Unsettled Dog please Help

Hi I was wondering if anyone here can give me some advice, I am looking after a dog while the owners have gone on holiday, the dog is a 3 year old staffy, understandably she is really unsettled bless her, she keeps pacing around the room and wimpering, I have tried stroking her playing with her taking her on walks and giving her a few treats but nothing seems to be working she seems very stressed, I want to make her stay here with me as easy and painfree as possible so I would appreciate it if anyone can advise me on what I can do to help her, shes off her food and she also seems quite nervous and wont even go out in my garden unless I go with her.

I understand this is all strange for the dog and I empathise with her I just dont want her to suffer while shes here.

Thanks in advance

Jo
x

Hi Jo,
I can't see that you are doing anything wrong. Just try to act as "normal" as possible, and maybe don't make too much fuss of her. Sometimes the more fuss we make, the worse the situation gets. Hope she settles soon.

Yes I agree..

Cheex30 I would guess you are becoming anxious and trying to pacify the dog, all quite a natural reaction but this will reinforce the dogs anxiety and you may even be rewarding it with your attention.
The best thing to do is not to be sympathetic but be bright and cheerful, if the dog is quiet and comes to you give it lots of praise, ignore the pacing and whimpering .

The same goes for food, put down the food the dog normally eats and leave it, if it is not eaten in 20 mins remove it no word no eye contact then feed the dog at the next scheduled mealtime, it won't starve to death.

How long have you got her for?

For any anixous dogs staying with me I find that a few drops of Bach's rescue remedy in their water helps. The advice the others have given is great also.

You can get rescue remedy in any chemist or health food store.

Good Luck!

Thank you everybody for your fantastic advice I am going to get some bachs rescue remedy today so thank you for the tip.

I have the dog for 10 days and I wouldnt say her unsettled behaviour is making me anxious as I understand that the new environment is totally alien to her, Im also not over compensating by fussing her too much as I know this will simply reinforce her current state of anxiety, I just wanted to make sure that I was doing everything that can be done and to ask members on this forum for their own suggestions and tips, I have owned dogs before but obviously they have been used to me and my routine, I suspect that the dog Im looking after is a rather spoiled pooch and she has not been socialised at all and is rather aggressive towards other dogs.

hi
i was wondering if the owner had given you something with their smell on it eg an old jumper or coat? sometimes this helps

Being a Staff owner, I can only say give the dog plenty of affection and love, thats what most Staffs are interested in, human companionship and lots of fuss,it may make her less anxious, I personally think ignoring her will make her more unsettled and whine even more, anyone that owns a Staff will tell you about a Staffy whine its definatley unmistakable, you've only got her 10 days give her the love and reassurrance she's looking for and she should settle she's a sensitive soul who needs lots of hugs good luck

Have to say i am inclined to agree - staffy snuggles - thats what they love most - my staffie gets all out of sorts fpor the first few days when we go away - and gets spoiled even more by his granny !!!!

they just love a cuddle food and balls in that order !!!

you could try the dap spray that is good to help calm down i use that for my dogs that are getting used to cars and around fire work night great stuff, and kongs with some thing diffrent in as a treat to make feel speacil always helps as well.

hope that helps hun

Thank you all once again for your fantastic advice, dont get me wrong Im not totally ignoring her Im just not paying attention to the whining however I am giving her loads of fuss, cuddles and play when she stops the whining, she just loves tug of war and running after the ball in the garden, so far this approach seems to have paid off because she has settled really well now and shes currently snoring in her basket.

She is such a lovely dog and has a fantastic temprement and she is so well behaved, shes an absolute joy, Im going to be gutted when I give her back next Tuesday, but as luck has it I have another dog to babysit next Friday this will be a Bassett Hound.