Hi All,

Nando is two in June, he an entire male GSD. The Husky bitch over the road is possibly in heat as is another dog three streets away (We know as our dog walker walks them both too.)

He is pacing the garden, sniffing the air and generally not settling. He is fast asleep on his bed but he was pacing and pacing most of the evening and was quite unsettled. Is there anything I can do to settle him?? I feel awfully mean on him!

Josh

Not sure about settling him but I would keep him under house arrest. Male dogs can be veritable  Houdinis when they pick up the scent of a bitch in season. We lost our beloved Merlin years ago when he escaped and got killed on the road following the scent of a bitch on heat.

He is not going out the garden without my supervision,when he goes out and about on walks we take him to the beach so he can have a good run and calm down, if there's other dogs he's on his longline as we can obviously never be sure if they're bitches or not until it is too late! Hopefully it will be over soon and he can go back to free running about.

I've got two lads here who have tested our defences to the limit. As with Nando, they are not allowed out in the garden unless a family member is with them. It's such a shame because we bought this place for the dogs but it has proved impossible to secure. We are in the process of selling up !

To be honest, I highly doubt Nando could escape. We have 6/7ft fences and along the back wall we have a log cabin which he could never jump over! He doesn't even try but I don't like to take the risk. Typical that this happens when the temperature is in the minus numbers!!

I'd be very careful at the moment. He is a young dog and this 'new' stimulus will be very compelling. Some dogs are so driven to get to a bitch that they'll smash down barriers to get to them. Watch him off lead too. If he starts really sniffing and champing and foaming at the mouth then get him on a lead. Once spring is over he should calm down, then you'll have it all again in the autumn:( Don't assume he cannot get out of the garden.

You are right to be careful as he could possibly clear 6 foot fencing.
I know of Leonbergers that have done and they are generally heavier and not quite so agile you would think they can go over 6 foot fencing.

dont know if  it is any good but csj do a herbal suppliment for such times. you could also try dorwest herbs they may have some suggestions

Our neighbours dog (VERY large Lab and 1/2 mile away) turned up at out house at 7.30 am, cleared a 4' fence to get to my spaniel, luckily she didn't want to know so managed to get her back in the house in time. The Lab has learned to open his kennel door, now has a padlock on it

I've ordered some of the CSJ stuff from Amazon. Shame as the local CSJ supplier sells it, and silly me didn't even realise it was a CSJ product until after I'd ordered it! From what I've read though it takes five weeks or so to take effect. He is really feeling it tonight, I feel sorry for him but it's typical that he's so unsettled on a night I have so much work to do!

He is on a houseline at the minute sat next to me as he literally just won't settle down and won't stop pawing at the back door!

What about Dorwest Skullcap & Valerian, or Zylkene? The latter is said to take a while to work but not 5 weeks - and can be used for travel so it must have some effect from the off; the former might just take the edge off things til the CSJ starts working (or might even augment it).

DAP diffuser or collar ( you can buy at PAH) or Rescue Remedy- all natural so you can't overdose.
Poor boy :(

> DAP diffuser or collar ( you can buy at PAH) or Rescue Remedy

Depends on how stressed he's getting - worth a try but DAP doesn't have any effect on some dogs, and may not be enough if he's really fretting.

It might be worth trying Calmex.