Anxious car ride

I'll take us home!!

Chance and Blaze have struggled with horrible anxiety in the car and I have almost given up on trying to help them.  When they ride alone with either of us, they are fine, but put them together and it is like a three ring circus in the back of the van.  Also when they ride alone they are used to having the front seat but with me riding along, they lose their privileges and are constantly trying to reclaim them.  

Our road trip today wasn't any different and it makes for a difficult and exhausting ride, not to mention quite trying on my patience.  Blaze learned to ride in a vehicle with her previous owners when they got her, but I don't think Chance ever did.  If he went for any car rides it was only a couple of times.  I know that Blaze was locked in a room for hours upon a time and there is a possibility that Chance was too.  Maybe the confinment of a car triggers that for them.  Whatever the reason or case, their anxiety is higher in the car when they are together.

Chance on my lap

I have tried Rescue Remedy with no effects.  I have also used a calming spray with dog appeasing pheromones with no results.  Clicker training with both of them does nothing.   I felt like I'd run out of options when these options didn't work.  When Daddy made a stop and I stayed in the car, Chance crawled into my lap and planted himself there.  He was panting heavily and it was at this point that I knew I needed to try something, anything to help them.

When are we going home Mom??

I prefer to use natural products and I found some calming herbal tablets in a dog catalog I receive.   I plan on ordering the tablets tomorrow and a prayer that something works.

I need your help.  I would like to ask for your suggestions and what you have found that works for your dog or anything you might have heard that helps in curbing anxiety for dogs.

Thanking you in advance for your help.

24 Paws of Love    

for the BLAB LABS

I would like to dedicate this post to The Blab Labs who unexpectedly lost Emerald who was tragically hit by a car.

I can not begin to understand your pain, but being an avid animal lover I have lost many animals in my time and know it is never easy.  I know I am just a blogger on a screen, but I feel like I just talked to you yesterday, as if you are my neighbor.  I cried when I read of the horrible accident that took Emerald's life and I squeezed my dogs a little tighter last night when I got into bed with them.  It shook me to the core, how sudden and quickly a life can be lost.  

I wish I had the right words and could comfort you in some way, but just know we are thinking of you and sending 24 Paws of Love your way.  

May Emerald run free. 

Why didn't I think of that?

An excellent example of Brut's tension with food.

Notice Silver slightly leaning to the right.

 Giving treats to the Back Dogs with Brut around can be tricky.  Brut with food can be dangerous.  His entire demeanor changes when he knows I have treats.  It gives him an adrenaline rush, like he is shot up on steroids. 

When I brush the dogs, I incorporate treats with them.  Brut hogs all the attention and makes it difficult for me to brush the other dogs, especially Zappa and Fiona.  I have tried several different techniques to correct Brut and lighten Zappa anxiety while still using the treats with little success. 

I always keep a brush outside next to me on our outdoor table.  One day I notice the dogs are in desperate need of brushing, I have no treats but do it anyways.  It was a miracle.  No tension, no anxiety, no lunging, no possessing.  It had never occurred to me to brush them without treats.  That was how I taught them and I believed they should be rewarded.  I've been doing this for the last month and they still let me brush them.  I am utterly amazed.  I brushed them again tonight and I couldn't believe how calm and happy Brut's eyes were, how relaxed his body was and how easy going his manner was.  This helped the other dogs relax and I had no problem brushing them either.  It was such a joy.  I couldn't believe how easy it had worked.  Why hadn't I ever thought of this before???

I find many of my answers in happy accidents.  Sometimes the harder I try to change something or control it, I find myself with more problems than solutions.  These tend to be some of my best training moments.  When an answer just comes to me or when I do something by accident and find that it works.  This opens up several avenues for my training with Brut and the Back Dogs.  Many times I have had to train Brut and the Back Dogs separately, like using food for agility training but the idea of not using treats so that they can work together opens several possibilities.  There will be some adjustments, but I'm liking the idea especially for Brut and Zappa.  They have bonded significantly over the last two years and I would like to work them as a team for pulling sled together.  They are both strong and would make excellent wheel dogs.  This really opens so many doors and I am so excited at the prospects.  I love finding the answers that work for us.  

A rare moment of Brut and Zappa laying together, touching and not fighting. 

Have you ever found your answers for your pets by accident?         

Monday Memories-Zappa

Zappa at 8 weeks old.

This is one of my favorite photos of Zappa.  It is an excellent portrayal of how sweet and innocent a puppy is.  When their world is opening up to new possibilities, exploring new ideas and even moving away from home to start a new life with a new family.  A short eight weeks before, one would fit in the palm of my hand.  How quickly time passes from there.  This picture reminds of that crazy, hectic time when our world was in constant puppy motion.  They're growth and development noticeable from one day to the next, at a rate that was extraordinary. The constant worry of these tiny lives that rested in our hands.  The hope and joy of watching their accomplishments as they tested their skills.  The angelic peace of watching them sleep.

Something about this picture of Zappa represents that wonderful puppy world we lived in.  The gift of life we witnessed and the precious lives we were blessed to care for.  The puppies and that time period will always carry a special place in our hearts forever.           

   

Sally's Sleeping Beauty Contest

We are entering in Sally's Sleeping Beauty contest.

Thanks Blab Labs for the suggestion.

Don't you just want to curl up with us? 

Special Guest Speaker: DADDY

Hi there!  It's me Chance and boy do we have a treat for you.  As you may or may not know Daddy hasn't been pulling his weight around here on the blog, has been busy working to make sure everybody gets to eat and we can have treats every night.  This has made it tough for Daddy to post, but tonight here are his extra special thoughts.

It's been three months since we made our first post and I'm sure glad we did.  It's been really great being able to share our life with our wonderful children.  Being able to share with other dog lovers makes me realize how much they all mean to us.

Come on Dad, let me drive.

Thirty days after we started our blog a big change came with my job.  I used to clean eight different buildings each day and I was able to take a different dog with me each time.  I have been doing this for as long they were able to go for a ride with me.  So for a year and half I always had one or sometimes two dogs with me.  They were my partner and of course rode shot gun.  Although Brut and Blaze thought I should be riding shotgun and wanted to take over the wheel.

Are you ready to go yet, Daddy slowpoke. 

Since the job change, I'm not able to take any dogs with me and I it is like part of me is missing.  I feel all alone without taking one of my kids.  Now the only time I get to see them is in the morning before I leave and when I get home late and everyone let's me know how much they miss me.  It just doesn't seem fair that I have to spend any time away from my family.

Real exciting ride Dad.

I really thought I knew what unconditional love was when I married Mommy, until Silver gave birth to ten puppies.  I was there to witness every single birth and from that first day all the way through today; I will still be completely amazed how much love I can see and feel with each and every dog.  That's the true meaning of love having 24 Paws of Love.

No wonder doG spelled backwards is God.

This is the best ride ever Dad.

Appreciation

I'm a stay-at-home-"mom" and other than a few errands here and there I am home most of the day.  The dogs are around me all day and though I may not realize it, I sometimes take for granted that they are there.  After being gone for the last couple of days and the BS I had to put up with, I couldn't get home fast enough to see each and every one of them.  As always I was greeted with many kisses and hugs and more  unconditional love than I could handle.  They made all my stress and tension just vanish like magic.  We cuddled, played and just enjoyed being together.  I couldn't get enough of them tonight and I didn't realized until I got home, how much I had been missing them.

I have a luxury that most don't have, being home all day with my wonderful animals and tonight I recognized I don't appreciate that gift often enough.       

Wordless Wednesday-You Got Something for Me?