Separation anxiety...help please :-(
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm posting this on behalf of Toby. He's a Greyhound X Saluki with some real issues...his owner (not me) is beside herself as she loves him to bits, but he's driving her nuts!
He's an Ex rescue from the RSPCA and spent six months being fostered, after his owner (a midget/dwarf/person of small stature, if that's the PC term) died. Apparently his owner died in his apartment and wasn't found for a week or so. One other dog had to be put down as it was in a really bad state.
According to the RSPCA he was never left alone and wasn't walked a great deal, either.
He's not alone a great deal these days as he goes to work with his new mum quite often. However, when he's left alone he destroys doors (and poos and wees inside), opens cupboards and takes the contents out. Then goes loopy when she gets home.
He used to bark like mad but now wears a spray collar which has calmed that down (and kept the neighbour happy).
We've both tried the walking in and out and being gone for different periods of time with no success. His owner doesn't have £40.00 per visit for a local doggie shrink...can anyone assist? He's a great pooch, with just this one main issue.
TIA from us all, especially Toby! :-)
Cheers,
C.
I'm posting this on behalf of Toby. He's a Greyhound X Saluki with some real issues...his owner (not me) is beside herself as she loves him to bits, but he's driving her nuts!
He's an Ex rescue from the RSPCA and spent six months being fostered, after his owner (a midget/dwarf/person of small stature, if that's the PC term) died. Apparently his owner died in his apartment and wasn't found for a week or so. One other dog had to be put down as it was in a really bad state.
According to the RSPCA he was never left alone and wasn't walked a great deal, either.
He's not alone a great deal these days as he goes to work with his new mum quite often. However, when he's left alone he destroys doors (and poos and wees inside), opens cupboards and takes the contents out. Then goes loopy when she gets home.
He used to bark like mad but now wears a spray collar which has calmed that down (and kept the neighbour happy).
We've both tried the walking in and out and being gone for different periods of time with no success. His owner doesn't have £40.00 per visit for a local doggie shrink...can anyone assist? He's a great pooch, with just this one main issue.
TIA from us all, especially Toby! :-)
Cheers,
C.
Hi. I'm not an expert, although I have owned a Saluki/Greyhound, and they are very sensitive, vocal and quite 'high maintenance' dogs (at least in comparison to pure greyhounds). I didn't have separation issues with mine, but he had the company of several other dogs when I was out. I guess that this may be an issue with Toby if he was used to living with another dog?
It may be worth your friend registering and posting on this site - quite a few behaviourists/trainers post there.
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showfo...
Just to say, the fact that she is using a spray collar may not go down too well. I understand the pressure of a barking dog/unhappy neighbours, but it can be viewed as cruel.
Alternatively, can the rescue he came from help? Some offer behavioural back up.
I hope you are able to get some help - they are lovely dogs. Benson used to drive me to distraction sometimes, but he was a real character!
It may be worth your friend registering and posting on this site - quite a few behaviourists/trainers post there.
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showfo...
Just to say, the fact that she is using a spray collar may not go down too well. I understand the pressure of a barking dog/unhappy neighbours, but it can be viewed as cruel.
Alternatively, can the rescue he came from help? Some offer behavioural back up.
I hope you are able to get some help - they are lovely dogs. Benson used to drive me to distraction sometimes, but he was a real character!
Not remotely qualified in any way, but.... We had very similar issues with our dog (also rspca rescue, had been very badly treated, and took a while to be comfortable around people, but then went too far the other way) and in fact, should anything upset the routine and he's with us for longer than usual he threatens to go back to how he is.
We used bits of our (worn!!) clothing to leave with him to reassure him we were coming back, and also distraction toys before leaving him, such as kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen so he had to work at it to get it!
Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
Lastly, we were able to go back to our rspca centre for help with training, and it felt as though once he became more comfortable and confident generally the separation issue seemed to settle a lot.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
We used bits of our (worn!!) clothing to leave with him to reassure him we were coming back, and also distraction toys before leaving him, such as kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen so he had to work at it to get it!
Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
Lastly, we were able to go back to our rspca centre for help with training, and it felt as though once he became more comfortable and confident generally the separation issue seemed to settle a lot.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
guillemot said:
Not remotely qualified in any way, but.... We had very similar issues with our dog (also rspca rescue, had been very badly treated, and took a while to be comfortable around people, but then went too far the other way) and in fact, should anything upset the routine and he's with us for longer than usual he threatens to go back to how he is.
We used bits of our (worn!!) clothing to leave with him to reassure him we were coming back, and also distraction toys before leaving him, such as kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen so he had to work at it to get it!
Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
Lastly, we were able to go back to our rspca centre for help with training, and it felt as though once he became more comfortable and confident generally the separation issue seemed to settle a lot.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
All very good advice We used bits of our (worn!!) clothing to leave with him to reassure him we were coming back, and also distraction toys before leaving him, such as kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen so he had to work at it to get it!
Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
Lastly, we were able to go back to our rspca centre for help with training, and it felt as though once he became more comfortable and confident generally the separation issue seemed to settle a lot.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
guillemot said:
We used bits of our (worn!!) clothing to leave with him to reassure him we were coming back, and also distraction toys before leaving him, such as kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen so he had to work at it to get it!
Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
Herbie (Greyhound) used to spend all day at home whilst we were at work and used to be fine. All he did was sleep. However, I do appreciate that a Saluki has a bit more energy than the average greyhound. Leaving the radio on can help a lot, as can using a specific command as you leave him that is always tied with you coming back - so the same phrase each time so the routine is always the same when you leave and come back again.
I hope you get sorted, it's so stressful and you feel so helpless when you have a dog that isn't comfortable once you're out!
Agree with above post. Try leaving TV or radio on (Classic FM and Radio 4 work best). Kong works too or any kind of chew that takes them a long time. My mum once gave him a giant rawhide, which lasted over two hours. If you do use the kong/kibble route, make sure you adjust his main meals accordingly and also vary what in the kong as somethings can upset their stomachs and it will vary depending on the dog.
Also, don't expect a kong to last for hours. Some dogs are very bright. Herboe can lick it out very quickly even from frozena dn he then just throws it in the air until the bits of kibble come out! He did the same with a slow feeder. Maybe the OP can try a slow feeder.
IMO the option before a doggy shrink is a dog walker at £10pm or doggy daycare at £20-30 a day. I appreciate that these are expensive options and far from ideal as the dog is then being left twice a day and that can also upset them.
Dogs also get a bit freaked out by changes in routine and will pick up on certain signs that you are leaving the house. You could address that. Herbie gets a bit excited when I pick my coat up as he thinks we are going out. Also, he is fine to be left for several hours straight after a decent walk. If its hours after he has walked, then we sometimes get issues with marking. Dog ownership isn't always easy
does the dog have a crate? a lot of dogs find comfort and security from a crate and their own space, especially if you pop a blanket or towel over it to cover it slightly. This will also help with the destructive nature and toileting in the house. A crate isn't for every dog though.
The owner needs to go back to the homing centre and get additional help from them, that, or get another dog for company.
The owner needs to go back to the homing centre and get additional help from them, that, or get another dog for company.
Our rescue lurcher used to tear the kitchen doors apart, rip up the lino, destroying beds, making a mess, pulling stuff off the kitchen work surfaces and generally protest about being left in the kitchen for any time at all. Out of desperation we let him have the run of the house during the day and immediately he changed to sleeping through the day and not making a massive fuss when we came back in.
said:
Also, don't expect a kong to last for hours. Some dogs are very bright. Herboe can lick it out very quickly even from frozena dn he then just throws it in the air until the bits of kibble come out! He did the same with a slow feeder. Maybe the OP can try a slow feeder.
He he - yep, I'd completely agree with this - made me chuckle reading it as we got one of those indestructible (told he wasn't a chewer when we took him on but only things he can't destroy are the Great Dane sized nylabones) treat balls that's supposed to make them wander about to roll the things to get the treats out. He worked out pretty early on that if he simply puts his front paw on top and then rolls it from side to side they'll all fall out pretty quickly and he doesn't have to get up.... 
My boy suffers from separation anxiety and I resisted coughing up for a behaviourist for ages, read loads of books, articles and forums but getting an expert in to see the dog in his home setting was the best money I've spent. Couple of my friends have dogs with separation anxiety and we've all had to adopt different strategies to suit the individual dog. So I would say try to get someone for just one visit at least. Helpsheets here might help http://www.pawfectdogsense.com/helpsheetsvideos
Good luck.
Good luck.
Dirty protesting.
Crate him.
Humans don't see it as "nice" but its the best thing for him and he will settle a lot faster.
After a few weeks you can try leaving the crate door open, but I expect he would DP again.
Most dogs get used to it quite quickly. Ours come to work but I quite often find our b
h in her crate of her own choice - in fact on a Sunday she generally spends most of the day in there!
Crate him.
Humans don't see it as "nice" but its the best thing for him and he will settle a lot faster.
After a few weeks you can try leaving the crate door open, but I expect he would DP again.
Most dogs get used to it quite quickly. Ours come to work but I quite often find our b
h in her crate of her own choice - in fact on a Sunday she generally spends most of the day in there!Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff