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Posted by phtasha on November 27, 2002 at 19:47:46:
In Reply to: Sleepless Dog posted by cathymattox on November 26, 2002 at 14:46:18:
:Help, I have a Schnauzer mix that refuses to go to sleep at nite when we do. Yes, she stays in our room and always has. We rescued her about 4 year ago from PureBred Rescue in Atlanta. She is an absolute joy except when the lites go out her devil horns appear. This all started last January when my husband and I were in a serious car accident and I ended up bruised and a broken arm. My husband was having to help me and she was very jealous. She would bark and bark if he even came near me to give a hug or to help me get dressed. We just figured this would cease once the cast came off. Not!! Back to the sleepless dog, when we get in bed she starts this whining without making noise and will not stop until she gets good and ready. My vet suggested Benedryl or Clomacalm (sp). She is terrified of thunderstorms so we have some of the latter and this does seem to work but only when she finally gives in. We have tried leaving her in the living room only to hear her whining with noise until we get up and let her in. We want her with us as many pet lover do but this is really getting old. We feel the problem is non-stimultion during the day., We both work and have long commutes so she is in the house alone for about 10 hours a day. Of course she sleeps these hours. (If we could get the Nextel people to play their commerical over and over this might keep her up.) It drives her crazy. You also cannot wait het out. She WINS!!! I will add that when we are home all day on weekends and she is busy busy she sleeps like a baby. Yes, she is rotten, thanks to her daddy (only kidding) but really she knows she is cute and commical and expects rewards. We love her dearly. Can anyone help?
Hmmmmm, I'd hate to use something as strong as Clomicalm. I think you have a handle on things when you say that on weekends when you are around and she can get more exercise/time with you both, she does not do this. I know you both are probably tired when you come home from work, but perhaps one of you can do a longish walk at night, and perhaps some stimulating (for her) play - like throwing a ball for her so she does all the running around but also gets some interaction with you in. If she isn't interested in ball playing, perhaps a rope toy that you can play tug of war with (and this put up during the day so she doesn't shred it while you are gone). Maybe also a nightly brushing session for ten minutes or so by whichever of you doesn't play ball or tug, so that she gets time spent with each of you. I think that would really help the situation. You are gone long hours and then (in her view) you go zonk out for hours.
As for being storm-phobic, many dogs dislike the loud noise and some are very reactive to it. You could try desensitizing her to the noise by getting a storm tape and playing it (when you are home on weekends) and being calm and playful with her. Repetition of this would help her work through it, possibly. I cured my storm phobic dogs by taking them out in thunderstorms (I love them) at the height of the storm. It took a good long time, but now they both are pretty calm about storms. A tape might shorten that time. There's always Rescue Remedy, as well. It's a non-toxic distillation of flower essences but it takes 20 minutes to kick in, and it's not always possible to have that amount of lead-time before a storm. Rescue Remedy is carried by GNC and also can be ordered on the net by searching for Bach's Flower Essences with your search engine.
I hope this has given you some ideas. If I'm not "getting" the problem, please fill in the blanks with more information, and I'll try to help.
Tasha