We taped him! Seperation Anxiety

[Louby]

Ok I know I am really sad for doing this but I just had to know how bad my boy was when left alone so we taped him today

Weve been leaving him for short periods up to half an hour and are returning to a much calmer dog so we were suprised with the evidence

The first 10 mins he was quiet but then he did have his kong but then he started and cried like a proper baby, not wimpers, proper full blown crys and he carried on for about the next 10 mins on and off. It went quiet then and my hubby returned to a calm quiet pup and thought he'd been really good until we listenned to the tape

Will he ever get better?

 

[_Acolyte_]

I hope so - I am having similar issues with Flick

The rescue lady said that by about day 3 she would be quiet overnight in her crate - we are on about day 8, and she is still waking me 3 times every night whining and barking

Plus she is still pooing and weeing in the house every day when I am at work - not because she needs to, but due to seperation anxiety

Sorry, I am whinging on about my dog, but I do feel for you! I am told they do get better after about 3 months?

ETA - I like the taping idea mind you, dare I do it whilst I am at work though

 

[kirstyhen]

When we first got Otto he would whine constantly for the duration we we're gone. He would work up to a howl then be quiet then start again, I thought we had a fab dog as he was lying down, nice and calm when I got home. Fortunately I have no immediate neighbours as my house is seperate from the main farm house, however the landlord is usually doing things around our house, so would keep us informed of his noise during the day. He didn't mind, as his dog is much worse, just wanted to keep us in the loop!
He would also go crazy when we left, digging and yapping.

Now he has been with us a couple of months and is loads better, the landlord barely notices him, and he is quiet when we leave.

He settled into his crate straight away the first night, with barely a peep though, so perhaps he is a quick learner!!

So keep going, he will get there! It is good that he is calm when you get back, and also that it is not constant for the time your gone!

 

[Louby]

Hes 9 mths old now

, maybe theres no hope!
If its any consolation for you, Boris cried at night for the first 2 weeks then suddenly he stopped. The first night he didnt cry, I got up earlier to let him out as I dont think I could believe he had done the full night and I wanted to get to him before he did start. So theres hope for you yet, maybe a few more nights, fingers crossed.
Its so hard leaving him when we know hes being noisy because of our neighbours. Ive just ordered a DAP difuser, I will try just about anything now

 

[Louby]

Our neighbours told us he cried but I thought she was exagerating! Boy did he cry.
What breed is Otto and do you leave him in his crate during the day?

 

[_Acolyte_]

Yep I have bought a DAP diffuser too, and I am going to buy some alcohol free Rescue Remedy this weekend to put in her water! Only had the diffuser thing 2 days so it hasnt had any effect yet

I know just what you mean about the neighbours - I let her out at 6am today, I KNOW she had a wee (cos I had to collect a sample!) so I popped her back in the crate for half an hour - and she howled the whole time

I think it is just perserverance from what people have said on other forums - I reckon on 6-12 months for a rescue dog to settle in properly, so I am thinking that it might take Flick 6 months to get used to things and settle down

 

[kirstyhen]

Otto is a Springer, 7 months old, but we've only had him two months, up until then he was living in a stable with another dog so not really used to being on his own.

He is in his crate overnight and then for 4/5 hours during the day. He used to have to be picked up and put in the crate, whereas now he will go in it quite happily, even though he knows we are going out and leaving him and is usually sat waiting at the front door!

We leave the radio on for him during the day.

Neighbour/Landlord doesn't mind Otto's noise as his dog howls constantly! And has also gone through their backdoor it was so determined to get to them!!

 

[unitedkatey]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep I have bought a DAP diffuser too, and I am going to buy some alcohol free Rescue Remedy this weekend to put in her water! Only had the diffuser thing 2 days so it hasnt had any effect yet

I know just what you mean about the neighbours - I let her out at 6am today, I KNOW she had a wee (cos I had to collect a sample!) so I popped her back in the crate for half an hour - and she howled the whole time

I think it is just perserverance from what people have said on other forums - I reckon on 6-12 months for a rescue dog to settle in properly, so I am thinking that it might take Flick 6 months to get used to things and settle down

[/ QUOTE ]


be very careful with the recue remedy. Its great but they spray and the chews have an ingredent in similar to the one in chocolate the is toxic to dogs. Best to get the drops.

 

[Louby]

but what about one youve had from a pup

We are totally to blame for Boris, we would never had got a dog but for the offer from a freind to have him whilst I was at work. She has his brother and sister, so its party time for him!
It seemed ideal at the time but its the worse thing we could have done as he's never really been left alone and now when we want to go out, even if its food shopping, we have a problem.
Hubby thinks Im mad with the DAP and reckons it wont work. Im praying it helps even a tiny bit

 

[_Acolyte_]

Thanks for the tip Rubysurfer I appreciate that

I was going to use the drops I have got, but they are ones with alcohol in

But will buy alcohol free drops on Saturday

 

[_Acolyte_]

[ QUOTE ]
but what about one youve had from a pup

We are totally to blame for Boris, we would never had got a dog but for the offer from a freind to have him whilst I was at work. She has his brother and sister, so its party time for him!
It seemed ideal at the time but its the worse thing we could have done as he's never really been left alone and now when we want to go out, even if its food shopping, we have a problem.
Hubby thinks Im mad with the DAP and reckons it wont work. Im praying it helps even a tiny bit

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you will be OK - but just take the timescales from when you started your new regieme (sp?) with leaving him etc as a guideline? That was the first day of his 'new' life

All I keep thinking is that loads of people have these problems with their dogs, and they do overcome them - so will we

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]

Hubby thinks Im mad with the DAP and reckons it wont work. Im praying it helps even a tiny bit

[/ QUOTE ]

My Mum uses the spray in the car for her dog that gets anxious when travelling, it does seem to help him.

I was think of getting the collarfor Otto when I thought he was a timid little mutt, except he has turned into this mad, brave animal!!

 

[Louby]

Boris is in a crate at night and its never bothered him but as hes a Lurcher and growing tall quick, his head touches the top nearly when he stands up (I bought the biggest crate I could get) so at night hes shut in it but Im trying to get him used to a bit more room by giving him the conservatory too when we go out during the day, as soon he will be too big to leave in the crate for any length of time. I dont think he likes the extra space!

 

[Louby]

Ive been a bit too accomodating with my neighbour as they have a dog too that howls when its left and we dont say anything so they think shes really quiet. Thing is neighbour now texts me to say Boris is crying as she thinks we want to now (which we do really) so how can I say 'thanks for letting me know, sorry about Boris but hey do you realise your dog howls constantly when you go out'

 

[CAYLA]

Don;t beat yourself up....there is a studies time scale , whereby they commonly make a noise b4 the settling comes..........the most important thing is, not to return when he is crying, as u are answering to his cries.........it can be done don't loose faith, I have jsut crate trained a bull terrier......it took 2 days, she is now sound asleep, whilst im in.......I do make a point of them being in the crate when Im in, aswell as out, it has to be a consistant routine, and u can lapse in routine, when going long periods not using the crate at all, or allowing the dog to spend every monute with u, when u are in the house.

Every single new dog that comes into my home is crated trained first and fore most, so safety and to keep my house entact, it can be done, don't be disheartened or humanise too much........oterwise u won't beable to carry out a routine, without feeling bad

 

[Louby]

Thanks Cala,
Hes fine in his crate overnight, he's just not a happy bunny left on his own in the day. Hes lay in his crate now asleep, we call it his house and he goes there when he wants to be left alone and sleep. I just wish he felt the same during the day

 

[LynneB]

Hi, I am sorry if this has been said before, I am still trying to wake up

I just wondered if you leave the tv on or radio? I always leave the tv on when I go out as otherwise I think there is too much quiet for the dogs. They have always been absolutely fine. Yesterday I had to leave them and the puppy alone for the first time since we got her (she is 13 weeks now) it was only for an hour and when my son got home he said they were all really quiet and snoozing - Layla was in her playpen so she was safe from mischief - I am now wondering if they were quiet all the time lol. they do like the background noise though

 

[LynneB]

you could jokingly drop into the conversation that perhaps he picked the habit up from their dog or you could say "hey you should tape your dog, it's amazing what you find out"

 

[GinaGem]

I know it doesn't help much but it did take a while for our rescue lurcher's to settle when we first got them. They chewed a few things in the first few weeks so we confined them to a small area of the house with nothing to chew and built up from 5 mins of leaving them to now we can leave them for about 4 hours with the run of downstairs.

One day though we came home and both dogs were really panting and we thought we may have a problem. We filmed them the next time we went out.

The video was hilarious, it seems they weren't bothered about being left and were quiet for quite a while. Then Bes instigated a game of chase and and in the process of spinning circles on the bed they managed to dislodge the duvet, pillows and sheet off the bed!! They were chasing each other up and down the stairs - god knows what the neighbours thought was going on!!! They then settled down and fell asleep. We now leave the baby gate shut so they can't go upstairs and they haven't done it since (that we know of!).

 

[Jennypenny]

Hi, I had the same problem, but my boy would also get really destructive. I can't crate train him, yes I have tried but it makes him 100 times worse.

But now he is so much better, not 100% but I can leave him now. He is a dog that needs loads of exercise so that is what he gets. We have dog proofed the area he is left in. for example change door handles, removed anything and everything I dont want chewed. Leave him his toys, kong, snack a ball, suitable bones. And most importantly keep him in a routine. He does have bad days, where he will chews (last time a mattress!) but usually this is something to trigger it off. For example being home over xmas or the clocks changing, but then it is too be expected. I have accepted that is what he is like and since I have been less stressed about it, he has too! Keeping him in a routine has been really good and he kind of knows that's what happens.

I have to work to live, I have to shop to feed us so he has to be on his own. I have been tempted to get another dog and maybe I will one day, but I want my doggie to be ok with this being left first.

Dont give up! It is so hard and until you have been through it, you realize how hard it is.

 

[Louby]

Thanks for your replies,
Well its day 3 of the taping and hes a nightmare

Its not constant but he is proper upset, my friend says he sounds like a spoilt baby, crying where are you, how dare you leave me!
Tonight we went to the pub at 6pm

just because we knew we had to leave him and returned an hour later to hear him yapping, listenned to the tape and its not constant yapping just outbursts of musical howls then he stops for a bit. He is then exhausted and sleeps for the rest of the night. He has been playing at the farm most of the day so has had plenty of exercise, I left him with a chew and his kong and toys of course and left the TV on, the music channel. My hubby is really fed up. Its hard as we dont really have to leave him often so the routine bit is letting us down but I want to be able to go shopping or out for the night and we feel a bit like prisoners.
Today we put him in his crate/conservotory whilst we were in and he cried like a baby when we went out of sight, he never used to do this so I fear he is getting worse. Oh the DAP arrived today, I plugged it in and he was sniffing the air nearby. He has to get better soon, even toyed with the idea of getting a companion but thats something we really dont want to have to do if possible.