Neurotic Dog

Question
I do not know what to do with my Great Dane.  From being a normal well adjusted dog, through one incident where lightning struck the house and then the arrival of our child (who doesn't to be near her because of her behaviour) she has become a neurotic animal that due to her size is proving to be entirely unsociable and dangerous to children in some cases.  She cannot handle noise - even if that noise comes from a building site 1km away.  She is perpetually pacing around the house panting heavily and trying to chew through burglar bars to get into the house.  If we sit outside on the patio she acts incredibly scared and tries to climb into our laps.  There are 5 houses being renovated in our street at present and with all the building trucks she is a basket case.  In addition a shopping centre is being built up the road and the Water Department is digging up the street at the end of the road so the noise will probably only be over in a year.  Short of drugging her what else can we do?  We are expecting our second child next week and I want to prevent her from being dangerous. She is not aggressive and runs away from confrontation so I'm not worried about her attacking or biting, it's the sitting on people (and possibly babies) that is concerning.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Bronwyn,

Thank you for writing to me about your beautiful Great Dane and the trauma that she is going through.  I want to urge you to contact one of the behavorial specialists in the dog behavior section of all experts.  This is a very serious problem for the entire family.  Your dog is suffering and this is effecting other family members.

I also want to urge you to speak to your vet about the change in your dog's behavior.  He may want to do a blood panel, looking closely at the thyroid..it should be in the center..not low or high normal, but absolute center. He should also check for lyme disease if you live in an area effected by this tick born disease.  

Your vet can work with your dog by trying different medications that reduce anxiety.  Melatonin can also help in some cases.  

Ask your vet to refer you to a behavorist who can suggest medications along with desensitization...Desensitization works to reduce a dog's reaction to stimuli by slowly introducing the dog to gradual increases of the thing it fears, until the dog no longer reacts negatively.  This is a reward based approach.

Dogs are very sensitive to changes in their lives.  Some dogs will have a behavorial reaction just to a piece of furniture being relocated!  Your dog has experienced lightening striking the house accompanied no doubt by a clap of ear shattering thunder.  The arrival of a new baby which can effect a dog emotionally.  Then on top of everything else, there are all kinds of strange noises coming her way. Your dog can't catch a break, poor thing.

Your dog can also sense the changes in your hormones.  To welcome the new baby into her life be sure to have a family member bring home the blanket that your baby is wrapped in and let your dog sleep with it.  This is a good way to introduce her to the new family member.

Please be patient and try to remain calm.  Your dog will respond to your anxiety and it will make hers even worse.  You should always separate a child from a dog if you aren't in the room to monitor things, no matter how trustworthy the dog might be.  Do not make your dog feel as if she is being punished when you separate her..give her a toy to play with, perhaps one that spits out kibble when she rolls it.  She may already be feeling displaced by the baby so you don't want to exaccerbate that.

It is also crucial that your dog be given a good amount of exercise.  Try to find a way for someone to give her a couple of long walks a day, preferable 45 minutes each, even if you have to hire a dog walker. This will relieve some of her anxiety.  Don't walk her near the construction but rather in a peaceful area near your home.

I do feel that this is a situation that can be remedied, once you know what steps to take.  This dog is surely worth the effort.

Best of luck,
Shelley Davis