Seperation with rescue dogs

TheFox

TheFox

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Good afternoon everyone.

We what can I say I am beyond tired. Bella has been awake, screaming and scratching a hole in my door for the last two nights.

So I need you ideas, I have today purchased a crate and she has already managed to damage it :( (Please note she had been going happily in and out of the cage all day by herself and had even taken a nap in there! but on closing the door she went crazy, even though we were still in the same room and she has a Kong full on yummy chicken paste)

So far tonights plan is opposed to her sleeping in the utility room, we shall place the crate in the bedroom, to see if she settles better with us around. Hopefully this should help resolve issues and we can steadily progress back to the utility room (after a week or so.)

She also is unable to be alone at any time, you get up and walk she follows, even to go to the toilet she scratches at the door and howls.

I completely understand this stems from her abandonment and she has become very clingy and secure, but I really need her to be adequetely settled by Tuesday to be left alone for 3 hours, possibly less if I can find a dog sitter, which I don't believe is too much to ask.

Please also note: We are unable to properly excersise her at the moment as she has only had her second injection and therefore we are reluctant to take her out until after the 16th when she gets her second. She will also not chase balls and had little concept of play :(

In other news Bella is amazing with kids and she was a nervy child at that. Child was hanging off her ears by the end of it :D So every cloud has a silver lining and all that.

So any suggestions how to make her feel more secure and less clingy would be amazing.

Mrs_T

Ps. I do believe I shall be annoying you all with my countless updates and advice seeking, however I just want Bella to turn out to be the great dog I know she can be.

Also before anyone suggests it the lovely Cayla has already agree'd to send me one of her great guides :)
 
I have had this to some degree with my rescue and it is still work in progress. I started by not allowing her access to certain areas of the house (a baby gate helps with this) so she wasn't locked in but also slightly restrained. At first I did this in places she could see me but gradually built it up to places she can't. I've done lots of obedience training with her right from the off and I read somewhere that if you increase the distances in your sit/wait and sit/down commands it helps so have done a lot of this. Food didn't help me as she wouldn't eat with me out of the room but now I can go out of the kitchen when she is eating her dinner and she won't stop. She'll also take a Kong when I am in the house.

I did not pursue the crate although it's still an option. We now have a van and she is happy in her crate in the van so might take to it better in the house but initially despite a lot of effort she just hated the crate. She sometimes sleeps in a position that makes me wonder if she was in a too small crate for some time in her past.

Good luck!
 
Just to add before anyone shoots me down, I realise its only been 3 days and what I am asking for is not a miracle she will never do it again plan. Just really tips to help her settle whilst being alone and make her fell more secure.

And just because it wouldn't be a Bella post without one, here's her catching up on her ZzZzZz's from last night:


bella.jpg


Mrs_T
 
I will leave the separation anxiety issues to Cayla:D as for tiring her out how about teaching her some tricks as using her brain will tire her out. Im presuming you have a garden if so or even in the house i would practice getting her to walk nicely with her lead on and training walking to heel. Sit stay is another exercise you can try with her and down, lots of things which will be useful when you take her out in the big wide world. The leave it exercise is also very good and I would also take the time to look into training classes with her, maybe your vet can recommend one and go along without the dog and see if you think it will be suitable for you. Make sure they practice positive reinforcement and look at how the other dogs are doing. If you search on youtube there are lots of training exercises for you to use and I am very partial to kikopup who makes it very simple, you will need a clicker for this.
 
Dobiegirl said:
I will leave the separation anxiety issues to Cayla:D as for tiring her out how about teaching her some tricks as using her brain will tire her out. Im presuming you have a garden if so or even in the house i would practice getting her to walk nicely with her lead on and training walking to heel. Sit stay is another exercise you can try with her and down, lots of things which will be useful when you take her out in the big wide world. The leave it exercise is also very good and I would also take the time to look into training classes with her, maybe your vet can recommend one and go along without the dog and see if you think it will be suitable for you. Make sure they practice positive reinforcement and look at how the other dogs are doing. If you search on youtube there are lots of training exercises for you to use and I am very partial to kikopup who makes it very simple, you will need a clicker for this.
Click to expand...

I have begun clicker training with her, having done it previously with my Rottie, I did attempted it also with my JackxShih however she is rather dim and it took her a week to master what SIT was!

However back to the subject at hand, I have started clicker training Bella and I must say she is a very quick learn! We can now sit and stay for about 30 seconds, she also know's what bed means and come, small steps but i'm impressed. I've done about 30 minutes worth today (in intervals) but will be doing some more crate training shortly.

RE walking out side in the garden that sounds a wonderful idea and it may also stop her lunging at the guinea pigs (playfullness)

Thank you
 
The leave it command will come in very handy with the guinea pigs, have her on the lead and keep passing their cage, when she lunges pull her and say leave it, when she puts her focus back on you click and treat.
 
However back to the subject at hand, I have started clicker training Bella and I must say she is a very quick learn! We can now sit and stay for about 30 seconds, she also know's what bed means and come, small steps but i'm impressed. I've done about 30 minutes worth today (in intervals) but will be doing some more crate training shortly.

You will be fine - increase your sit stay gradually and eventually you will be able to go out of sight.

Oh and ditto everything dobiegirl said about classes etc.
 
Firstly, from a huge staffy fan who still sees what rescues are dealing with....a massive thank you for taking on a staffy or staffy cross. She may well be a "pure" staffy but from a line of over or poorly bred for money ones. My youngest staffie looks very like her and is exactly that!

If you are not familiar with staffords then the first thing to bear in mind is that they take loving people to a whole new dimension. And you have just taken on a little dog, who has been in kennels ( which they are known to dislike) into a place with loving humans. No wonder she won't let you out of her sight! A very lovely friend of mine is involved with Stafford welfare and has just sorted out a young Stafford bitch with the same problems. Pm if you want me to introduce you and maybe she can help? Bitch is pretty much fine now and just gone to her new home.
 
Brace yourself missus...I have sent you the equivlant to about 15 pages of guides, including the puppy guide, crate guide and routine rescue guide:eek:

You will get alot of sense from all of them, some things wont apply but easier to send the lot.


You def need a metal crate along side the fabric one, use the fabric one for bed and when you are in the living room, instead of her lounging on the settee for now when you are in (watching tv) etc, place her in the fabric crate and cover it with a very thick blanket so she only has a small crack to see out and put her kong in with some delicious filling (zip the door up) when she has settled and is quiet randonly let her out (but no fuss) and randomly unzip the door so she can go back in and out if she pleases, but also zip the door closed at times (alternate between the three). This way she can start to associate being in the crate with you being around and not being attached to you all the time.
When you go to bed, take the fabric crate up and again cover it completely (if she whinges) tell her "quiet" in a firm voice.
Also purchase a crate (in good relation to her size) not to big!! and use this one for the kitchen/utility where you eventually want her at night/during the day. Again place her in there when you are in aswell as out, feed her in there, give her kongs and fresh large bones to chew and leave the radio on. In this crate let her see you come and go leaving her a little gap to look out, then cover it completely. The trick is to trick her into being confused as to weather you are in or out and be aware she wont take treats for now whilst in an anxious state, this is why she needs to have treats when you are there, to help her to begin to feel relaxed enough to eat them for when you begin to leave her.
To start this routine she will spend more time in and out of the crates than with you, this is fine and as she settled and rleaxes in her own company you can then decrease the time she spends in them and increase the time she spends with you.
In time she can lounge anywhere but for now a ROUTINE is the most important factor for her and you.

As I mentioned in the PM, taking her out is not to higher risk for an adult dog, if she has survived the pound, then her immunity is up to scratch and I would hazard a guess she has had primary vaxes, she is lower risk than a tiny puppy. I personally would be exercising her still, maybe in quieter areas taken by car. But it's what you are comfortable with.
Enjoy your reading, anything else give me a shout.
Also maybe worth getting her a big cuddly dog simialr size to her to snuggle with, if she chews it (remove) but worth a try to mimic company (also a DAP collar or plug in) to help with anxiety.
 
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