Update - settling new dog in

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Pudding01

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Hi all!

A little update on my post (the controversial one!!) from last week. Overall, she has settled in great and is a lovely dog to have around. But - we are still having separation issues :(

She had been settling great at night and was quiet until she heard someone get up in the morning but had to wait to be let out until I was ready. Last night she went nuts when going to bed and at 5am. We try to ignore it put she is destroying an internal door (she sleeps in the kitchen) - if you go down the stairs and shout at her, she stops. When I went out today, she has done more damage :( She is walked first and left with numerous toys.

I know she is still settling in and finding boundaries but I have to go out - I have been out 2 hours a day and when my mare is back in work (hopefully!) in two weeks time, I'll be out about 4 hours. I contacted the rescue centre for some advice and spoke to their behaviourist - she said SA and to go through a programme of going out for various periods of time etc, some longer, some shorter and praise if good etc. (Though how do I know if good? Obvious is no damage but what about crying etc?) She then got a bit odd and was suggesting things like letting her sleep in bedrooms and have the run of the house - sleeping in bedroom is a no and I'm not keen on letting her have the run of the house - I especially want to know that I can put her in somewhere when I go out and she is safe there. She also suggested not leaving her for the next few weeks other than when doing this routine - I can probably take her to the yard with me but is that not reinforcing attachment and it's only practical for the next ten days. While I basically work from home I do have meeting etc to attend.

I have another trainer to phone later but what would anyone advise? She is a super dog but I have to be able to go out!!

Thanks in advance :)
 
Yay, you came back, I was thinking about you!
I would maybe suggest going back to the start and using a crate. Dogs prefer a quiet, dark den and maybe the wide open space she has access to (and things to destroy) is the issue?
Then later you can use a playpen and widen it out until you are comfortable with her having access to a whole room.
Chewing a door is no doubt more relaxing to her than playing with a toy - imagine the difference between, say, doing a crossword puzzle (when no one has told you how to do a crossword) and eating a bag of crisps - I mentioned it in your original thread, but The Culture Clash by Jane Donaldson is a great book at explaining this sort of thing.
A bone or stuffed Kong might be more fulfilling than a toy, also.

2-4 hours in a crate is small fry compared to the stress some dogs feel in a bustling rescue/pound/kennels. She is far better in a crate than homeless!

You can use a hidden camera or tape recorder to monitor her behaviour when you are out.

You could also look into erecting a dog run outside which she could be placed into for the hours when you are out, if you are not keen on her staying in a crate. You can get flatpack, easily assembled ones, the guys will put them up in a matter of minutes, some come with roofing, for jumpers :p
 
Thanks so much for your reply! I think a crate is the next step. Off to a training class tonight and consulting another trainer who looks excellent - today's behaviourist was good to a point but a bit bunny hugger ish thereafter!!

As regards crate training, I assume you need to build up the period of time?
 
Cayla is the crate training queen :p hopefully she will be on later.
The key thing with the crate is that it is a fun place for the dog to be, where the dog gets a Kong or a bone or a chicken wing, somewhere that he can go for a chillax and downtime, it is never just somewhere he is shut in when you go out - that defeats the point.
My fella will go sit in his for short periods when I am watching telly or doing some work as well as overnight, he just makes a nest and snoozes.
As you say, short periods in the beginning and make it very positive (as above, something yummy and time consuming), then lengthen the time.

Have a great time at training, I had a long discussion with someone in training to be a trainer a couple of weeks ago and some of the things they are getting taught to teach others, on his particular course, are a bit worrying, especially if their subjects are going to be big, strong, bolshy, drivey dogs :o
 
Great, thanks. That sounds like a plan re the crate. My thought too is that while the crate will stop her doing things, it is the underlying anxiety issue that is the real problem I need to address.

Oh joy re training!! Person number 2 is a gun dog man so hopefully fairly straight up about it!
 
The crate should help towards the anxiety and also stop the detruction. I have a crate guide, if you PM me your email addy I will send u a copy.

When introducing the crate it is best to simply put it up and place a thick cover over it (dont buy a huge oversized crate) its not about providing masses of space it is about creating a smaller secure area whereby over time you can gradually increase, it is always harder to start big then move to small, it should always be the other way around.
Leave the crate up for a good few days with the worlds comfiest bed in it and try to encourage her to explore, also feed her meals in there.
Then you would give her the kong with the goodies in (primula/tuna mixed wither her food or chicken) and whilst you settle down to watch tv, place the kong in the crate for her and have her spend time in there whilst you are right there with her but ignoring her and watching tv. This is how you introduce the crate very gradually in cases of severe SA where a crate has never been used.
I will go on in detail if need be or you can call me and I will explain in person if you decide to use the crate, plus send u the guide.

Her whinging when disturbed is normal, she can hear someone stir and is becoming distressed as to why no body is appearing. Try and leave the radio on low in the room or as high as possible without anybody being disturbed, and try and be quiet going to the bog for now:D if I have new dogs/pups in for crate training I literally tip toe to the toilet as not to disturb them:p
Again if she was in a crate with a very thick cover over this would drown out noise too.

When everyone awakes and it is time to let her out, remember no FUSS or recognition/greeting, just walk ino tthe kitchen like she is no there and let her straight out side.


I would hazard a guess the separation issue are what have seen her handed to rescue (someone created these problems and one time for this dog)
As a rescue we deal with the SA as priority and crate train from the moment they come in (otherwise we are doing no favors in order to find the dog a home) and let it go free of the SA issues it had).

Did you manage to have her in a smaller area at times when you are in (i.e in the kitchen)?
She is chewing through anxiety, so to be fair when in this state she will not take food/treats, you need to learn her to take them when you are in the house.

IT CAN BE RESOLVED, don't stress, but you do need to go about it the right way, I am more than happy to speak with you if that helps.
 
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