Calming Band.

[Mel]

It's arrived. It's on. And he's quiet. Just want to know how long this needs to be on before I start to wean him off of it?

He did have a little bark but he stood looking at me quite perplexed as he couldn't actually muster too much of a barking session. He's quietly asleep now. So seems good so far.

[Joules]

No advice but will be watching to see how this works as I have thought about getting one for the gobby little madam who lives in my house 

[Mel]

This is a new one. Watching Have I Got News For You, someone presses a buzzer, barking and running about follows. Wonders never cease!

[Sarah.H]

This is a new one. Watching Have I Got News For You, someone presses a buzzer, barking and running about follows. Wonders never cease!

Oh I crack up at Millie when I watch that programme  . When the photos spin round and it makes a funny noise she does the tilting head thing and then runs to the front door when the buzzer goes  .

[Mel]

Well he's had his walk and din and has now been sleeping for a bit. We've had a quieter evening, certainly no issues with this evening's fireworks. The main display at the school is tomorrow night, so I'm going to start with just squeezy cheese but will employ Thundercoat and Calming Band if required.

[Ninasmum]

Hi Mel, perhaps ask Clairep4 about the calming band.  When we went to a TTouch practioneer & if i remember correctly, he told us to use it for short periods of time.

[Eve]

No advice but will be watching to see how this works as I have thought about getting one for the gobby little madam who lives in my house 

I'm sure you do yourself and injustice Joules

[Mel]

Well on this mornings severe, prolonged barking, neither the Thundercoat or Calming Band have any effect on him. He won't even come to me when he's called, not even for food. I've done the calming signals, but nothing. This is taking up so much time and money and getting nowhere. The neighbours are getting very fed up with it. Something has happened at that door when I've been out which has caused this and its getting worse. 

[LouiseAS]

Well on this mornings severe, prolonged barking, neither the Thundercoat or Calming Band have any effect on him. He won't even come to me when he's called, not even for food. I've done the calming signals, but nothing. This is taking up so much time and money and getting nowhere. The neighbours are getting very fed up with it. Something has happened at that door when I've been out which has caused this and its getting worse. 

I had a problem with my postman last year when I used to leave both Meg and Lenny whilst I went to work. Lenny started being very angry with anyone who ventured near the front door and they both started chewing post.  It wasn't until I was at home one day and witnessed the postman "Playing" with the post in the letterbox causing both dogs to act like lunatics and get into a right state.  He then used to bang on the glass at them too. 

Hope you find a solution.

[Geordietyke]

OMG how cruel is that!  No wonder you had wound up dogs! 

Hope you find some sort of solution soon Mel, it sounds like you are spending a fortune and having little results.  The only thing I can suggest is calling a professional in to observe the behaviours, they may be able to pinpoint why it's happening and how to deal with it.  Lesley 

[clairep4]

Well on this mornings severe, prolonged barking, neither the Thundercoat or Calming Band have any effect on him. He won't even come to me when he's called, not even for food. I've done the calming signals, but nothing. This is taking up so much time and money and getting nowhere. The neighbours are getting very fed up with it. Something has happened at that door when I've been out which has caused this and its getting worse. 

This is why it would be better for you to get someone in - there isn't going to be a quick fix for his levels of stress and as I've said before, whilst tools like thundercoats and calming bands can be amazing on some dogs, they don't work on all of them and he may actually be feeling a bit overloaded with all this new clobber he's suddenly wearing.

The advantage of getting someone in to help is that for example if you were to get a TTouch Practitioner in they could probably lend you things like thundercoats/wraps/calming bands to see if they helped before you shelled out on them, so in the long run it would be financially better, and you'd also get an experienced person who could look at the problem as an outsider and give you clear guidelines to help.

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Can I ask how much he gets out and about every day? My dogs get a lot less exercise than they did when they were younger (partly because I'm a bit restricted with a toddler at the mo (she starts nursery in Jan woooohoooo!) but also because they simply don't need it as much and have calmed down a lot as they've got older - so one good walk a day plus all the goings on of a family and interaction they get here all day here and a big garden to do 'stuff' in and play together , is ok for them at this point. But young dogs do need a lot more structure and regular short periods of activity outside as it's a very stimulating environment for them - I'm asking again because as you don't have direct access to a garden, I guess he's not able to go out and potter much and have a good investigate and sniff during the day also? It's possible that without that, he's finding other outlets for his energies and brain which are obviously undesirable to you and neighbours...

Just a thought....

[Mel]

He get's out alot. Was out with us all day yesterday. He's not shut in all day or anything. I've spoken to a local behaviourist who will come and see him.