Doggie Anxiety - Tellington Touch

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

To make a long story short ('somebody' chewed through my laptop cord and I'm running out of battery strength-hope to get a new one tomorrow), I went to a workshop tonight on canine anxiety, partly to learn about my doodle's seperation anxiety, which before tonight I thought I had cured, and partly to get some skills for when I'm ready to volunteer with rescue. Anyway, she talked about Tellington Touch, a type of massage that helps calm down nervous dogs.

 

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Tellington Touch and if it works...

 

Also, quick update, so SophieBear had been having sep anxiety issues after I went back to work after my staycation. I thought I had nipped it in the bud after receiving all the great advice on DK. Well, not so much. I started to realize that a lot of other things are going on that indicate she is still anxious, and always has been, just not making a lot of noise about it. The picky eating, mushy poop, occassional red eyes, scratchy scratchyness, following me around the house and bouncing up everytime I get up from the sofa, bed or kitchen table, going bonkers when I play with another dog or hold a baby, sleeping in front of the door to block my path, growling when she hears a stranger in the hallway or outside (only when I'm with her, not when she is alone), etc etc. might all be related to seperation anxiety.

 

I might be reading too much into it here, but the lady giving the talk tonight seemed to think that's what it all was. She gave me advice about being a pack leader, a theory I've read different opposing views on so I'm not sure about whether or not I should start doing more 'pack leader' type stuff....

 

Anyway, this is longer than I wanted, sorry for the endless rant, am tired and in a rush. I'll check back in tomorrow from work, computer battery is just about done. :-(

 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe crating Sopie when you're gone would help? It surely would help the laptop cord. The massage sounds nice whether it help or not.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

she is crated when I'm gone. I actually think it was the cat.... ok really have to shut down now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ha!

[Ann Kendig]

I believe GBK used the Tellington Touch on her doodle, Buddy.  I'm sure she would be happy to share her thoughts with you.  Here is a link to her page.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profile/Gina?xg_source=profiles_memberList

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

hmmm sounds interesting!!  I will look forward to hearing if it works!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sherri, Our first Lab was a total Velcro dog. She would not let me out of her sight when I was home, but she in no way, had separation anxiety. After she died, we rescued an old Lab that had extreme separation anxiety. We were not told this by the agency and in fairness to them, she was fostered with a family that had a boatload of dogs, so maybe she was fine when surrounded by other dogs, but alone in our house, she was not. We found this out, the first time we left her home and she destroyed our front door. We could hardly crate her, at doggie daycare she stood at the door barking the entire time and when I picked her up she was sopping wet from drooling. When I left the house, she stood at the door barking and my poor husband and DD had to take her outside and she wanted to wait for me where I usually parked my car. The dog sitter kept her for a week and she said all she wanted was to go out in the driveway and wait for me. She was almost crying when I picked Honey up.

 

What you are describing regarding SophieBear sounds more like our first Lab. You know her better than me, but I think most of what you describe can be normal velcro dog behavior. Just my opinion. That being said, massage cannot hurt. I am tired too, so maybe I am not making sense...LOL!

[Michael Gurley]

I was wondering about that! Sunny is a Velcro dog, and she is almost everything that Sherri is describing with Sophie. She won't let me out of her sight if I'm home.

 

However, I do not have to crate her when I'm gone. She simply sleeps on a padded chest looking out the glass door I have to use to come back inside. I would think that separation anxiety would involve slobbering, shaking, destroying things, etc.

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

I knew a lady that used this on her horses, and it did seem to calm them. Even if it doesn't solve the issues that you are having, I am sure that SophieBear would love it and it would help her to feel more relaxed. Plus, it is a good way to bond and spend some time together.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We took a seminar on "Synchrossage" through one of the Hospice organizations that Sophie and I volunteer through.  It is a type of doggie massage.  I'm really not sure how it would work on separation anxiety but I can tell you that they enjoy it.  I use it sometimes in the bath while I'm waiting for the shampoo to be on for 5 mins or will use it if they are just laying on the bed and I'm walking by I'll stop and massage for a little bit.  You can just see their little eyes shut and they relax.  Wish they could do me.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow she ate the cord of your life link to DK?? Seems a little jealous!! (LOL)

Myla is a velcro dog to me too. Everytime I get up for a second I beg her to stay but she jumps right up and follows me. If i'm doing laundry she will come in the hallway and hang her head down in front of the gate on the stairs and whimper and wait. I have to fool her if I leave and she freaks out if I walk Chloe first and leave her alone. She just doesn't like to be alone. We can leave them uncrated (so far) when her and Chloe are here but not her alone.

Sounds like an interesting workshop and I hope it's not as bad as it seems. Do you have a way of recording what she does when you are at work? If she's barking crying scratching the crate etc. You may know more by that also. Good luck!