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New rescue with anxiety
We just adopted our first rescue, a 3-year-old shar pei named Lucy. She comes from a puppy mill, but is pretty friendly with humans and dogs. The foster parents had her for about 3 weeks before we adopted her, and I think she bonded to them already.
Yesterday was our first day with her, and for a lot of the time, she just ran around the house whimpering. I kept trying to hold her and stroke her to calm her down, and after we gave her an allergy med, she finally calmed down and slept a little bit. Last night then went a lot better than I expected...she only woke up a couple of times.
This morning, though, she's back at the running around and whimpering. When I give her a bully stick, she just focuses on that, but once she doesn't feel like chewing anymore, she's back to pacing.
Any suggestions on what I can do to help her?
Re: New rescue with anxiety
Walks can help bond her to you and help her relax. She'll be focusing on the walk and it will help tire her out.
She'll settle down. You could always talk to foster parents to see if she acted this way when she first came to them.
Change is stressful even if it is for the better.
Our pup was like that when we brought her home. The only thing that took the edge off was walks. The first week I must have taken her on a hundred walks (at least it felt that way!)
Giving her a "space" also helped. We took an old comforter and folded it up in her bed. When she would pace we'd redirect her to her bed. It didn't take long for her to realize it was her safe spot. Two years later she still uses it as her area to relax.
We also tried to establish a routine as quickly as possible.
October 13, 2012
Second, I also recommend a long walk.
I hope she adjusts quickly. Just be patient.
I'd look into an obedience course. It will further help bond her to you and help teach you how to train her.
Thanks all for your help. We took a long walk today, which may have helped some...she's currently snoozing. I also got some Rescue Remedy to try out if she's still pretty anxious in the next few days.
Here's the best pic I have of Lucy so far...she's so wiggly that it's hard to get one that's not blurry!
Lots of exercise, and a crate with a soft bed inside and a blanket over the top and three sides, so she'll have her own little den.
I'm not sure that she has anxiety, necessarily.
Your home, your family, everything right now is new to her. It will likely take her a few days/weeks to adjust.
Ditto Clos. Giving her lots of exercise will probably help, as would a DAP collar/diffuser or something similar (I think you mentioned Rescue Remedy)...just to help her relax a little as she adjusts.
She's adorable, BTW...congrats on the new family member!