I need your help before I get shot....seperation anxiety(its long)

[Cyberchick]

Ok, my dog has always been prone to a little seperation anxiety but we work on it and it's not to bad but it's always there in a whiney howley kind of way.
I have had my inlaws over for 4 weeks and the dog has been a bit spolit rotton, constant attention, weekends away at the seaside etc, and now they have gone home.
Today I had to go to work and my husband had gone out as well as he normally works from home quite a bit and apparently she was very very noisy. I had a neighbour grab me when I got back to tell me someone from down the road had been over, steam coming out of her ears banging on the door (that doesnt help) because she had had enough of the noise, knocked on the neighbours door to ask if the dog was being mistreated (she does sound like you are strangling a cat) and that she had called the PDSA twice and the police and she would come over later to talk to me. Anyway, no police calls and she hasn't been round yet but I obviously need to stop this now. I called work and said could I work a bit from home tomorrow as hubby going out for a few hours and I have leftt my neighbour my number as I only work a minute up the road so if she kicks off big time I can come back but what can I do from here...
1) in this heat she hasnt had as longer off lead run as she normally would which doesnt help
2)she will need to be left at some points, my life doesn't always revolve around the dog
3)she has another old lab for company but doesnt make any odds
4)i leave the back door open for a bigger run and access to the garden
5)never left for more than 3-4 hours max
6)the neighbourhood are going to kill me or the dog if she doesnt shhhhh

She is a 'Whineyarmer' (get it?) nearly 3 yrs old, reguarly trained and brain used but relies on people company. I know this is breed specific but I could do with a quick fix if there is one whilst she gets used to her own company again.

 

[Booboos]

Separation anxiety is a really tough one, I really feel for you!!

Some things to try although they might not work:
- leave a radio or TV on, he might like the 'human' company
- give him a treat that will take ages to chew through
- try a crate, some dogs settle better is a small, den-like space (he may like part of the crate covered by a blanket)
- try a DAP (Dog Appeasement Pheromone Diffuser) collar or plug in, they seem to work really well for some dogs

Also, you may want to try a "Nothing in life is free" training programme. Give no attention, hugs, petting or treats for free, i.e. the dog has to do something like follow a simple command for all attention. Also do not allow the dog on the sofa, the bed, etc. all distinctly human areas, which, it is claimed, might help the dog feel more confident in its own space.

I çan't promise that any of these will help for certain, but they are worth a try. Good luck!

 

[CAYLA]

Lol, at he PDSA bit, nowt they can do

Right, given her breed, I don't think she will crate easily if she has never been in one before.

but u can but try

95% of seperation issues arise from a dog spending alot of time in human company, then having it taken away in a rapid manor, rather than gradually.
As u are already exercising her, it's she is not adjusting well to the company of u and your parents being withdrawn.
I would close the back door, this could be making matters worse, especially from a neighbours point of view and the noise level, also this could be stressing her more, a bigger space to fret and run back and forth hyping herself up looking for you.

The best thing you can do for her now, is STICK to the same routine when u are out aswell as when u are in, i.e

DO NOT allow her to follow u all over the housen u are in , u must choose a restricted area, kichen with baby gate for example, and u must take time to get her used to staying in there when u are pottering around the house and going about your business, bedtime e,t,c this way she does not associate being placed in the restricted area with you leaving her.
Leave her a butchers bone or kong each time u leave her in the restricted area and feed her there, she may choose to ignore it or indeed take advantage and occupy herself with them, when u are in, u can sush her up, a QUICK quiet in your most scarey voice, then leave, no more no less.
Try the above gradually building up to longer periods, u can decrease it eventually, but for now the time needs to be signifigant for her to get into a routine, use time spent with her to stimulate and exercise, not lavish attention, this way u are also decreasing the cuddles, strokes and her time spent following u all over e,t,c, what she misses most when u are gone.
This is not forever, jsut till u establish a routine.

Try to tire her out as u are b4 leaving her for longer periods and leave the radio on both when u are in and out of the house, so she cannot hear u leave and enter, when u return home as already suggested, NO voice recognition or physical touch, don't let her jump on you, turn your back simply release her to the garden, this way she will not associate your return with a big deal and something to anicipate.

 

[Cyberchick]

Thankyou, she was crated as a puppy but hasn't been for a while now. I cracked the bits at home fairly well and when she was younger with a splash of water and a fierce QUIET that could then lead to just a QUIET and now I dont have to do anything. She isnt allowed on furniture or upstairs but can just follow you aimlessly around to get a drink, go to the toilet etc.
I have shut the back doors for sanity reasons and left the telly on in the kitchen. My house is quite open plan which is a pain when it comes to shutting away but there are a few things I can try.
Off to buy another Kong as I cant find hers for love nor money when I went to get it out of the cupboard.
I guessed the woman wasn't 'doggy' when I heard about the PDSA and I was quite looking forward to her coming over to 'talk' to me as she could then meet her and see she isn't mistreated just a bit gobby.lol but sadly she never came.

 

[Booboos]

Sounds like you are trying all the right things!!! I am sure you'll get her settled! Good luck!