Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog

• 10-31-2007 10:06 AM

  kiewi Joined on 10-31-2007 Posts 10 Points 45

  Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact Hello all, I'm new here but I needed some advice on my 2 year old Beagle/Jack Russell named Deegan. It's no secret that Deegan is 110% energy and barks A LOT. He barks when he's mad, when he's excited, when he's lonely, when he hears a noise out of the blue, and when the door bell rings. We just moved into a new house a few days ago. Last year we had only a few trick or treaters at our old house but after talking to some of our new neighbors, it will be completely different in our new neighborhood and we should expect tons of them. I am not sure what to do with him tonight. He's been a little more anxious than usual the past few days in our new house understandably but yesterday when the cable guy came to our house, he barked as usual but when the guy tried to pet him and say hello, Deegan bit him. I've never seen him behave like that, he always loves meeting new people. But since that happened, I know I can't have him around all these new kids tonight. Our house is a small rambler with all hardwood floors and if I put him in his crate, he will go crazy and bark every time the doorbell rings and the loud seal-like bark is going to be very unpleasant and unwelcoming. I didn't have time to take him to the vet these past few days with the move but is there anything I can give him to get him to calm down tonight? Anyone try that Comfort Zone spray in some pet stores that is supposed to make dogs a bit calmer?? Thank you for any suggestions in advance.

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• 10-31-2007 11:06 AM

  In reply to kiewi

  firedogk9 Joined on 10-21-2007 Jamesville, NY Posts 263 Points 375

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact As far as a product goes, I use one called Rescue Remedy.  I usually buy it online or at a health food store.  It is a liquid that you can just squirt in his mouth.  As far as tonight goes, I feel it would be best for him to be in his crate in a far room, with a tv or radio on if possible, make it loud.  He is already stressed from the whole move thing.  I don't think he should deal with any people, given the resent bite.  Also, stay either outside your door, sitting in a chair or just inside so people won't ring the doorbell.  Put a sign over the bell if necessary saying "Broken".  That will help keep people from ringing it.  Best of luck! Dawn www.avatark9.com It is only a bite if you have to get stitches, otherwise it is just a kiss!!

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• 10-31-2007 11:31 AM

  In reply to kiewi

  FourIsCompany Joined on 07-30-2007 Posts 4,738 Points 1,135

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact I love Dawn's advice! It's your call whether to crate him or not. I'm not sure I would, but I would probably not do the Trick-or-Treat thing at all (but I'm anti-social). Another option is to put a note on the door, disconnect the doorbell, turn out all the lights and pretend you don't do Halloween. I might put a note saying, "Halloween is against our religion. Please respectfully move along." or something like that. I refuse to be blackmailed by anyone. We don't do Halloween. Haven't for many years! It's not about religion, but we just don't do holidays. I have sat in the living room and watched people knock on the door and looked right at them and shook my head. LOL They just go away. We've never had any negative repercussions. But if you want to hand out candy, I'd gate the dog into a far room with noise and sit on the porch. *Now everybody knows how weird I really am* LOL  LSTM (Laughing Silently to Myself) Click Daily to Give Free Food and Care to Animals: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

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• 10-31-2007 12:22 PM

  In reply to FourIsCompany

  snownose Joined on 09-29-2006 Michigan to Southeast Posts 5,178 Points 405	Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact I don't get trick or treaters, but if  I did I would put the dogs in a different part of the house, maybe crate the ones that sleep in a crate on a regular basis......
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• 10-31-2007 8:08 PM

  In reply to snownose

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,478 Points 735	Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact  When I need to calm Rascal down in a hurry, I put him in his crate with dark blankets covering the sides. Cuts out all visual stimulation and encourages him to settle down and go to sleep. It also helps if I toss in some kibble or a kong or something else for him to chew on to distract himself.  Good luck, and welcome to the boards!
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• 10-31-2007 8:50 PM

  In reply to Cita

  houndlove Joined on 08-28-2006 Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts 4,054 Points 995

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact One of my dogs isn't really so good with lots of people (kids especially) coming to the door and milling around on his property and shouting, so he got crated in the basement with a yummy chicken wing and a nice calm, quiet environment. I hung out on our porch with the candy (it's a nice night here) so he won't even hear anyone ringing the doorbell or knocking.  Sometimes that's really the best thing to do. Conrad's in training for his issues, but as far as that goes he's still in middle school and a night of trick or treaters would be like a PhD dissertation. Pointless to put him through it, he wouldn't learn anything and just get stressed and form bad associations. Cressida and her best friends:

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• 11-01-2007 8:03 AM

  In reply to kiewi

  firedogk9 Joined on 10-21-2007 Jamesville, NY Posts 263 Points 375	Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact So how did it go last night?  What did you end up doing with him?  Hope it went well!! Dawn www.avatark9.com It is only a bite if you have to get stitches, otherwise it is just a kiss!!
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• 11-01-2007 8:35 AM

  In reply to FourIsCompany

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,498 Points 10

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact FourIsCompany: I love Dawn's advice! It's your call whether to crate him or not. I'm not sure I would, but I would probably not do the Trick-or-Treat thing at all (but I'm anti-social). Another option is to put a note on the door, disconnect the doorbell, turn out all the lights and pretend you don't do Halloween. I might put a note saying, "Halloween is against our religion. Please respectfully move along." or something like that. I refuse to be blackmailed by anyone. We don't do Halloween. Haven't for many years! It's not about religion, but we just don't do holidays. I have sat in the living room and watched people knock on the door and looked right at them and shook my head. LOL They just go away. We've never had any negative repercussions. But if you want to hand out candy, I'd gate the dog into a far room with noise and sit on the porch. *Now everybody knows how weird I really am* LOL  You're not weird, we hate halloween here too.  Or at least the trick or treat part.  I just find it intensly irritating and rude, and yeah it is blackmail in fancy dress.  We went out for a meal to avoid the trick or treaters.  So thats my advice... late I know, but might be good for next yr!  Find a pub that allows dogs and does food.  Or crate the dog, disconnect the bell and leave a "gone out" sign on the door.  We had a lovely meal actually... nicest one we've had all year which is saying something as we dont normally do italian. "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

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• 11-01-2007 12:09 PM

  In reply to kiewi

  kiewi Joined on 10-31-2007 Posts 10 Points 45

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact Well Deegan did pretty well last night. We tried Dawn's advice -- we were able to leave him out for most of the night and kept the door open and looked out the screen door to intercept all the kids so they wouldn't ring the door bell. A few times he got carried away, one time he managed to get past us and half way out the door, knocking over the pumpkins! But all in all, not anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. We went through 12 bags of candy, giving only 1 piece to each kid. It was pretty crazy! Deegs tried really hard to be good last night, you have to give him credit. My next post will probably be about his leash walking. Stay tuned!  Thanks everyone!

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• 11-02-2007 8:19 PM

  In reply to kiewi

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 9,819 Points 500

  Re: Trick or treaters = Very stressed dog Reply Contact We hardly get visitors knocking or ringing the bell. Except for the onslaught of Halloween. So, everytime someone comes to the door and Shadow downed and stayed, he got a treat. Halloween becomes a good thing. Sure, he still barked a few times but that's just noise. "Down" and he's flat on the floor. "Stay" and he's there until I come back in the door. I didn't even bother using the clicker. The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb

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