What To Do With Dog Before Baby Comes

Question

I need help 💔
We adopted our pitty mix over 3 years ago when she was a year old, from a shelter with no back story. We knew it was going to be work... and oh my god it was.
She’s VERY well behaved now when we’re around, and very active and loving and friendly and great with kids.
But...
She has the MOST severe form of separation anxiety. I mean as bad as you can imagine. Self harm, panic, drooling until she can’t see straight, destroying everything, breaking through windows barking, shaking, you name it. *** Please no advice on training*** We’ve done it all and seen professional trainers.
The vet recommends we begin sedating her when we leave the house.
I need help!!! Mamas, mamas to be, puppy mamas, all the mamas future and past.... 
Please help me!
We don’t want to sedate our dog every day (we both work full time), but we can’t deal with this when the baby comes, we’re due September 5th. It will definitely get worse with the baby here (all the experts say) and we will have significantly less energy and attention for her.
Honestly, I’m beyond ready to find her a new home. Somewhere she can be with her new human all the time, and not be constantly feeling bad (we’re running out of patience and are constantly frustrated).
My husband can’t fathom giving her up, and I don’t want to pressure him. But what else can we do?!
He walks her every morning, let’s her play in the park every day, takes her to the beach on weekends, we’ve trained and done everything you can imagine. When she was in the crate she broke her teeth off pulling the metal to get out... high security crates. When she’s free to run around the house she gets up on counters and breaks glass. When shes outside she rams her head in to fences until they break. But when we’re home- an angel. A well behaved happy cuddly dog you would have no idea has any issues.
So... Do we start sedating her every day? Do we shut up and let things get worse? Do I pressure my husband to get rid of his baby girl? I’m so lost. And I’m so miserable. 
Please send your advice.
She’s the sweetest cutest thing you’ve ever seen and we want to do right by her. But our sweet baby due in a few months has to come first. What do we do...
❤️

Answer

I don’t agree with rehoming her 
Try the sedation. It’s for her own good. 
Can you imagine how bad it it will be for her if you do rehome her?

Answer

Don’t agree with rehoming her at all. Defo try sedation - or even a trial run first and see how she reacts?

Answer

have you tried playing classical music while you are away? worked wonders on our dog that had anxiety issues.

Answer

I would recommend just sedating her every day, it’s for her own good. Both on my dogs have bad separation anxiety and we give them calming treats when we know we will be gone for more than a couple hours. At this point that’s all you have left to try and hopefully that helps so that you don’t have to get rid of her!

Answer

If you can afford it could you do doggie daycare? 
Or have someone puppy sit during the day? Or are you able to get a second dog? 
Maybe if you get a big enough kennel the two could be together so anxiety is limited?

Answer

advice from a pup owner that had a dog with severe anxiety and separation anxiety.  we had to use tranquilizers for her.  honestly, make sure if you use any time of medication like this that you diaper.  Accidents are very very common with this medications they get use to it. 
secondly, we found crating her was the best option and we would give her a frozen peanut butter kong. she was only crated when I was not home with her.  the trick to crating is that it's only a positive environment, you cannot use a crate for negative behaviors.
My pup passed in early pregnancy, so we will not need to worry about transitions, but I do have a cat that seems to be having trouble with finding out shes will have a little sister.

Answer

Rather than sedate her, you could try Adaptil?

Answer

If you rehome her and the next person can't control her or doesn't want to deal with her she will end up in a shelter and probably euthanized bc they have to disclose her issues. We use acepromazine when we have to for my dog. Dogs are a lifetime commitment it pains me when ppl just give them away. If you had a child with behavioral issues you wouldn't just give them away. Please just keep working with her she is beautiful

Answer

Have you considered a herbal liquid for your dog? We found one on Amazon that was great and really chilled our Jack Russel down, there are loads of different options available.

Answer

Try to calm her down with something natural so she doesn’t get used to it so easily and it wont harm her. Maybe lavender essential oil, leave music on when you are not there.. and dedicate time to her so her routine doesn’t change much, in that way you’ll minimize the anxiety when the baby arrives.
Please don’t give her away! You will be tired and will have less time, but im sure she will get used to the new situation. 
❤️

What To Do With Dog Before Baby Comes

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