We have a pretty quiet household...two adults and a dog. Dog hangs out and is very mellow, rarely barks. This is what Wrangler is used to. I noticed a while back that he had a plucking incident shortly after we had friends over. I dont remember if it was the overnight guests or friends in for the evening---but I recall making the association at the time. I had a cleaning lady in twice and noticed some feathers then too. Filed that away in my head (lucky it didnt get lost!)
Last week we had the carpet cleaners in. Wrangler was very vocal throughout the entire hour they were here but I was with him and he didnt seem overly distressed by it. Then, BOOM, 2 dozen feathers on the floor. Not while they were here...but that evening while I was at work. He even pulled one out right in front of me after I'd just taken him out for the dog walk. Its almost like he is fine with people when he's out and about running errands with me, but anyone who enters his territory is cause for major upset. The carpet cleaners didnt interact with him and for the most part Wrangler couldnt even see them except when they went in and out of the door. I expected this, given what Ive observed in the past, but it's still distressing when it happens.
I've had him almost green three times in as many months but every time he gets there something causes him to go into feather barbering frenzy. He even does it during the night on his stand next to our bed...so it's not like he's lonely/distressed/etc. Its his choice to be on the stand, if he didnt want to be there he'd jump onto the bed to snuggle up with me.
My sister inlaw and her husband are coming to visit Friday for 2 days....and Im fully expecting Wrangler to have another pluckfest either while they're here or after they leave. Any suggestions? Is avicalm ok to use? How can I get him through this when I know it's a trigger?
Last week we had the carpet cleaners in. Wrangler was very vocal throughout the entire hour they were here but I was with him and he didnt seem overly distressed by it. Then, BOOM, 2 dozen feathers on the floor. Not while they were here...but that evening while I was at work. He even pulled one out right in front of me after I'd just taken him out for the dog walk. Its almost like he is fine with people when he's out and about running errands with me, but anyone who enters his territory is cause for major upset. The carpet cleaners didnt interact with him and for the most part Wrangler couldnt even see them except when they went in and out of the door. I expected this, given what Ive observed in the past, but it's still distressing when it happens.
I've had him almost green three times in as many months but every time he gets there something causes him to go into feather barbering frenzy. He even does it during the night on his stand next to our bed...so it's not like he's lonely/distressed/etc. Its his choice to be on the stand, if he didnt want to be there he'd jump onto the bed to snuggle up with me.
My sister inlaw and her husband are coming to visit Friday for 2 days....and Im fully expecting Wrangler to have another pluckfest either while they're here or after they leave. Any suggestions? Is avicalm ok to use? How can I get him through this when I know it's a trigger?
