XP from MMM - aging dog & anxiety with guests

[CloudBee]

Our dog is 10. He was put on anti-seizure medication a few months ago and his anxiety is through the roof. We had to stop his anxiety medication to get him on seizure meds. Ugh.

For about 6'ish months we've been gating him upstairs because he nipped at a friend's son over the winter. We think the dog was sleeping when it happened. At the very least he was curled up on his bed and unexpectedly poked or touched, and he startled. It seems like his whipped his head around and a tooth caught the little boy's forehead near his eye. Not a chomp - but his tooth or maybe his paw got him. So while nothing like this has happened with DS and they share the same space pretty much 24/7, we now gate the dog when other kids are around.

It's stressful for the dog, and becoming really frustrating for me. Looking forward - I feel like we can't have impromptu play dates unless I plan days in advance and DH drops the dog off at his parent's house. Man, I don't want to live that way. I love our dog, but I'm starting to resent him. Up until recently I could shove peanut butter and frozen chicken nuggets (lol) into multiple Kongs and that would keep him occupied when I had him gated upstairs. But it didn't work today. He barked. Constantly. I let him outside onto our deck, and then into our fenced in backyard. Again, he barked. So I let him in. I don't want to bother the neighbors.

Does anyone have any amazing tricks that I haven't tried? I hate keeping him locked up because he's such a social dog, but it seems like the right thing to do. How do we manage the excessive barking with a 10 year old dog who historically hasn't been much of a barker? He used to whine / cry when excited. Now he barks.

I just want to get back to our happy place where we I could have friends over whenever, and visit without barking in the background. So. Loud.

[cmeon]

If he's crate trained, put him in there, (or out if it's safe) in a quiet room with a noise machine and some treats. Not gated where he can see what's happening- that just doesn't work well with anxious dogs. Tire him out before playdates and he's a lot less likely to barkbarkbark. Separation is really the fairest option for everyone- you just have to figure out what works.

Be careful with muzzles (I saw them mentioned in the other thread)- soft muzzles, in particular, are made for short term use and are not safe for long term wear. Basket muzzles are much safer for long term use- but, they tend to look very scary to people.

[marie]

Do you have a doggie daycare in town? We have one a few miles away that is $25 for the whole day. I have a younger pup who has way too much energy to have at home if we do play dates or family gatherings. She loves the daycare and it makes her so stinking tired