My anxious dog needs a new home due to moving. What are my options?

I'm sorry to hear of their predicament. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find shelters willing to take on additional dogs. They may have better luck finding breed specific rescues willing to take on Chihuahuas. They may need to search outside of the proximity they have been considering, and start looking significantly further if they are intent on relocating the dog to a safe and happy home. In terms of treatment for anxiety and separation, I think the first thing they need to do is try to make Uki feel as comfortable as possible. If the dog isn't crate-trained, they need to get this done as soon as possible. Giving Uki his own space that he can make his den will give him a comfort zone that he may find as a nice area to settle down. Once this exists, this will be where he needs to stay during times when he is alone. In terms of treatment for separation, there are several natural and several pharmaceutical methods to deal with it. I usually recommend more natural methods first before jumping to pharmaceutical intervention. I would recommend trying things like the Adaptil Collar as well as the Thunder-Shirt. If neither of these seem to be successful, use of drugs such as Trazodone, Fluoxetine, and/or Alprazolam are all options for treatment. Hope this helps!

Hi, neutering might not be the answer as some dogs get even more aggressive after neutering. I would recommend to find an association that will take him over and is able to work on his behaviour prior to rehoming. Unfortunately it takes a lot of money and time to do this on your own and your risk of getting bitten in the meantime is high. Hopefully you will find a solution that it’s helpful for everyone.

Have her spayed. This will decrease hormones which can drive certain behaviors. Slowly acclimate Panda to one dog, then another and another. Do this on "neutral" ground and on leash. Correct any aggressive behaviors immediately. Use praise and small rewards as she progresses. The use of a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may also help to ease her anxiety/aggression.

1) I highly recommend a vet checkup to rule out issues such as parasites or a GI problem/allergy that could be preventing her weight gain. Your vet can also perform a body condition score to see if she is at a healthy weight for her size and help monitor any changes needed. 2) Since she is having a lot of anxiety and having trouble with basic obedience, speaking with a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person is your best option. They can work with you one-on-one to tailor a plan to help reduce your pup's anxiety, and a veterinary behaviorist can also utilize medication as needed in conjunction with a training plan. Training techniques such as BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) are great for helping desensitize dogs to the triggers that cause anxiety. This can also help with her fear toward you or other people as well. 3) Once she has settled in a bit and the anxiety is under control, a basic obedience class together may help so that you can learn to better communicate with each other in a safe, positive manner. This can also help the two of you bond a bit better and gain trust. If you're interested in talking to a veterinary behaviorist, you can find out more info here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

This is a very valid question and your primary concern should be the safety of you and your family (and also any visitors/public). Indie's extreme behavior indicates that she is struggling with social interactions and her quality of life is also questionable given the high state of anxiety all of the time. Euthanasia would be a realistic option in this case, I would agree that rehoming would be difficult as she would require a highly experienced owner willing to deal with all her flaws and risk themselves getting bitten - I would not recommend this option unless you had a personal reference for the new adopter

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pineapple. Based in your description, she may be experiencing separation anxiety. She will need to see a veterinarian right away. An examination and behavioral assessment will be performed. If this is the case, she may need prescription medication to help overcome her anxiety. I worry that she will hurt herself or further damage your home if left untreated. Anxiety becomes harder to treat the longer it is left unmanaged. Typically training and behavioral modifications are used in addition to medication. I hope this information helps!

Your best option is to try to wear Sunshine out every day. Making dogs physically tired typically helps to decrease anxiety and nervous behavior. The thunder jacket may help as well but it may not be comfortable to sleep in and could choke her if it shifts around too much. Make sure to try to keep her on the same routine your parents do as this can help her to feel more secure. If you have to work, you may look into having someone take her for a walk for you in the afternoon. Playing classical music in the background and giving her food puzzles, treat balls and frozen peanut butter stuffed Kong‘s may also help to occupy her. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.