Anyone here with anxiety who has a dog?

If you've ever had to leave your dog alone, maybe some of you have come home to find your dog has gotten into the trash, garbage, things that make no sense?

WE as humans do the same thing.

They may have "separation anxiety." I mean, it isn't like we starve the little darlings. So why do they do it?

Hypervigilance. We do the same thing. We're anxious and we don't rationalize that this, too, shall pass. Just like our lonely dogs who need to occupy themselves with something through their anxiety, we focus and focus on the strange symptoms, we over analyze, we google, we go out of our way to intensify our thoughts instead of stepping back, acknowledging this too shall pass, it always does.

We seem unable to do this any more than our little divine pets can rationalize that they're not starved, they eat regular meals, Mom and Dad WILL be home, they are NOT abandoned,....this too shall pass.



I just thought I'd share that with you all because my little Goober (who has never left my side for 6 years, who comes with me everywhere,--as my hairy car can verify,--rarely knows what it's like to be without me).

He's gotten into things lately because it's been soooooo bloody hot that I just can't take him with me to all my appointments like I can in the cooler weather.

Even when I *think* I've taken all the trash out, my little Bugger will always seem to find something, however remote, that I forgot.

We do it too. However remote, we pick up on those vague little symptoms and instead of allowing them to pass, we attack them with our thoughts and focus.....

Letting go,...experiencing *through* the process,....trusting in the other side,...

It takes practice. it's not a piece of cake (chocolate or otherwise),....

And hey, I'm still learning with everyone too!









M.

I have a dog too and he is my greatest comfort. Have you tried one of the Kong toys that you can fill with treats or peanut butter. I read that the first 10 minutes are the worst for a dog. So, find something to occupy their time. Also, I don't know if this works, but I also read that if you start by leaving him for 10 minutes and slowly increase the time, he will also adjust. Finally, don't worry when you leave. As long as the dog is safe, you can deal with whatever he decides to chew while you are away. Maybe leave the radio or TV on while you are gone. And even on hot days, make sure you leave windows open. i learned from a friend that she knew someone who left her dogs home on a hot day with everything locked and they died in her home from heat exhaustion.

Helping another creature can be so good for you. It also makes the bond between the two of you so much stronger. I had to put down my 10 yr. old dog over a year ago. She had been my handicapped child for all of her life, having a hip problem. We were so close. She went everywhere with me. My new dog is great but so independent. He doesn't need me like Lexi did.

You made an excellent decision in bringing you r dog into you rlife.

So, I may know nothing about how to fix my anxiety but I know a lot about dogs. I have my own pit mix and have had many foster dogs. The best thing you can do for an anxious dog (besides crating them, which actually makes them feel safe - i know because all my dogs willingly spend a majority of their time in an open crate) is exercise them. A tired dog is a happy dog. And freeze that kong after you put peanut butter in it! It takes longer for them to eat and occupies their anxious little minds longer. If only it were that easy to occupy my own mind but its true, keeping busy probably does keep the obsessive thoughts at bay. I need to get back to work on some projects until I found out what's going on with my body!

All our dogs were crate trained and yes, it does help them to feel safe. One of our dogs loved it in there so much, especially if we put a blanket over it. I know to people who don't understand it, they perceive it as cruel. But to people who understand how and why they're used, they understand that as a canine, they find comfort in enclosed places.

That's why when it's thundering out, they'll try to crawl under the bed or desk,...

My "little baby" is 72lbs of Chow/Aussie (and I think Golden?) and he has a bark that can shake the house, but he can be had for a marshmallow. Yes, he likes marshmallows. I have no idea how that came about.

We got a Kong (actually heavy duty one used for training hunting dogs), and on the ride home from PetSmart he ate it in the back seat....it never made the ride home.

There's something special about them. Just before I was dx'd with cancer, I swear he knew it because he was smelling that part of my body and he'd nestle into it and get real quiet. He'd single that part out.

He may be 72lbs, but I swear, he IS my baby in every way!!

And yes, taking care of him actually helps me take better care of myself.





I made the post initially to help bring to light how so many of us focus on our symptoms, (especially if we have HA),....just like an anxious dog who isn't really hungry will focus on chewing the trash or shoes,...it's a distraction.

We humans do it too.

It's about perspective,...that's all! :)











M.

Oh same here. My "couch" is actually a double recliner. Hubby doesn't like it, so he sits on the floor.

But I sit on one side, and my dog, Grizzly, sits/lays/stretches/sprawls on the other side.

I could never, ever *not* let me doggies on the furniture. That's dreadful. I want 'em all up close and snuggly. They seem to like it that way too. :)












M.

Lol yes great post, thank you.

My favorite was at my mother's house. My dog figured out how to open the refrigerator. Enough said.