What is the best remedy for reducing stress ? We have men in the house this morning laying carpet. For most of the time I have been sitting with Bramble in the sitting room which is fine. However, I have to leave the room at times for short periods. My OH let him into the kitchen where he was for only about 10 minutes by himself and when I went in, he had wee'd :( He is perfectly continent (and content) the rest of the time, but when he gets stressed he paces around, drinks and that's when he wees. He is very deaf but knows, of course, that there are people around and things aren't 'normal'. What can I give him ? Preferably something that I can give him at short notice. Thanks

Have you tried giving him something he realy likes to distract him? Like a tasty chew or a toy stuffed with his fab food?
Is he use to a crate? Maby a nice dark den may help him relax.
If there's two of you there one could take him for a nice walk maby

Calmex is supposed to be effective at short notice.

Thanks, JG - I'll give that a try. The carpet men have to come back in two weeks due to the estimator not knowing how the (stair) carpet must be laid - so I have time to get some in :)

> Have you tried giving him something he realy likes to distract him? Like a tasty chew or a toy stuffed with his fab food?
>Is he use to a crate? Maby a nice dark den may help him relax.
>If there's two of you there one could take him for a nice walk maby .

Bramble is 15/16 and although he is very well for his age he gets very stressed if out of his normal routine. He has never been in a crate and I think that trying to introduce one now would cause him even more stress ! :) He is fine if one of us is with him, but, as happened today with carpet men in the house most of the morning, there were times when I had to leave him for a short while. As they were working in the hall, there wasn't a room that we could put him in where Bramble couldn't sense that they were about :( This is going to happen from time to time when strangers come to the house, so I want to be prepared. Thanks for the suggestions anyway :)

I have found Calmex to be good, but I found it does not work as soon as the manufacturer's say. They state 30 to 60 minutes before desired effect, I would say 1½ to 2 hours works better.

> I would say 1½ to 2 hours works better. .

OK - thanks :) What sort of capsules are they and how do you give them ? How long do they last approximately ?

Thanks

If it's something you need to get hold of quickly, I use valerian tincture.  Holland & Barrett carry it, it gets to work within an hour.

However for the future (i.e. something to have in stock just in case), I will always use melatonin - no side effects, very safe, VERY effective.  I'm currently using it to help combat some SA in my dogs and it's been immensely useful - Opi was the worst, one dose of it and she's almost completely sorted out and I've only need smaller doses since.  Works within about 30 minutes, lasts for a good few hours and you can use it both as a one-off aid (e.g. Remy gets it for fireworks or thunder) or on a longer term basis (Phoebe is on it permanently).

Thanks, Nikita - I've ordered the Calmex now, so I will see how he gets on with that :)

He has never been in a crate and I think that trying to introduce one now would cause him even more stress

I think you are absolutely right!
.

> he gets very stressed if out of his normal routine

Oh how I know the feeling! We're having a kitchen fitted and poor Buster is not pleased with his routine being changed, even though he usually just lollops around on the sofa all day he usually has the freedom to wander. He's not liking being shut in the living room, he has this thing where he must watch his water being topped up fresh at the sink and is really not liking not being able to supervise the 'filling of the water bowl'!

Bless him, although he's been calm the entire time, the first few days he was trying to force himself to stay awake and he just couldn't keep his eyes open any longer & nodded off while sat up. I think it's from his instinct to be keeping an eye on strangers and he's actually less settled with me in the room with him (he likes to keep watch over me I think).

He had some respite over the weekend, with the fitter not coming back 'till yesterday but he found it very tiring again, to the point he didn't even want to go on his full walk - he wanted to get back home. I'll be sooooo glad when they have finished the kitchen and so will Buster. He isn't stressed as such,, he  even greeted the workmen with a waggy tail & a happy dance this morning, but he'd much rather have nothing to think about and be sending up the z's on the sofa in peace.

Poor dogs, creatures of habbits get unsettled when their habbits are suddenly changed. (LOL, I'm the same, I want things back to normal NOW!!!!! before I go 'round the bend!!)

I hope you find something to help your dog.

A dog behaviourist ( minds gone blank and I cannot remember his name !) suggested smearing something sticky such as peanut butter right up the top of the dogs gum line, the theory being the dog will become so absorbed trying to get the peanut butter out, it will calm down. Obviously this is just a temporary fix, but might be worth a go if you have some in the cupboard.