L-Theanine for shyness, reactivity, stress, anxiety, loud noises & overall focus?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Has anyone tried the amino acid l-theanine for shy, reactive dogs or dogs with anxiety?  If so what is your experience?  

My dogs trainer recommended it and it seems like on days she doesn't get it, she seems much more on edge and freaked out.  The level of freaked-outness over irrational things is what I notice is really improved pretty dramatically with its use.  I've tried it myself (the human form of course :-) ) to reduce gitteryness from too much coffee and the difference is noticeable.  This link is just one that I found that had good info, but not the kind I am using on her...
http://www.deerrunanimalhospital.com/sites/site-3302/documents/Virb...

[Lynda Kamrath]

Sounds like ritalin for kids.  Lots of good things to say about it, but also some controversy.  I don't like any kind of drugs, but just an amino acid?  Hmmm.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I never heard of this and I do know quite a lot about anxiolytics. I will try to read more since the article you cited sounded more like an infomercial. Since I am more versed in the human medicine end of things I recommend you cut down, by tapering, your intake of caffeine to reduce any jittery feelings, rather than taking something to calm yourself. Caffeine raises heart rates and creates causes tremor and anxiety in large doses. Why subject yourself to that.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I prefer to get information from reputable sources and scientists not from people selling products or clicker trainers. That said I did look into theanine a bit. There doesn't,t seem o be a lot of research. A book I have, How to Use Herbs, Nutients, &Yoga in Menta Health Care by Brown, Gerbarg, and Muskin, said there is some evidence theanine helps in mild to moderate anxiety. These authors are all reputable psychiatrists at teaching hospitals. The good news is there did not seem to be serious side effects. Of course how much to dose a dog, and whether the supplement actually contains what it says it does is hard to know. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Julie -

Just because something is "natural" does not mean it is good for you.  I know nothing about theanine.  I am also interested in comments from people who are actually using it.

There also has been some discussions on melatonin for anxiety issues.  This is also "natural".  We did not see any difference with the melatonin with Boomer with thunderstorms, but did notice a remarkable change using the thundershirt.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I have great experience with too much caffine. I used to drink 8+ cups a day and found myself all tensed up like a tight fist. I quit drinking coffee for awhile and and now drink no more than 3 cups a day and usually just two. Makes quite a difference.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

julie, all it takes is will power!  After 25 years of smoking I quit the nicotine addiction cold turkey.  It has been over twenty years and still going good. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Not so hard if you taper. Try drinking one cup less for a few days etc. once, unknowingly, I was in vacation, I went from about two cups in the morning to none. I got wicked headaches, which I never do. Once I realized the problem a cup of coke or something made the headaches go away. I am very sensitive to caffeine and only drink it in the AM.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We used another medication on a dog with very positive results. If you wish to read about our journey you can find it in the Anxiety Group.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Julie -

I do hope you are successful in bringing down Tee's anxiety and she is able to live a comfortable life.   I am very glad you are giving this girl a home.

You are correct different dogs respond differently to medications.

I have nothing against any medication - natural or not that helps our fur babies. The only point I did want to bring out is that we shouldn't think that "natural" is better or is the "silver bullet" or that just because it is "natural" it can't be harmful.

As this is an "open" forum with many readers, I did want to be sure that no one confuses "natural" with "safe".  The problem with these medications is that there is very little regulation or formal testing.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well said, Andy.

[Moe]

You know what they say about opinions... I wouldn't stress over them. I think you have to trust your vet and trainer and go with what they say. I don't have any experience with L-Theanine, but I understand that when your pup is stressed it is difficult to watch. My dog doesn't eat much and her ribs and hips stand out quite a bit and I stress over it. I fear I may become one of those crazy dog people that cook steaks for their dog just to get them to eat. When that time comes I'm sure people will offer me tons of platitudes as well.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Julie, in your original post, you didn't mention that your vets or any other health professionals recommended this, you only said your trainer did. We've had many people here whose trainers have recommended all kinds of strange treatments and advice on health issues which they are not qualified to be giving, and which in almost every case turned out to be not just hokum but harmful hokum, so we are a little gun-shy about that. There are all kinds of snake oil salesman selling all kinds of "alternative" remedies on-line for which there is no research or fact-based clinical data to support the claims, just a lot of anecdotal "reviews", and we are a little gun-shy about that too. I think if you had started by mentioning that your vets had recommended this and you were wondering if it had helped anyone else's dog, the response would have been different.