The crating has been going ok. I crate the little one for 20 minutes before bedtime, then let her out. She no longer panics to the point of serious hyperventilation; she now only grunts and whimpers to voice her displeasure (as opposed to anxiety.)
Now, let me preface this by saying that min pins are naturally "spirited" creatures. This is a polite way to say they are "anxious" and "skittish." I've never encountered min pin who lacked this "spirited" nature. (I've met quite few; for unknown reasons, the breed is becoming quite popular. Fools.) And Coco'nut certainly fits the breed profile of naturally being anxious, nervous, and hyper-sensitive to anything that could pose a threat to her house. This includes but is not limited (not by a long shot!) to the following:
A leaf falling from tree
A blade of grass rustling in the wind
A car driving down the street
A newspaper delivery three doors down
The mailman, Girl Scouts, and other potential interlopers
Anyone whose eyes fall upon any part of the house in excess of .35 seconds
There are certain pharmaceutical products to lessen the anxiety. I picked up a box of treats laced with a "biocalm complex" and, within an hour, she was high as a kite and passed out.
I loved it.
Is that wrong?
Our nightly routine, then, has become (1) drug the dog, (2) when she is passed out, wrap her in her blankie, and (3) place her in the crate. By the time she wakes up, she is too stoned to really notice and/or care that she is in her crate. And, when she is in her crate, she can't scamper to a corner and pee on the floor.
Next on the agenda: canine Ritalin for Jack...
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Usefulness of the day: Party at Toys R Us on Saturday, September 26 from noon to 3pm.
7 comments:
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo...Google "Crate Games". I learned these at a training session put on by the rescue group I work with and they are awesome, helpful and will give you hope. E-mail if you need more info and I'll send you a copy if you can't find it on the web.
And if she really is that bad look into "Shaping Behavior" - it takes patience and persistence but works.
That poor puppy. It can't be fun for her either.
This post totally made me laugh. Poor little Coco. LOL. Hey, if it means she's calm and your floor stays clean, it's not wrong. :-)
Lilli - thanks!
I think I need some of that calming complex for my youngest Yorkie. And if it doesn't work for her, maybe I will try it myself.
CJ - It is Pet-Ease by Nutri-Vet. I think I paid around $8 for an 8oz cannister. The instructions suggest 1 bone per 10lb body weight. I give my 14lb min pin 2 bones (at the same time) right before bed. When her eyes go glassy, I wrap her in a fleece blankie and put her in her crate with a bone to protect. (My dogs don't eat their bones; they just protect them from each other). She has been happily sleeping the crate for more than a week now! Not bad, considering Day 1 made her hyperventilate.
They are "for animal use only."
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