he doesn't care about. They live in a nice neighborhood and have a fenced in yard. Coke can't come because he's very big and loud and he howls if he has to be in his crate with other people moving about. There's already going to be 6 adults, a baby, and two dogs in a small house. Phil also thinks that his cocker wouldn't like Coke because the cocker was never socialized and Coke will scare him. Coke isn't really a velcro dog, he likes ALL people not just one, so he will have fun with my sister. We are working with him so that he won't have to be crated when she isn't home.
Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on how to make the experience less stressful for Kenya. By nature, she tends to be high strung. Her mind is always going a mile a minute. I've discovered that she is more tired out by mental exercise than physical. My trainer has suggested a DAP. I've never used one before. Are all DAPs created equal, or is there one that is recommended? Is there anything I can give her for the first day or so to just keep her tired and relaxed? I can call the vet for something if there is a prescription that would help, I just don't know what I'm looking for. Has anyone had any success with anxiety wraps?
I plan on telling everyone to ignore her, as in, no eye contact, please do not talk to my dog or touch her. But...these are all very roudy and outgoing people. They mean well. You know how people are.....they've had "nice" dogs all their lives and just don't remember when I say "please just leave her alone."