I had a roommate with a dalmatian once. Stupidest dogs evah...gah.

I hope it's a trick. Just because I'm not ready to share space with too much sentience

OMG, that was kind what I was thinking. I was creeped out by the implications of sentient elephants (and started feeling incredibly guilty about them)

I would like Allyson's dinner. Mine was edamame, with bacon salt on top.

Unfortunately, that's been my experience too. Which doesn't mean there's no way to zen her out a bit. Hopefully.

I had a roommate with a dalmatian once. Stupidest dogs evah...gah.

Oh yeah. Chloe is dumber than a box of hair. But sweet; just crazy nervous.

My cat Clio keeps staring at my postcard of Che Guevera. I think it's love.

Back when, people on pet boards recommended something called rescue remedy for anxious critters. I think you find it at health stores. I have no idea of the efficacy or dosage, as I've never used it on my two furry neuroses (Mister Kitty and Devi.)

My cat Clio keeps staring at my postcard of Che Guevera. I think it's love.

Devi gets positively mesmerized by the call of the muezzine (I can't spell that or say it- muslim call to prayer) when it comes on the radio. It's funny.

I'm glad to see Allyson is taking such good care of herself tonight. That dinner sounds YUM.

We had one of our usuals: fish (tilapia) sauteed in butter and olive oil, leftover noodles for the kids, salad for me. And wine. Now fish and salad wait for DH, who seems to be stuck on the bus thanks to the some landslide on Sepulveda or something. (mudslide, not landslide. oops)

Isaac was a thorough and utter pill through dinner. Sigh. I want to tell myself he'll outgrow it, but I remember dinners with my brother and I am filled with FEAR. My poor mom.

When I had a psycho cat they gave her kitty prozac and it worked like a charm, but I recall the vet saying that dogs weren't as responsive to it.

OK, I don't usually post in Natter and clicked on it by chance, and you're talking about pets! So I have to share this link. Labs for adoption: [link]

Broken now.

Way back when I was pregnant with Annabel, I dreamed about a brown-haired daughter who wanted to be a chef when she grew up.

Every night now she insists on standing on a chair beside us as we cook and helping in any way she can. DH is better about this than I am--I tend to be task-oriented to a fault and constantly in a hurry to get to the next thing on the list, but I'm trying to get better. I know, I know, she's at the stage to like to help, and she probably won't be a chef. But it's still cute as can be.

Tep, sorry for the delay, I was writing a message to fire my longest running people client. After 8 years, that took some thought.

sarameg beat me to my first recommendation. Rescue Remedy is a great option. It can, in no way, harm the dog and I've seen it work wonders. You can put 4 drops in her water at the beginning of the day and during particularly stressful times, rub a couple drops directly into the underside of her ears. (this is a richly veined area, which increases the absorption rate)

There are many, many herbal anxiety preparations but it's difficult to recommend one over the others. You have to try a few to see which work.

When Bartleby had debilitating separation anxiety, he ate an entire packet of tablets and wasn't one bit less anxious.

On the other hand, I know a couple who use the "Homeopet" anxiety product with good effect.

More than that though, I'd recommend looking into some behavioral and even dietary considerations.

Shaking all the time is not a good sign but may also be a genetic anomaly. Thanks to ND's frequent clients, the Dalmatian genetic streams have been...to some people's thinking...irreparably damaged. Your pooch's shaking may just be part of her physiology.

The number 1 thing you must do...and the very hardest...is to not let her anxiety hike up your own. Responding to her as if there is something wrong (given a clean bill of health from a competent vet) just reinforces the behavior.

When possible, ignore the barking altogether. Behavior that is not reinforced is eventually extinguished. This takes the patience of Job and breaking what are probably some long standing habits.

The cure for Bartleby's anxiety...or rather the management of it because it will always be a part of him...is routine. In the past, he would bark from the moment I left, to the moment I returned hours later. Sometimes so hard he made is throat bleed.

We haven't had a problem in 5 years. Every time I ask him to be away from me, I do and say the very same thing in the very same voice. As a result, he knows that "You be GOOD!" means he is safe.

You might also try limiting your dog's range territory. Dogs are a den based animal with no adequate dens. The less space she has to roam, the less likely she is to feel threatened. If she does not have a crate, you might want to consider training her to one. It isn't cruel, it is working with her instinct.

eta: I meant to say, ping my profile addy and let's chat by phone. With more detail, I might be able to give you more specific solutions.