Sleeping Alone

[FaithHopeLove]

Please help me think this through.

We adopted our Toller two years ago, and she's about 3.5. She's a high energy, high need, "more of everything" kind of a creature. Super sweet and loving, very intense about her "duties" to protect, guide, and assist (We call her the Pupperazi in regards to the cat, and The Assistor regarding us.) Her original owner passed away, then she travelled across the US by car and lived in multiple homes with the original owner's daughter as she moved between family members, then she came to us. Pup had some anxiety issues by the time we got her. It took a very long time for her not to shake and quiver when riding in the car, for example. Right away, we had her sleep in dd's bedroom, in her own bed on the floor. She wouldn't go to bed with dd, because all of the "sheep" weren't away for the night (me and the cat). Once I was heading to bed, she would meet me at dd's door and be let in to take her place in her bed on the floor.

Fast forward that dd was diagnosed with allergies to dog and dust mites and pup has been ousted from dd's room. For a time she slept with me, until I started having some breathing problems at night. Kitty sleeps on my bed as she has for a decade. My doctor told me to not have the dog sleep with me, and that her dog sleeps in her own bed in the living room just fine.

So, we've been trying this for a couple of weeks now and pup is having a very hard time. She follows me around and looks absolutely pathetic at night. She's showing more anxious behavior. She's stealing food during the night (even though we dog proof the best we can) and I find the packaging in her bed in the morning. (And worry about costly obstructions.) Other behaviors are also worsening. She barks more when she thinks she hears something outside. She hates being crated, which I suspect comes from something in her puppyhood, so that isn't an option.

Do you think she will adjust with time?
Should I put an air purifier next to her bed and let her sleep in my room?
Any other ideas? It was so nice to see her stabilize and become so confident and I hate to see her so upset now. Poor pup.

[mamacat]

First would try wiping her down with vinegar water and see if that helps any.Is supposed to help make their coats healthier and also gets dust and stuff off.That is what try to do with our pups.Ours do better at night in one of those plastic enclosed travel crates with door open and then penned in kitchen,rather than being free range in a room.

---------- Post added at 06:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:12 PM ----------

can also do the same for kitty

[CelticJourney]

Also consider what food you are feeding her. We used a dog trainer with dh's K9 who told us she was allergic to many dogs, not because of the dog itself but because of the low grade food their bodies were processing.

[ValiantJoy07]

could you move her bed a bit further from yours, but in the room?

Would an air filter be an option, kind of counteract the dog fur dander?

[FaithHopeLove]

Thanks for the responses!

She eats really good quality food - Canidae. I mix their grain free bag with the regular Canidae (can't afford pure grain free), she gets a raw egg weekly, fish oil nightly, and her treats are all grain free and very pure.

I got an air purifier for my room, and am in the middle of moving some furniture around and organizing, so then it might be possible to move her bed further away from mine. Before it was at the foot of the bed. But my room is a pretty straight rectangle, and not huge, so there isn't much other room. She won't stay just outside the door, which is the hallway (and I'm worried I'll trip over her on the way to the restroom at night). Tollers are VERY hairy dogs and she sheds tons and tons even though regularly brushed and bathed.

With the vinegar - what mix vinegar to water do you use? And do you use apple cider vinegar or white? Have you noticed it helps reduce allergens?

[mamacat]

The vinegar is supposed to reduce allergens because it cleans off dander and dust and anything their fur has collected outside also saliva which some people can react to.I have used both kinds half and half.Makes their cats so soft and clean and is good for them too.We rarely wash them now which can be drying for their skin if done too often

[FaithHopeLove]

Interesting!

[Soliloquy]

If at all possible I would consult with a really good dog trainer. I don't know whether it would be a mistake to start crate training a dog with anxiety but it might be good.

Rescue Remedy also works with dogs. You can put it on top of their head. There are some phermone products you can get for dog anxiety, also.