I sometimes look askance at the various ads that say the product is offering some pheromone based solution for your problem.
I certainly look askance at the folks who try to use pheromones to defend their fruit trees and rose bushes from Japanese Beetles by luring the beetles into traps. These folks don't realize that by luring the beetles on your trees into that bag, they're also luring all of the beetles in a five mile radius to your neighborhood.
I have, however, been lured into using a pheromone based substance -- one that I had my doubts about at first -- and find that for this one, I'm a believer. It's called (I kid you not) Dog Appeasing Pheromone.
Our dear Phoebe is a very sweet dog.
But Phoebe is afraid of storms. And thunder. And fireworks. Seriously afraid of that stuff. She quivers and paces and pants and whimpers. And paces.
We recently learned from our vet that this newfangled pheromone stuff really does calm dogs who are afraid of things like storms and fireworks. Since she doesn't sell the stuff herself, but does use it with her own dog, I thought I'd give it a shot. It's pricey stuff. It cost me $42 for a little bottle of this liquid that you spray on a bandana.
This pheromone is allegedly the stuff that nursing mother dogs exude that calms nursing puppies. I wondered whether it would have any affect on an adult dog, and whether the fact that the dog had been neutered, would make a difference. But going into the Fourth of July ... I was not looking forward to an evening of whining and pacing and quivering.
So... on Wednesday late afternoon, I sprayed the bandana, tied it around Phoebe's neck, and waited for the fireworks to begin.
She was placid.
Calm.
Serene.
All through the fireworks displays.
No panting.
No pacing.
No whimpering.
I LOVE this stuff!
Never again will I have to wake up to a dog quivering on my bed! If a storm is coming, I can put her bandana on, spritz a little pheromone, and go to sleep in peace!
O.M.G. Please email me where you got that stuff. Our newest dog, Misha, is a terribly shy and timid rescue dog. After six months we can finally (somtimes) touch her. Mostly we keep her on a leash so she is near us; then, as long as we are on the same level as she is we can pet her. The Prozac she has been taking for 6 weeks has made a difference, but this stuff sounds like it is worth a try, too.
Posted by: kmkat | July 06, 2012 at 06:00 PM
Yeah, where did you get that? It seems like the "happy pills"we give Vdog don't work very well anymore; but her thundershirt helps. I need yet another way to spoil my dog. ;)
Posted by: Cgirl | July 06, 2012 at 06:08 PM
We've had good results with Toby's Thumdershirt - they have a money back guarantee, and donate any returns to shelters.
Posted by: Joy | July 06, 2012 at 07:09 PM