dogs

Albie hasn't been happy for a while.  He felt displaced when Honey came to live with us as a baby 2-1/2 years ago.  They had some major problems, as did Dorothy and Honey. Little Dorothy went to stay with Auntie Beth for a few months till Honey was old enough to know her own strength and have some control.  When the tiny girl returned, she had lost all fear of the big dog and both seem to be friends.

But Albie didn't leave, and they had some MAJOR issues.  The kind where he had to go to the emergency vet at 1am.   

Honey grew up, she had some training to avoid "resource guarding" and was judged by trainers and vets as non aggressive, not dangerous. She is not a problem, she is a sweet girl, and very smart. We had to train her that she couldn't snap at little dogs who tried to get near her food, and all has been fine.

At least from her point of view and from ours.

Not from Albie's.

It has been great to have Dorothy back in our lives, and she gets along just fine with the big dogs, will even sit under Honey and steal bites of food as Honey eats.

Albie shakes in fear when he sees Honey. Or he attacks her like one of those fighter planes going after King Kong.  He became much worse when the puppies were born, and when we decided to keep Sugar, it went downhill from there.

We aren't quite sure what to do.  I have a vet appointment for him, to talk about calming drugs.  We had a personal dog trainer to the house who says he needs a diaper (he knows to pee outside, but goes on anything the big dogs have been near or that they use, so bad that if they have been sleeping under the dining table, he will jump up and PEE ON THE TABLE.  Ooops, I will probably never have a dinner guest again after sharing that bit of news no matter how much bleach I use).

The trainer suggested a diaper and meds or a new home with NO other pets.   She says the marking isn't a housebreaking issue, it is nerves and fear.

I'm torn, thinking I've made this poor little guy's life a hellish nightmare of terror. Even though the golden retriever hasn't bitten  him in over a year, he is still overwhelmed by it.  PTSD?  but, when I see him with his baby sis, being  hugged by a grand fairy, running out in the woods, swimming in the lake, or resting by a fire, I know he has a pretty good life. 

 It can't be all bad for him, right?

Five dogs are a lot, especially when they are mostly in the house.  We kept the bigs and littles separate for a long time unless I was working with them on the resource guarding problem.  But they can't live apart forever.  They are part of this house and have to get along.

Which they do at times. Albie and Honey often pair up down by the creek to go after a creature that the just know lives in a sneaky hole under a log and they are sure that if they try hard enough, they will get him someday.  

Funny, though, after teaming up to hunt, they become adversaries as soon as  they get back to the house. Honey dismisses him like a pesky fly, he acts like he wants her dead, or at least gone.

So, I'm not sure.  How miserable is he?  Does he need a loving lap of a person with no other dog? I've tried smothering  him with attention and he just becomes more worried looking. Does he need Rescue Remedy or another natural treatment like hemp oil?  Or something stronger from the vet? Doggie Prozac? Or even Xanax?

Anyone have a problem like this, and how did you handle it? Will meds just mask the problem he feels or actually help him handle it?  I'm up for finding the perfect home for him, if there is one. But will feel very guilty about letting him go.  Of course, I already feel pretty guilty about the situation now.  

 

 

EDIT-Update on Albie’s anxiety issues: he is wearing a “belly band” which is kind of like a Velcro fastened ace bandage around his middle to keep him from lifting his leg on things. He actually seems calmer. Someone asked me, if it was like a thunder shirt, and you know, I just have to wonder if it has worked for him in that way?

He has been affectionate and less worried, not flinching and hiding or shaking. And of course, he can't pee on anything, so that is a plus. He actually walks over to me to  have it put on, as if he knows he feels better while wearing it.  

Sugar graduated from puppy school with top grades. That pup has an old soul, you'd think she was an adult, not a baby. This dog is not going through the typical puppy issues I had with her mom.  Honey put me through two years of tears and troubles.  I'd heard that golden retrievers had a protracted puppyhood, and she sure did.  She was boisterous and busy, until we bred her at 2, and she grew up over night to become a gentle girl.

 Still curious and on the go, but slowed down and easier to live with.

These two are best friends, and love to play.   And when she isn't playing with her mom, she is docile, quiet, and thoughtful.  She learns fast, remembers everything, and is as sweet as her name.

But all of those curls were made of velcro.  She picked up every twig, bit of grass, piece of rubbish, leaves, burs, everything she got near! So we shaved her down short and she looks like she is made of crushed velvet.

And she still looks pretty cute!