Hey there! Remember me? I thought I’d pop in and restart this blog- mainly because my “foster mom” just got charged for her yearly subscription she forgot to cancel.
Alot has happened to me since I was last here!!
I stayed with an amazing adopter that was completely devoted to me and made me feel safe- but ultimately, it just wasn’t the place for me to fully spread my wings.
So I went back to that first foster home for a brief time before shuttling off to a different foster home while the rescue group decided what to do about me.
At that foster home I did INCREDIBLEY WELL! I was able to decrease the anxiety medication I was on…I found a friend in an older deaf spaniel mix that didn’t mind my loud bark…I learned how to play with toys better….and I was just generally a super comfortable happy dude
But when it came time for the rescue to try and find me a permanent home, I decided I was just fine where I was…problem was, my foster mom was so busy, she was worried I wouldn’t get everything I needed from that home
SO- here I am back at my first foster home hanging out with the mehagerie of resue critters I remember from a year ago…
Today is a good day to talk about anxiety medication because there are a lot of dogs out there terrified of fireworks. It’s a busy time for veterinarians because they are getting asked to fill medications to cope with this holiday, and when dogs are really scared from the noise and commotion, they can try to escape from their homes to get away and end up getting hurt.
Thankfully, I’ve been taking anxiety medication for almost a year now. I’m feeling more and more independent myself, but although I’ve been coping well, I still need to stay on my meds.
I don’t think I would have ever been able to cope this way without the help of some medicine to break through my extreme phobia. It took many months of evaluating one type of medicine and then adding or adjusting to another medicine before we found the right “cocktail” for me. One medication actually gave me the munchies, which was perfect, because that allowed me to realize there are yummy things more gratifying than hiding in a hole and refusing to face my fears. Once we got there, my frightened little brain started to make happier connections and I learned how to access some courage and joy. After several months, my brain has sort of been reprogramed to allow easy access to happy emotions and suppress the fears. Now that I’m there, I don’t need all those different meds. But I still take one or two daily, and I have emergency meds on the shelf in-case I really need them. Like for loud parties and fireworks 😉
I think a lot of pet owners feel a little afraid themselves about giving their pets behavior medicine.
They may think the medication is going to change their pet’s personality, or that their pet will just be sleeping or “stoned” all the time. Others may think the drugs are unhealthy or unsafe and prefer to use natural/holistic treatments instead.
It’s very important to work closely with a veterinarian and make adjustments to the treatment plan when concerns like these come up. Changing the dose or time of day given is often helpful. Starting slowly and being patient for results is important. Or switching to a different medication may be the solution. I worked through 5 different drugs, and natural supplements before I finally learned to wag my tail.
The most important point I can make about using behavior medications, is that it’s never intended to work alone to “cure” the problem.
Whether it was prescribed for separation anxiety, fear aggression, noise phobia, compulsive behavior, overarousal, etc, the medication is intended to help the brain to make it easier to learn and adapt. Behavior modification plans should always be part of any treatment plan involving behavior drugs.
The treatment goal of any behavior problem is modification of that behavior. However, the term behavior modification is vague and depends upon the individual patient and behavior being addressed.
Management of any problem behavior requires recognizing and avoiding the stimuli that trigger the behavior in question.
The dog needs to learn to behave differently in response to the stimulus. The term differently is intentionally nonspecific because it is tailored to the individual animal and context in which the problem behavior occurs.
Behavior modification might include anything from counter-conditioning a fearful dog; actively training an appropriate, alternative behavior to a cue; or desensitizing a separation–distress dog to its owner’s leaving the room.
In some cases, there are limits to how far behavior modification alone can go. Extreme situational stress or fear can interfere with learning and decision making.
When dogs are overtly reactive—or, in the language of dog training, over threshold—they are physiologically aroused, which involves both the autonomic (fight or flight instinct) and endocrine (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis up-regulation) systems. In these cases, there is rarely any middle ground—the dog will move rapidly from a lack of reaction to extreme avoidance, aggression, or panic.
Temperamental or inherited generalized anxiety can also interfere with learning. Generalized anxiety, similar to situational anxiety, is more pervasive and challenging to overcome through training alone.
In these patients, the addition of behavioral drug therapy can significantly improve response to treatment. When underlying anxiety is reduced, the dog is more receptive to learning and its behavior can change more reliably in the long-term. As one owner of a fearfully aggressive dog reported after 2 months of fluoxetine administration, “I feel like it’s opened a door to her brain.”
WHAT ABOUT FIREWORKS?
Although, on a day-to-day basis, sedation is not a desirable drug effect, it may be necessary to eliminate distress spikes in specific situations, most frequently:
Separation anxiety (administered at point of the owner’s departure)
Thunderstorm or fireworks fear (administered 1 to 2 hours before the event)
Car or airplane travel (administered 30 minutes before travel; then repeated as needed during travel).
Rather than administration on a daily or standing basis, sedative medication can be given on an as-needed basis, often in combination with a daily medication. Adding a short term medication at a higher dose which will cause sedation a few hours BEFORE the stressful event keeps the dog’s brain in a calm place. If it is given too late, and distress has caused the brain to climb over it’s anxiety threshold, it is almost impossible to calm down without removing the trigger.
I hope this helps some readers understand the importance and some misconceptions about behavioral medications. I could go on for hours discussing my own experiences, trials, fails, and successes. Please comment below if you’d like to know more:)
Being part of the shelter community for so long, I saw a ton of newly adopted pets come and go. Unfortunately, sometimes they would only be gone for a few days or weeks before returning.
I think that is because the dog that the adopters meet in the shelter, or see on fun videos, is not the same dog they see when they take them home. It’s important to remember that sometimes those dogs in the shelter are very acclimated and comfortable with the lives they have established there. They have a routine with predictable feeding, walking, playing, schedules and are very familiar with the people they interact with and places they go.
The 3-3-3 rule is a general guideline to help new adopters know what to expect as we go through the different phases of adjustment to a new home. Not all dogs meet these milestones at the 3s mark. Some move through much more quickly, while other dogs, like me, take a little longer. Here is a rough idea of what to expect along with how I’m doing in the process 🙂
Phases of a rescue dog: The first three days
Your new canine companion needs some time to decompress. He probably feels unsure of what’s expected of him and is stressed. He may:
Feel overwhelmed
Be scared and unsure of what’s going on
Not be comfortable enough to “be himself”
Not want to eat and drink
Be shut down and curl up in a safe area such as in a crate or under furniture and sleep a lot
Have diarrhea from stress or dietary changes
Test his boundaries
My new mom definitely knows the rule of 3s well. For the first 3 days I spent all my time is this super comfortable bed curled up by her side when she was there. When she needed to leave me, she made this uber cozy pillow fort I could hide in and feel safe.
I showed all the classic signs of phase 1 when I got to my new home. I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t explore at all, I only wanted to lay in bed. My heart was racing, and I was on edge. After only 1 night I was starting to relax taking deep breaths and stretching out for tummy rubs. Mom kept the window shades closed and the rest of the family out of the room so I could really decompress during this time.
I took some time to moving into phase 2, but now that it’s been a week, I am making baby steps to get there. I’m brave enough to sniff around the yard for a few minutes before running back inside after going to the bathroom. Once I’m inside, I wag my tail in excitement! YES I still remember how to wag my tail!!! Some of my old foster families never got to see this personality. I’m really getting the hang of this! I’m definitely not the same dog you see in the videos and pictures from my last foster home. But it took me months to show them my true personality. I hope the little sparks of my personality shine through during my transition to give mom encouragement that I will get there again with time and patience.
I’m also slowing learning who all the other family members are. They talk to me from the doorway and I see mom petting and playing with them from a safe distance.
I’ve got to say, it’s really important to take time introducing other pets, people and novel situations to your new rescue dog. Even though it’s exciting to have a new family member and you want to make them part of everything you do, be patient and let them settle in slowly. I think there would be far fewer returns to the shelter if every adopter understood these three phases. The first few weeks of a rescue dog’s new life is not the time to take them to the dog park or throw a welcoming party for all the family and friends to meet your new pride and joy. We need the time to get to know you and our new home first before we can enjoy our whole new wonderful world.
I’m on my way through phase 2 now which may take longer than 3 weeks but my mom is ready for the challenge 🙂 Check back here in a few weeks to see how I’m doing!!!!
Phases of a rescue dog: The first three weeks
During this time, your new addition starts to feel relaxed and his true personality emerges. He may:
Start to settle in
Feel more comfortable
Realize that this could possibly be his forever home
Figure out his environment
Get into a routine
Let his guard down and start to show his true personality
Show any ingrained behavior problems
Phases of a rescue dog: The first three months
This is the period when your adopted dog’s true personality and temperament are displayed. It’s a great time to bond with him. He may:
Be completely comfortable in his new home
Start to trust and build a bond with you
Gain a complete sense of security with his new family
Settle into and embrace his new routine
How to help your rescue dog settle in your home
Set up a safe space away from commotion, such as a spare bedroom or laundry room. It should be a welcoming area with a cozy bed and crate.
Establish a routine so that your new canine companion will know what to expect from and feel confident in his new world. He needs regular feedings, exercise, play and training. Use positive reinforcement and speak calmly when getting to know him. Have patience. Introduce him slowly over time to his new environment and family.
The 3-3-3 Rule establishes milestones that help predict what your new canine addition may be experiencing. By understanding what occurs during these three periods, you’ll be better able to help him adjust to his new world. With patience, planning and routines, the bond with your rescued pup will blossom and you’ll have great adventures to come and memories to make.
There really are sparks of magic present in the overwhelming scary world we all live in.
This is Tucker, and I really didn’t think anyone would ever understand me the way my foster parents do. With all the sadness and disappointments, I’ve known being a part of the animal shelter system, it becomes hard to believe that there would be a stranger willing to help such a hopeless shutdown animal like me. It’s easy to be cynical watching adopters passing by behaviorally challenging pets in order to find the happy, friendly young animal that will bring easy joy and comfort to their home. I wish there were more people who understood the incredible bonds that can be built if you have patience and understanding.
I am once again off on a new adventure, but thanks to all the incredible fosters I’ve known, and the continued support I will be getting, I’m not as scared as I thought I’d be.
2 days ago I started a trial adoption with the most wonderful family I could imagine. They actually refuse to call it a “trial” because they are so sure we are the perfect match! That’s because they have been down this road before… 10 years ago, they saved a dog with severe anxiety similar to me. I hope I can learn from him and become an inspiration to anyone considering bonding with an anxious dog like me.
If you’ve subscribed and follow my adventures, you’re not done hearing from me yet! I want to keep you all updated on my new life if I can. I still have so much to say and want to share anyway I can help other families with pets like me.
My next post will be all about drugs, cause I’ve taken a lot! And it’s important for me to continue my medications with the help of my veterinarian while I adjust to my new home. Please comment or e-mail me with any questions or stories of your own. I’d love to be an ambassador for canine anxiety success!
This foster mom I’m dealing with is BANANAS! She insists on taking me everywhere she can. Personally, I’d rather just wait in her closet when everyone is at work or school, but she thinks I need to experience life.
Last week she took me all the way to the bay area where she was working. I had to ride in a car for over 2 hours in stop and go traffic listening to her doom and gloom news on the radio. I guess that’s what it takes to actually make me excited about being in a new workplace. Check out this video of me FINALLY getting inside after being on the road and prevailing over the trials of maneuvering through a big city parking lot and specialty hospital.
A new work space 🙂
That was a long trip and we had to stay in a tall building with lots of windows called a “Hotel”. They had this crazy box that pulled us up into the sky and we stayed in a small house which had a really big bed…and not much else.
Thankfully, I had my trusty chariot to get me there, because I don’t think I would have willingly walked through those scary places. I have a small crate on wheels that I can comfortably lay or stand in. This makes me feel safe when I have to move through places that paralyze me with fear. I rolled right through that lobby and into our room without peeing or pooping from fear (yes I do that sometimes….I can’t help it)
Most of the time on “take your dog to work day” I don’t have to go so far. This is where my foster mom works on a regular basis. I’m getting pretty comfortable in the office 2 to 3 days a week there, and I’m learning to trust people coming to the door to give me treats 🙂
The best part of the day though is still getting back home to receive my reward for surviving another crazy adventure into the big world
I was brought to an animal rescue in July 2022. I was so scared that they didn’t even put me in the kennel runs with the other sheltered dogs. They thought I needed more quiet so they let me stay in an adoption condo up front. They left me food and turned down the lights but all I wanted to do was hide in a corner. So they decided to send me to a foster home…
I was driven to a home where I lived with a very nice lady. There were no other animals or people, so it was very quiet…but I still just wanted to hide. My foster mom had to leave a leash attached to me to lure me outside to go potty, but still, I wouldn’t move or stand.
The doctors at the rescue said I needed some medication to help with my severe anxiety. But I needed to be eating in order to take them. My foster mom tried everything to get me to take my medicine but I was just to terrified to eat and I was starting to loose a lot of weight. So they brought me back to the veterinary clinic at the rescue where they DO NOT mess around! That vet marched right over, opened my mouth and popped those pills right down my throat. Then she gave me a kiss and tossed me a treat….which I sneakily ate much later while no one was watching.
Foster home number 2:
I spent 2 weeks at this home where I lived mostly in the bathroom because that’s where I felt safe. They hand fed me and carried me outside to use the potty. They also made sure I took my meds regularly, even if that meant using that rude trick from the veterinary clinic. I got used to it, and after about 2 weeks there, I started to get a little bored in the bathroom. So I joined the rest of their pack in the family room, garden, and on this HUGE cushy bed at night.
Foster home number 3:
That foster family couldn’t keep me long so I went to a wonderful home with 2 big people, 1 smaller person and no animals in sight. I learned so much at this home! I learned to walk outside to go potty. I learned to take treats and medication (most of the time) without that nasty veterinarian trick. I ate really well, like a king, and learned the “sit” trick to get cookies. They even brought another young dog home for a week. That dog seemed to really trust this family and was ALWAYS with them getting pets and attention. One magical night I had a dream and started to wag my tail like that other dog was always doing. That’s the first time I remember wagging my tail ever!
Foster home number 4:
Seeing how well I responded to having another dog around I was moved once again to my 4th foster home and this is where I’ve been ever since. This home is a little crazy. There are 3 other dogs here, 3 creatures they call cats, a very loud small person and 2 big people…one that drags me everywhere she goes if she can. I know I can’t stay here forever, so I’m trying really hard to stay confident and continue to learn to be comfortable with new experiences. That way, my forever home won’t be so scary at first and I’ll have some great memories to share with my very own family.
HAPPY UPDATE!!! Tucker was adopted on June 9th and is doing really well!! We plan on continuing to post updates on how he is doing in his new home with tips and advice on helping dogs with anxiety.
I wonder if I’ve set any records!! I’m told they are changing some things up for my adopters from their normal processing…I must be very special 😉
I’ve been through a lot, so I think they really want me to be a perfect match for my new family. That’s why they have introduced something called a “trial adoption”. That means that my new family will have a good amount of time (3 months in my case) to let me get to know them before they officially adopt me. I think it’s a great idea because I’ll be adopting them too.
The great part about the trial adoption will be that I still get to see my former foster mom and she’ll be able to give my family tons of support and tips to help me adjust to my new home. I’ll even get to take my family to my behaviorist to show them how to manage my medications and behavior modification plan. I am still being desensitized to all the scary things in this big world, and I need to move with baby steps towards conquering those fears.
They’ve got a lot of overwhelming plans, handouts, contact information, blah blah blah to help my new family but personally I think I’ll do fine once I’m adjusted.
I’ve really perfected the sad puppy eye charm 😉 It allows me to cuddle on the couch, sleep on the bed, come back inside if I don’t want to be outside any more… it’s really my superpower!
Please check back in a little bit while I compose my thoughts for the last 8 months- The above picture was from my first day in foster- I was very very scared 🙁
