Hyper and anxious dog

[H MORRIS]

Thank you so much for this. Sorry for the late reply we've had issues with our internet router. The detail you've provided is amazing and I can see that there's a lot more to work on. We've been down the medical route with our vet, full bloods, scans for bone problems and more. When he was a pup we were very worried that all his anxiety was as a result of pain, he could never settle and relax, always moving from place to place every few minutes. He also sits a bit strange without his two back legs not being parallel, puppy sitting or slouching. The vet assures us he's healthy though, no hip problems and thinks he's just an anxious dog. We wondered if he might sit like that because a lot of our floors are polished wood and it's a way he's learned to sit without sliding. We didn't have him neutered until 24 months, holding off to let hormones kick in and mature him as much as possible. He's now 28 months.

If I go in the front room to relax and read, he comes and settles on the rug. If I get up and walk out he does the same. He's always watching me like a hawk. He rarely settles near us, always a little away. Very occasionally he jumps up and wants to sit directly on me. We've lined our seats with covers in case he wants to jump up. He doesn't follow my wife quite the same because she doesn't spend the time training him. But he's not a one man dog, he's always excited to see her and frequently walks up to her for a stroke and cuddle. She loves him as much as I do.

One positive, he's always slept in his crate downstairs in the kitchen, right from day 1. He feels safe in there and each night we put him in with a small frozen kong and a dental chew and he goes and sits by himself, even before we're ready to close the door. It's his safe zone. It's got a cover, just the front uncovered. He never barks at noises outside in there or whines. It's a big success with him and we're very reluctant to use it for anything else, incase it spoils. We can go to bed and relax without him barking at noises outside. He can hear us upstairs and he seems happy.  We really can't do with jeopardising our one sanctuary where everything is calm for him and us.

Interesting you mention 'place'. We've been working on that for months and he will stay on a raised platform in another room for up to a minute now with distractions. It's been a long road though.

We currently give him a calming supplement every day L-theanine and we're not sure whether it's effective or not because there's so many variables, but we have a feeling it takes the edge off. There's a lot to digest here and as with all the other things we're doing we'll give your protocols a real go. Anything to help him be happy. Love is clearly not enough for dogs like this. We'd have thought after 2 years he'd be able to trust us completely but his brain is working against him. Many many thanks Adrienne.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

You are very welcome!  Your border collie is extra lucky to have found such a loving and committed family!

Hmmm, the sloppy sitting raises some suspicions. It's reassuring though that your vet says he's healthy. 

How long has he started sitting sloppy? Is it a new thing?

How long ago was his orthopedic exam?

What did the screening consist of? X-rays, bone scans? Did the vet ever do a drawer test?

I ask because my female Rottie started sitting sloppy after an ACL tear, but her first two vets missed it. It takes a specific approach to figure it out and the third vet was the only one to diagnose it. I had to push for it though. Most dogs show other signs, but Rotties can be pretty stoic. Her only signs initially were  the odd sitting and then she smacked her lips at night when re-positioning herself and I soon learned she did that out of pain. 

If I go in the front room to relax and read, he comes and settles on the rug. If I get up and walk out he does the same. He's always watching me like a hawk.

The exercises for more independence and desensitizing to our getting up can help with the Velcro dogs who keep an eagle eye on us watching every move. 

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/following-owners-around-house/

One positive, he's always slept in his crate downstairs in the kitchen, right from day 1. He feels safe in there and each night we put him in with a small frozen kong and a dental chew and he goes and sits by himself, even before we're ready to close the door. It's his safe zone. It's got a cover, just the front uncovered. He never barks at noises outside in there or whines. It's a big success with him and we're very reluctant to use it for anything else, incase it spoils. We can go to bed and relax without him barking at noises outside. He can hear us upstairs and he seems happy.  We really can't do with jeopardising our one sanctuary where everything is calm for him and us.

That's very nice that he feels safe and secure in his crate! This is proof you have diligently worked on making it a great place and the frozen Kong has certainly helped create positive associations. I would maintain that the good place for night sleep and if you need to work on his separation anxiety it would be ideal to use a different area however, the goal would be creating the same positive associations always under threshold so that it doesn't assume any negative connotations. . 

We currently give him a calming supplement every day L-theanine and we're not sure whether it's effective or not because there's so many variables, but we have a feeling it takes the edge off. There's a lot to digest here and as with all the other things we're doing we'll give your protocols a real go. Anything to help him be happy. Love is clearly not enough for dogs like this. We'd have thought after 2 years he'd be able to trust us completely but his brain is working against him. Many many thanks Adrienne.

L-theanine is one of my favorite go-to for anxiety issues that are mild and need just that little extra touch to help the dog relax enough to feel less on edge.  There's also Zylkene made with caseine, and a veterinary behaviorist recently at a conference has been talking well about Calming Care by Purina Pro. However, she recommends RX meds for most cases of separation anxiety or in adjunctions to the nutraceuticals to keep the dog best under threshold. 

There is really a lot to digest on separation anxiety, and there are always new books and protocols coming out.  When there are lectures I always try to attend as much as I can because it's a field that's always evolving. Even as to new technology! Who would have thought that one day Furbo Cameras would have come to the rescue, allowing us to monitor dogs and toss them treats too? 

Keep me posted on how things go. 

[H MORRIS]

Many many thanks, I'll keep you posted. 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Sounds great!

Adrienne