Over the past couple of months there have been some major changes in the house. My husband had to take a job out of state and is only home on the weekend. I injured myself and can not chance falling and since the streets and sidewalks have been covered in ice and snow, my dog's once extensive exercise schedule has been reduced to fetch in the yard and some mind games in house. Barely adequate but all I can do right now.

To top it off people have been let go at my work which has increased my workload about an additional 2 hours a day and my kid's winter/spring sports have kicked in so poor Thor is home alone about 10 hours a day up from what used to be six. This is all temporary!! I am improving daily with physical therapy so I figure I should be ok to hurt myself again in a month or two

This however, is starting to take a toll on Thor. He is always restless and becoming jumpy and nervous and whines (something he has never done) I think this behavior change is due to the change in lifestyle and am wondering if Rescue Remedy would be helpful in relaxing him over the next month, when things should get back to normal.

Sorry to hear about your injury this winter . I'm 0 for 2 on winning against the ice this year, but they have been minor bumps and bruises.


A few ideas:

A natural/park area where he can run around off leash and sniff, where you have minimal walking.

Snowshoeing in deep snow, so a fall will be cushioned.

The kids can take him on a walk.

Hire a dog walker.

I know none of them are ideal; but these are unusual circumstances. I don't like the idea of using a 'calming' product and risking potential allergies, etc when you know why he's antsy. Give him that primal need for a walk instead of masking it with products. JMO

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

A few ideas: A natural/park area where he can run around off leash and sniff, where you have minimal walking.

My thoughts exactly!! However; he won't wander more than 5 feet away from me. I think he knows I'm hurt. Off leash he has the freedom to explore if I haven't commanded him to do otherwise but since my injury he has not exercised that option. He will play fetch but since I can't use my left arm (my throwing arm) even with the chuckit it is pretty pathetic

I've heard great things about Rescue Remedy but in instances like Kacie has used it. I am not sure if it is the right thing to use for a case of cabin fever.

BTW Kacie; I love coyotes.....thanks for sharing.

I talked to my boss and am changing my hours to start 2.5 hours later in the morning. This will reduce the time alone and he can come for the morning drop off to school and a little extra training time in the yard....and the ice has to melt sometime.....right?

Sorry to hear about your injury Sheila, and all the other stresses.

I've used Rescue Remedy with great success on rescue/sick cats, and on myself as well (to be honest, I kept falling asleep, so I wasn't stressed after I took it ).

One thought about the exercise, in addition to what's been mentioned - do you have a dog pool nearby you could take him to? I had a fracture in my tibia last year that took me out of commission for 5 months, and even though that wasn't the reason why I took Teagan (HD therapy) and Luc (learning to swim) to the dog pool, it was a good place to exercise them that I could take part in without injuring myself. I know I always go on about dog pools, but they are handy if there's one around.

It sounds like I am the only one that didn't have success with Rescue Remedy! At least the dog liked it. But it has a very strong smell (is made of mostly alcohol) and if your dog is anything like one of mine, it will be a stressful battle just getting him to take it.

On my fearful, anxious foster RR had no discernible effect. Nor did it help my thunder-anxious dog.

What DID help tremendously was Relora http://www.vivitas.ca/relora.html

Here you can get it in the vitamin aisle of the drugstore, where the Melatonin is.

I just put the capsule in a glob of butter and he wolfs it down. Now when my dogs hear a pill bottle rattle, they all come running, in case it is time for Rusty to have his Relora! I use it 30 minutes before a stressful event if I know one is coming (i.e. trip to the vet, or socializing exercise). Otherwise he got 1 in the morning and 1 at night. I used it when he was a new foster just adjusting and it was wonderful.

Anyway, I think your plan of changing your workday will help him tremendously, you are lucky to have this freedom! Best of luck, I'm sure he will settle soon.

I have used RR and they make one for pets that doesn't contain alcohol, you can find it in pet stores or health food stores. I have also used the RR for us which does contain alcohol and that helped me to calm down when I'm anxious.


Good luck!

I love RR, it's a staple at my house. I've used it on myself successfully, and on dogs during stressful situations. I've even given it to my daughter AND her horse before a dressage test and it's helped. I haven't tried it for extended time periods for a cabin-fever situation, but it's certainly worth trying and it can't hurt.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

It sounds like I am the only one that didn't have success with Rescue Remedy! At least the dog liked it. But it has a very strong smell (is made of mostly alcohol) and if your dog is anything like one of mine, it will be a stressful battle just getting him to take it.

On my fearful, anxious foster RR had no discernible effect. Nor did it help my thunder-anxious dog.

What DID help tremendously was Relora http://www.vivitas.ca/relora.html

Here you can get it in the vitamin aisle of the drugstore, where the Melatonin is.

I just put the capsule in a glob of butter and he wolfs it down. Now when my dogs hear a pill bottle rattle, they all come running, in case it is time for Rusty to have his Relora! I use it 30 minutes before a stressful event if I know one is coming (i.e. trip to the vet, or socializing exercise). Otherwise he got 1 in the morning and 1 at night. I used it when he was a new foster just adjusting and it was wonderful.

Anyway, I think your plan of changing your workday will help him tremendously, you are lucky to have this freedom! Best of luck, I'm sure he will settle soon.

Angela, I just read this about the glob of butter and thought I would try the glob with my dog's antibiotic. I have such a problem getting her to take a pill. She will wool it around in her mouth until she gets the goody and spits out the pill.

Guess what? The big glob of butter worked like a charm. Well, little glob. Big dog, big glob; little dog, little glob.

GREAT IDEA!