Bit shocked and need some advise....

galaxy

galaxy

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So Monday night we realised that H had a croaky voice. He is quite a vocal dog (although not excessively barky) so was quite noticeable. Tues I popped him down the vets and they couldn't find anything wrong.

One suggestion was that he'd been barking a lot while we were out. We live in an end of terrace, so just one neighbour, and in the past I have checked with them and they have always said they pretty much never hear him.

He was left 3 hours monday, 1.5 hours Tues (and I just happened to decide to walk round the back and look at him before coming in and he was asleep) and nearly 6 hours yesterday (which is the max he is ever left).

So this morning I decided to set up a video camera when I left him for about an hour to do the weekly shop. tbh I am quite upset. I did my usual gave him a treat and walked out the door. For the 1st couple of minutes he just looked at the door and then for about 20/25 mins he barked and howled contsantly!! I am just gobsmaked. :( After 25 mins he started to settle and only short periods of barking and then the last 20 mins he was sound asleep.

When I come home I never make a huge fuss of him, he always brings me a toy and follows me for a minute or so and I pretty much ignore him.

I managed to catch my neighbour just now. I hope she's not just being nice, but she said it has only been the last couple of days that they have noticed more than just the odd bark from him when I'm out (which she'd assumed was people shoving something through the letterbox). She was lovely about it and I apologised profusely and said I would do everything to sort it out asap. Luckily they are not home in the day much which is generally when he is left. I won't be leaving him in the evenings until I can sort this as they have a young child.

So currently he has the run of the sitting room and staircase (open plan). He was crated up to 12/18 months (he's now 2.5). He loves the sofa, which when we are home he is only allowed on in the evenings, but if we are out we put his blanket down so he is "allowed" it (as realistically, if we're not there we can't stop him!), which is why he is now allowed that room. The room overlooks ourback garden, so nothing for him to see which would disturb him. I always leave the tele on for him.

So the crate is coming back out, although I'm a bit unsure about shutting him in there when we go out.... will definitly at night. He has never destroyed anything, so I'm not worried about that. He just loves the sofa and I think that could almost stress him out. Obv if I do crate him I won't leave him for long to begin with a build it up just like when he was a puppy (and have him in there when I'm at home), and I certainly won't leave him for over 3 hours. I am also going to start giving him stuffed Kongs again and thought about maybe buying a DAP?

Any other suggestions?

Nothing has changed.... Our leaving pattern and routine is exactly the same (he is not necessarily left every day, but most days at some point for varying amounts of time) and I am 99% sure this has only just started from what the neighbour said (I told her not to be polite!) and the sudden loss of voice. The only this that has happened is that my rabbit died Sunday night.... But I cannot believe that could tip him over the edge?!!!!
 
May be way out here but, have you had a fox in your garden?

My dogs wouldn't settle for days after a fox got into our hens. Slightest noise outside and they wanted to go out and charge around barking.

You mention you lost your rabbit so just wondered if fright was involved?
 
I think you are right to put the crate back up and you never know you may not need to shut the door, if you cover it up and put a snuggly blanket in he may just find the security in going in there and curling up.
I certainly believe the more space you give a dog with separation issues the more they become anxious.
I would even to begin with down size the space, and where possible if you only have a neighbour on one size then leave him in the opposite side of the house? so if the kitche is opposite, how about a settee in there and him kept in the kitchen area and also obs kept there for short periods when you are home too so he does not always associate being left there with you dissapearing.
I don't think 20 mins of noise is alot either if he the settles and sleeps so don't get yourself upset, belive me it is better from a behaviour/dogs point of view he makes noise immediately after you leave then quietens down, infact it's pretty normal and to be expected (even when you did not expect it);)

So, you have a few options, re crate with door opne at first, or downsize his space.
It could certaily be noise around the house or it could be a phase and lest not forget hormones dictate behavioural change and we can suddenly see new behaviour arisew from what we deem as "no reason" when infact there is always a reason, we may just not beable to pin point it and hormone/age/maturity alone bring about new/sudden behaviours.
Don't beat yourself up, he is normal and you are too:p
 
Thanks guys...

I doubt it is a fox.... My rabbit was a small fancy breed and was 6 so vet reckons it was old age... He was also a real character and didn't bat an eyelid at Harley with all his messing, or cats I've seen in our garden (befored shooed!). I've never seen a fox either. On the film this morning he barely looked out the window, he was always looking at the door I exited from or howling/barking at the ceiling :(

Crate is going up this evening. I couldn't swing a cat in our kitchen and he's never been shut in there.... So sofa definitly could not go in there. Whether I put him in there as it is a smaller space.... not sure. Would have to be good at putting the dishes etc away for a start!! ha ha! But I could try it with me in the house. It is the front of the house though, so possibly more noise from outside?

Can't get him away from the nieghbours side of our house either as our rooms are as wide as the house if that makes sense :( I can put the crate on opposite wall.

So dogs go through phases? Phew! H has never been good in others peoples houses when seperateed from us and displays exactly this behaviour. But I've always been relieved that at least he's good at home and I can leave him there!!

In fact he's been a shadow all day... Since I've been home he's been a real pest and followed me everywhere. He's never really done that and been happy to be in a different room. So he's obviously upset about something. So I'm busy shutting doors behind me so he can't follow me around!!! Had a long phone convo with hubby too and he's agreed to be firm with him and not pander to him.

Thanks for telling me we're normal!!! I'm not so sure! ;) ha ha!
 
Other than the croaky voice is your dog 100% OK in all other respects? What tests did the vet carry out in order to say there was no problem?

When did the croaky voice commence/was first noticed and can your neighbour enlighten you as to whether barking has been a constant or a new thing?

I would want to ensure that there was no chance of a physical problem that was causing the dog to try and 'alert' you to the issue....ie no part of a stick or bone or other foreign body stuck in the larynx or any of the other soft tissue parts of the mouth/pharynx/nasal passages etc.

I would want a check that there was no upper respiratory tract infection. Sooo....any other symptoms whatsoever.....exercise intolerance, wheezing, coughing, lack of energy, nasal discharge, excess salivation etc etc.

Yes, put the crate up, make it into a den covering it, don't lock him in it...make it his safe, secure area.

Kongs, buster cubes, marrow bones.....make sure the TV/radio channel you leave on is a chat show...ie spoken word as opposed to upbeat music.

Try upping the dogs exercise before you leave him....a physically knackered dog is less likely to create. Keep the video going and if poss put one up outside the house too in order to eliminate any external influences.

If all else fails, talk to your vet about Zyklene.
 
Was with vet for good 20 mins. He's very experienced and thorough.

He looked down his throat - couldn't see anything
Felt his throat - not swollen and no reaction to pain
listened to his chest - nothing
took his temp - normal
fed him a lot of dried food to see his reaction - he was very greedy and not at all reluctant

He also asked me all the questions about whether I throw sticks etc, which I don't and H was nowhere on Monday where he could have accessed one without me knowing.

He told me to monitor him for going off food, drooling, discharge, blood, off colour at all. All of which he has not showed. He is bright as a button, but a bit croaky when speaking!!

My nieghbour said that the increase in noise was just the last couple of days. Even when I pressed her to make sure, she insisted. So this does exactly coincide with the croaky voice.

I will up his exercise.... He is always up the yard with me am (at least an hour), which is what hes had the last few days. Mixture of running around doing his own thing (always with me) and throwing the ball.

Thanks for you advise. Glad to know I've done all the right checks. the camera will be on every time he's left for the near future. He was watching BB1 this morning btw ;)
 
If it's the GSP in your sig picture that we are talking about, make sure that you up his mental stimulation as well as the physical....that has often worked in the past with guys I've had that have had a degree of SA.

Tire the brain and the body is incapable of anything....including barking! :D
Sooo....lots of training, tracking, agility....anything new. Get the grey matter working!

Good luck!
 
I have totally found that! The more I'm constantly teaching him, the happier he is. I do agility with him (although missed our last session 10 days ago due to bad paw), he loves it! He loves using his nose too. If he's ever on restricted exercise (which he isn't now) I hide his toy around the house for him to find. Keeps him happy :)

I have frozen the kong with melted cheese and biscuits in it.... hopefully will help for when I'm out. :)

eta.... usually with the exercise pattern we have he does nothing but sleep at home. Never had a problem. I don't think he's terribly high energy as GSPs go.... but never exercised him enough for him to be calm and chilled when we go visiting peoples houses. And I've had him out for hours!! He always stresses. :(
 
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