Help - dog wont be left home alone!

[pepperandoran]

We have only had our dog a few weeks, but have gradually been leaving him for short periods of time and he was dealing with it ok - a bit stressed but nothing to bad.

The other night we left him as usual only for a couple of hours and came back to a shredded leather couch!!!!!!!

The reason we leave him in the living room is that this is where he sleeps and seems most happy, so we reasoned that he would probably settle better there! Hm!

Anyway, any suggestions on what to do to help him deal with being left - he clearly is distressed about being abandoned I think.

 

[chevs]

I know exactly how you feel. My puppy is 14months old now and goes mental when i leave the house even if theres other people in the house. It's very sweet but it's a bloody nightmare. He jumps out of windows and will do anything to escape to try and find me.

When theres no-one at home he goes in a cage as he trashes the house, and has on 2 ocassions switched the gas hob on!! So he is always in the cage now after nearly blowing the house up twice!!!

The cage is a god send and we wouldn't be without it.

 

[CAYLA]

There are lots of posts that would help you out, it's just digging them out, it could be that with the fire works, he was worse and the destruction was due to that, otherwise , you could section a smaller part of the house for him, as the smaller the space the more secure he will fell, you then have a starting routine, to gradually increase the space.

You could either use a crate or a baby gate, and introduce them when u are in the house, let him see you, going about your business at first, so he does not stress as much, then gradually begin to block his view, using them as a barrier for him to get used to spending time alone, whilst u are still in ear shot, always tire him out, with a tiring run, ball chase and fetch for an hour or so, so he is physically tired.

Leave him long lasting stimulating treats, like Kong stuffed with food, butchers bone(not cooked) and feed all his meals in choosen secure area or crate, put radio on, to drown out sounds, that could disturbe him, and so he cannot hear you leave and enter when u start to leave him for any length of time.
Also try plug in dap diffuser to release calming pheromone, near his sectioned area.

This routine should be carried out gradually, he may whinge as part of his dissagreement of his new routine, you must ignore it and go about your business, i.e house work e,t,c, go into said area, without fuss, no stroke or recognition, and leave area, so he does not assosiate every entry by you as a right of fuss or release from area.

When u return home from leaving him, allow him to go to toilet, but make no fuss or voice recognition, again, he will not become aprehensive of your return for a the huge fuss and commotion he assosiates with it, if you do make a fuss of him. (hope that makes sense)

Once her has been to the toilet, place him back in the secure area, with a treat, i.e his dinner, so he also does not assosiate u returning hme, with instantly being able to be with you, after he has eaten dinner or had treat, let him out to mull aroung house, again no fuss, then take him for his exercise, giving plenty of time after dinner, then place him back in crate or secure are after exercise, this way he is either rewarded or tired when place in crate or secure area.

It is very important, he is kept apart from u whilst in the house, this enables him to feel comfortable with his own space, without constant companionship, of course, allow him to be with you at times, but for now, whilst training and introducing a routine, it;s best to lessen the time spent with you in the house, and then increase gradually, as the other way around is what essentially causes the problem, he cannot assosiate this in his own mind, leaving him feeling anxious, when u are not always there.

Instead spend your one on one time, playing out doors and walking the feet of him

, and palying fetch.