How you treat anxiety in a puppy?

Question

Someone suggested prozac and I'm wondering if it will work for my dog. I have a 4 1/2 month old German shepherd puppy in puppy classes right now. He can't be calmed down when I take him to new places, especially around other dogs. He's constantly on the end of his leash whining and barking trying to get at other dogs. His favorite treats won't even get his attention. He seems scared sometimes too. He backed himself in a corner once while barking at a dog and layed there looking freaked out. Then looked scared when I tried to console him. The puppy class teacher says he has anxiety issues and that from what she's seen they're very common in German shepherds in my area, probably due to poor breeding. We've been going to class and trying to get him out around other dogs as much as possible for 2 months now and he's not improving. I wear him out with walks and fetch before we take him out but he's still wild when we arrive at PetSmart

Answer 1

Part of the problem is that your classes are at Pet Smart. I went through the same thing. There are too many distractions there for the dogs to feel comfortable (especially one that may have some anxieties - which yours may or may not have). Don't let what the PetSmart people have told you to cloud your judgement - the PUPPY just wants to get out there & play - to hell with the other stuff !!

Find a private dog training facility & talk to the trainer regarding the issues your dog has & make sure he/she feels comfortable dealing with them. It sounds like your dog just needs a more relaxed atmosphere to learn. All puppies are freaky like that between 3 - 12 months. He's excited and scared at the same time & would rather play then learn. That's why puppy classes are so important. It teaches your dog that it's okay to play but then there's a time to learn some basic rules.

I think your dog is fine ... after all he's still a baby.

Answer 2

TAke him out of group classes at petsmart immediately!!

This is too much stimulus for a frightened dog, he needs to be introduced to what scares him slowly under the guidance of a behaviorist, not thrown in.

Petsmart is really only good for puppy socialization. While there are some good trainers with experience there, 90% of the trainers are given a manual for two weeks to read and couldnt possibly handle anything advanced.

I cant specualte as to what could help your dog, I havent seen him, but dont give him any drugs, speak to a veterinary behaviorist and get him out of those classes immediately!

When he does seem freaked out, instintively you stroke him and tell him everything is going to be alright. This is quite common for well-meaning owners and a major part of the problem.
dog may learn to behave inappropriately because the owner accidentally reinforces certain behaviours by petting, hovering protectively and talking sympathetically. (Oh, Fifi, it’s okay, that dirty old dog won’t hurt Mama’s little baby!")
You need to learn how to give him guidance as a leader.


Just to add, this is the behavior of a dog who has been tied out back of the house. The dog cannot interact with the world on his own and acts aggressively to keep away what frightens him, eventually this turns into aggression.
If you have, or havent, please do not tie the dog outside by himslef at any time.
Or the dog may have been taken from his littermates to early, you really need to determine WHY with a behaviorist.

despite what the other posters say,.. I do agree with what you described as not being normal puppy behavior. There is a problem that does require professional help.
Im glad you took the time to take your dog to classes andare actively looking for a solution! dont give up, your dog is young!

Answer 3

Believe it or not, PetSmart could be your problem. Classes there are overcrowded. It is hard to train a dog (especially a puppy) with so many distractions. Not only are there other dogs in the class, there are shoppers distracting him along with other dogs in the store. He doesnt know what to pay attention to yet because he is not trained yet. And he cannot be properly trained in that type of environment.

My Rott had puppy classes there and was tormeted and bit by many of the small dogs in class. To this day (he is now 150 lbs) he is scared of small dogs like shih tzu's! Take him out of these classes.

You can start training him yourself or hire a personal trainer if you have the money.

Start by taking your dog into social areas for small amounts of time; like a local park. But only stay for 15 minutes and out of contact with other dogs. Gradually increase social time. Too much time could be overwhelming for your pup. Also, give him personal time everyday. Like taking the time to brush him for 10 minutes after dinner. Get him used to routines no matter how small they may seem

Hold off the drugs for now. He is not fully developed he is still a toddler. Puppies are always anxious anyway because everything is still new for them. Give him a chance to warm up to the world.

Answer 4

You can get this doggie downer stuff at the pet store...it comes in a liquid form and is harmless. I had a black lab that I HAD TO use it on...the poor thing would get so excited and run around that it would end up hurting itself in the process...

As far as cost...I think mine was like $3.99 for a small bottle that lasted months...

Answer 5

First of all do not console your puppy when it exhibits this behavior. By consoling him you are telling him its ok to act this way. It's best to ignore the behavior . I suggest consulting a certified behaviorist. Good luck