self confidence

[sarahmyjoy]

how do you get a dog to get better self confidence? to feel better, more secure and safe in a fairly new home? a few months ago i did a post about my sarah going nuts when i left. i got the comfort zone plug in and rescue remedy and stared doing the NILF thing it seemed to help a bit but she is still doing things that she never use to do befor we moved. she is doing submisive peeing which she hasnt done since she was little, the other day when we got home i let her have a little while to calm down so i could let her out and i told her like i always do to lay down and gave her the hand sign but she wouldnt lay down or sit down and stay so i could open the door i never changed the way i was standing or my voice and she started peeing in her kennel. it wasnt that she had to go we had only been gone a few hours and she had been out to do her stuff just before we left. just today my mother in law came over and i had something to show her and sarah was trying to jump on her and i was looking in a book and told her to get down, never yelled or raised my voice and she made a big puddle at my feet? she has started acting like she dont want to go in her kennel when we go but only on the first trip of the day, when we come back during the day to let them out and run for a bit then we put them up and go back to work there is no fit like the morning. she has started being afraid of storms she never did that. there are other things that she is doing but i cant think of them right now, i work with her she know some comands (sit, stay, laydown, sit up, stand up, crawl) and we play ball as much as she wants. i have tried to think of things that are different at this new house that would upset her and unfortunately the house is smaller then what we did live in and the kennels are in the room with the front door. she hasnt ever had anyone hurt her or someone other than people that she knows come in when she was in her kennel but this is the only thing that i can think of. i give her toys and chews and a bone with a treat to lick out of it none of it seems to help when we go the bone is clean when we get back so i know she has to calm down some while we are gone. i dont have anywhere else to put them. i just dont know what to do. im NOT thinking of getting rid of her or anything like that it is NOT something i can do. i promised her when i found her that she had a forever home but i want her to be happy and feel safe

[imported_Cassie]

Perhaps these articles will help you:

Fear of Thunder storms:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=2545

Sumissive urination:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=169

Hope these help a little :wink:

[courtnek]

I have a very skittish and frightened Foxhound. I am finding that Molotonin and peppermint extract is working. there is a thread here on it.

[courtnek]

Melatonin, sorry.

[sarahmyjoy]

thanks to all of yall for your input. I have been looking around for an agility class i always thought she may like that and be pretty good at it. i had also seen that page that you are talking about courtnek and had wondered how that worked. how do you give it? night time or day time and how much do you give your dog? i was going to the store today and had planed on getting some....its on my list :lol: thanks again i will keep yall posted.

i also have some pic i want to put on here but i have to get my other half to help me with it im sooo bad at that :oops: :lol:

[courtnek]

they're 3 mg pills I give her once a day, and then a little of the peppermint extract rubbed on her front paws. the extract, not the oil. you can get both at a Jewel Osco. the extract is in the spices aisle, and the melatonin in the vitamin aisle. It seems to be helping her, but none of Kyles more noisy friends have come by. One just walked in now, and she bayed/barked
but didnt panic quite so bad. When she's really scared she defecates in the house.

She seems a little bettger. I hope with time it builds up and she can get over the baying/barking.