Advice please re Rescue Dog - LONG

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Clannad48

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Ok I am hoping for some advice from people who have gone through a similar thing.

I recently aquired a rescue dog privately. Long story which I won't go into as I think the information is too personal to his previous owners.

Dog is two years old, beagle male. He has been to the vet and all necessary checks etc, done. He is about two and a half kilos overweight which we are working on improving. He seems to have been well trained in the past but I have arranged to take him to obedience classes to remind him of the basics in a controlled environment.

So what's the problem you ask - well he suffers from severe separation anxiety. When I left him with the dog sitter due to an emergency he cried all the time the first day but settled on the second. The main issue is that if he is left in the house on his own, even for five minutes he barks constantly. The first time we tried it we left him for 5 minutes in the kitchen, He totally trashed it - he even chewed through my metal window blinds....

We purchased a large crate on advice from a behaviour advisor which he will go into no problem, even during the day when we are home. But when left on his own he has managed to bend the front bars and broken the tray in the bottom. We have tried all sorts of bones, toys and treats to keep him amused but all he does is destroy and bark constantly.

Yes I know it will take time and patience which I am prepared to give - luckily we live in a detached house and the nearest neighbours say they don't hear a thing.

Any suggestions, ideas, experience would be gratefully received. We love him dearly and will not give up on him.
 
I would advise you to pm Cayla who will send you a SA leaflet in regards to rescue dogs, she runs a rescue centre with her mum and is experienced with this problem. As a thank you it would be nice if you sent her a donation for her rescues.:)
 
Indeed, send me an PM and I will explain in a little more detail re seperation and it's causes and basically the behaviours you can expect and why?
I would also start with a baby gate if his anxiety is so bad. I can explain in alot more detail but you will have to introduce a new and very strict/gradual routine to benefit you and him.
Did they mention if he came from home with another dogs or if someone remained home with him most days?
 
Frankly I wouldn't go there ...you have been given a beagle adult dog who barks non stop and wrecks your house, no wonder he needed rescuing !
 
Bear in mind Beagles are a pack animal which can run all day and sometimes you cannot argue with the genes....just adapt a little...if he was in a home before with lots of human or doggy contact this will take a while. And make sure you run the legs off him.

Hopefully Cayla will be able to help!
 
The book "Don't leave me!" by Nicole Wilde is a very indepth guide to separation anxiety, you can buy the ebook version for about £6.50 (remember you can download a Kindle app onto most PCs so no need to have an actual Kindle)

Anxiety and weight gain/difficulty losing weight can be two symptoms of hypothyroid so just something to bear in mind if you seem to struggle dealing with it solely with training. My Rottie x developed separation anxiety this year and we tried tackling it from a behavioural side but after struggling for several months, I went back to my vet and asked for thorough blood panels. Turns out her thyroid results were right down the bottom of the range, indicating borderline hypothyroid. Now on Soloxine, her results are back in ideal range and she is a whole lot better mentally and physically - ditched the few lbs I was struggling to get her to lose, calmer in general, but also more playful, coat has come through a lot softer (hadn't realised how brittle it had got until it grew through soft, everyone's commented on it) and so on. I can't believe something so simple could cause so many behavioural and physical issues, but the thyroid plays a huge role in so many different bodily functions, it's something I would definately rule out as a factor in so many conditions now I've read up on it. Just bear in mind that you need an advanced/detailed thyroid panel done rather than just TSH, because a dog creates/converts the thyroid hormones slightly differently to humans and TSH isn't always a very accurate indicator of thyroid problems. You can find loads of info online on what to look for - Dr Jean Dodds is an American vet with a special interest in thyroid disease in dogs so has loads of good info on the subject.
I don't know anything about Beagles but if you google "hypothyroid beagles", a few results suggest that it can be a common issue in the breed.
 
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we got our collie x lab through a private rescue (word of mouth sort of thing)

first time we left him- shut in the kitchen by a baby gate he absolutely wrecked the place- the shelves had falled down where he tried to climb up it to get out. everything was smashed on the floor etc etc etc.

we removed the shelves and anything else he could hurt himself on and left him again for 20 minuets.
this time he got the cupboards open and got all the sauce pans, plates out.
so we removed the handles of the cupboards and tied them together! next time we come home- cupboard doors completely removed off their hinges. freezer open. frozen bread rolls and sausages dotted around the house!

we didnt know if this was being naughty or separation anxiety so we put a camera in the kitchen and left him. at first he was barking and pacing etc so we gathered it was separation anxiety. next thing we know he is opening the over door- climbing onto it and drinking the chip fat oil that is on top!!!! smart little bugger

we dont shut him in the kitchen now as we have another dog- when we go out now he just sleeps!
 
Thanks for all the replies, unfortunately I have been offline for a couple of days.I think I know the reason for his separation anxiety which I can't really go into on an open forum. His barking was not the reason for him becoming a rescue dog - again the reason can not be gone into on an open forum. I will pm you Cayla
 
I've only ever had one really hard-core SA dog (he was a rescue too). I couldn't leave him at all and unfortunately my house at the time was pretty open plan so I couldn't even contain his destruction, poor mite. I say "mite" but he was an enormous lurcher and could reach everything. Anyway, I digress. He would trash the place and pee and poo everywhere. I tried everything but in the end the only thing which relieved it - cured it in fact, almost instantly - was getting another dog. Then he didn't give two hoots when I went out. Is that an option?

Obviously I don't know exactly what's going on with your beagle, but I hope you can sort it. Good luck :)
 
I replied, I was very confused at 1st:o:D I thought I had ignored an email or something:p
Anyhow I babbled but to explain fully I have given you an option of telephone (brace yourself) apparently I sound like (cheryl cole):p or super long email.
It can be solved, I have had to work through alot of severe SA, but it can be a long process takes time and a strict routine.:) reading the PM I understand why you needed to PM:)
 
piebaldsparkle said:
BTW good luck OP - Cayla may be a fruit loop, but she does give some useful advice (just don't tell her I said so).;)
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You are a disgrace....I helped you through your mid life crisis, all those nights I listened to your whiNge, 50 is sooo old cayla, I feel so depressed blahhhhh...oh yeah I remember all them nights:rolleyes:
 
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CAYLA said:
You are a disgrace....I helped you through your mid life crisis, all those nights I listened to your whiNge, 50 is sooo old cayla, I feel so depressed blahhhhh...oh yeah I remember all them nights:rolleyes:
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:mad::mad:

Don't make me do another Cayla is bullying me thread................I seem to remember it didn't end well last time!:rolleyes:

:D:D:D:D
 
CAYLA - you are an absolute star - the email you sent me was fabulous - starting to act on all of the suggestions now - He is improving daily.

Btw one of the neighbours called the RSPCA out saying that we had a dog that was being beaten and sounded in pain and that it had been going on for months!!

Lovely RSPCA inspector visited and declared our dog as a lovely dog who was being well cared for and definitely not beaten or in pain. Once he found out that he was a rescue dog and that we had only had him for four weeks he was very helpful and will inform the person who reported us that the dog is fine and that the 'in pain' noises are the dog being very excited when someone comes home.

Some friends have said they would be furious that the RSPCA came out to inspect, but I am just glad that they bothered to check that the dog was fine.

Once again Cayla thankyou so much for all the help and advice - I will update you as things progress.
 
Clannad48 said:
CAYLA - you are an absolute star - the email you sent me was fabulous - starting to act on all of the suggestions now - He is improving daily.

Btw one of the neighbours called the RSPCA out saying that we had a dog that was being beaten and sounded in pain and that it had been going on for months!!

Lovely RSPCA inspector visited and declared our dog as a lovely dog who was being well cared for and definitely not beaten or in pain. Once he found out that he was a rescue dog and that we had only had him for four weeks he was very helpful and will inform the person who reported us that the dog is fine and that the 'in pain' noises are the dog being very excited when someone comes home.

Some friends have said they would be furious that the RSPCA came out to inspect, but I am just glad that they bothered to check that the dog was fine.

Once again Cayla thankyou so much for all the help and advice - I will update you as things progress.
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No problem, Im happy to help, sorry it took me a while to get it to you (I have been (quietly dying at home) with some rather random punishing back/neck problems and now migraine which seems to begin to recover then come back with vengeance today:confused:, hence this stupid time and me now drug free and wide awake (never will I touch those drugs again) its pain all the way now:(:p (lots of sympathy please);):p

Anyways, you see the logic in the detail, its more than simply putting on the baby gate;) I bet you thought I just meant put the gate up:p
Good luck, keep at it, it's gradual, but trust me its the best way for severe cases. You are a fab owner and he is one lucky lucky boy to have landed with you.:)
(hopefully im referring to the right owner) "beagle":o as I wrote 2 separate instruction emails at the same time for 2 people on here:) keep us updated.
 
CAYLA, Yep the beagle - Enforcing the rules by everyone in the family is hard because he has that soppy sad eyed look but I have told them all in no uncertain terms it's for his own good. Yes the beginning will be hard but as each day goes on there is a glimmer of hope and he seems to be coming around to the idea that this is his forever home.

Cayla, I hope you feel better soon, again many many thanks for all your advice.
 
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