Forum

The picture at the top of the web site shows what my rescue Siberian did a few months after I got him when I left him alone for about 4-1/2 hours. The only thing that prevented him from going through the door was a metal sheet on the other side of the door for fire code. This was before putting him on medication. Originally he was on Clomicalm. Later, he was switched to Prozac (Fluoxetine in generic form). Under medication, he can be left for 3 to 4 hours without any major problems. (This damage was done pretty early in the period of time that he was left.

No, I have not noticed any side effects. My sister believes he is so laid back because he is on “doggie downers”, but I don't think it makes that much difference. When he wants to be obnoxious, he definitely can be. I actually think his behavior, and how “laid back” he seems to be, at any given time, is more a function of exercise. I try to give him a 6.2 mile walk every day (around the lake at Peace Valley), but weather and my schedule sometimes interfere. When he has not had walks, he can get pretty obnoxious and noisy. He can also get that way if he is around a lot of people but on a leash and restricted from going wherever he wants. Once he is off the leash, and free to greet whoever he wants, or just go and lie down, he is fine. My vet says a “tired Siberian is a good Siberian”. He spent Christmas day with my 6 nieces and nephews, as well as my mother, sister, and brother and sister-in-law. He went to bed Friday night (Saturday morning) at about 1 am. He did not get up and come down stairs to go out until 6:15 pm Saturday, 17 hours later. Playing with the children totally exhausted him, even though he had not been to the park in almost 1 week due to the weather.