Dogs: Their Secret Lives, tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm.

I think my dog used to be pretty stressed when left, judging by his toilet habits and general habits. Now if I'm quiet enough I can sneak to the door without him knowing and he's passed out on the sofa, so I think he's much happier.

He still tries to break into the kitchen, but I'm not sure if that's anxiety or greediness :p
 
I thought it was very interesting. Why didn't that mad couple with the spaniel thing try to train it though, rather than completely give up their lives? It was sad the number of dogs PTS or rehomed because of it, people really do all want instant perfection nowadays, poor dogs.
I too thought it was amazing just what percentage of dogs don't like being left, I suppose in wolf days they woudn't have stayed at home while the pack went hunting.
 
I was amazed how many dogs are unsettled on their own just from that small trial - I actually had a few tears in my eyes along with the owners.
It made me want to set up a camera up at home to watch my boy! But I know exactly what he does - apart from barking at the postman - LOTS of sleeping and nothing else. If I have a day off work he does exactly the same :D
 
after watching the program i hoped that my dogs were ok with being left, i had thought they were and came home today after doing my horse, collie cross sleeping on the sofa and didnt even lift her head when i came in. lurcher upstairs in her bed and didnt come down till i started to make myself a sandwich !!!! i think they are quite happy being left, so i can relax and not worry....
 
I found the programme really sad as my gsp suffers with separation anxiety. His has another two dogs with him which makes no difference. We've has behaviourists but still doesnt like being left. He doesnt get left for long as he is at the yard 24/7 and goea everywhere with us.
My other two ignore him and sleep and found in the same spot when we leave.
 
We videoed our samoyed once when we wen t out, and the little bu**er had a party for one. He started off sleeping and then woke, ran in a circle and jumped onto the sofa, made a nice nest in the throw, squirmed about for a happy few minutes in his nest, fell off the sofa, got back on and continued squirming. Finally slept again, in his nest on the sofa.
When he heard our keys in the door, he jumped down and lay on the floor as though he was there all along! Bless him!
 
misterjay said:
We videoed our samoyed once when we wen t out, and the little bu**er had a party for one. He started off sleeping and then woke, ran in a circle and jumped onto the sofa, made a nice nest in the throw, squirmed about for a happy few minutes in his nest, fell off the sofa, got back on and continued squirming. Finally slept again, in his nest on the sofa.
When he heard our keys in the door, he jumped down and lay on the floor as though he was there all along! Bless him!
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That made me giggle.

I'm another that had a few tears welling up watching it tbh. I think it's really important to help dogs be ok being left.

Our four are hilarious. We've videoed them too as we were sure we knew what was happening when we were out and we confirmed it :)

We leave, they have a sniff of the door we walked out of, turn around, walk very quietly into the front room and then the biggest game of chase begins. It's always the collies that start it and they basically tag eachother, then leg it across the room while the other catches up and jumps on the one that ran, they all get involved, turning the house into a playground for about 3 minutes, then all line up at the water bowl, have a drink and sleep until we get home. They occasionally shift places, but when we get home, they all have squished up faces where they have just woken up and it always makes me happy to know they are so relaxed. Watching the rebellious "lets go mental when they leave" playing just crack me up. It's the tails as high as they can go, wagging like mad, front legs down on the floor pouncing at each other type play :)
 
Jojo_Pea4 said:
I found the programme really sad as my gsp suffers with separation anxiety. His has another two dogs with him which makes no difference. We've has behaviourists but still doesnt like being left. He doesnt get left for long as he is at the yard 24/7 and goea everywhere with us.
My other two ignore him and sleep and found in the same spot when we leave.
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What did the behaviourists say? I know what I do to help dogs like this and it's never failed, so it would be interesting to know what they said.
 
What frustrates me when I watched the programme is an expectation from the owners that the dogs will be fine to be left for a few hours without building it up gradually. The key words that were repeated again and again was that separation anxiety is preventable and treatable. The family with the dog that pooed every time it was left, did they not try anything to help the dog the minute it started pooing in the home?

I videoed my dog as well after I watched the programme to see how he was left. The result? He slept the entire time! But I didn't expect him to do that from day one, I did a lot of work getting him used to and happy being left and I was prepared to deal with any hiccups along the way, including paying for a dog walker to take him out and puppy day care.

The problem with some dogs where separation anxiety has long been an issue is the coping mechanisms, be it pacing, howling or pooing, become ingrained habits and these can be hard to break.
 
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