Seperation anxiety

geoff · #1 13-01-11, 08:22 AM

Hi everyone

Theo is now 16 months old and turning out to be a wonderful dog, unfortunately over the last couple of weeks when left alone in his crate he has started to destroy his bed, he is only left for an hour does anyone know what as triggered this behaviour, or have i got myself a 24/7 dog any tips advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks Geoff

Caryll · #2 13-01-11, 08:53 AM

I'm not much use to you, I'm afraid. Dempsey, even now he's approaching 2 years old still occasionally shreds his bed.

LOVEGSD · #3 13-01-11, 11:11 AM

My lad suffered separation anxiety and we got through it by not fussing him 20 mins before you are due to go out, don't make a big deal about coming and going, ie not lots of 'oooh be good, I'll be back don't worry' talk. Equally don't make a huge fuss of them when you come back in either, ignore them until they are calm and then say hi.

Have you tried leaving a treat releasing toy down or any toy that your dog likes to give him something to occupy him when you're gone?

Also I always make sure mine have been exercised before being left, if they are tired they are more likely to sleep and not destroy things.

Good luck...xx

#4 13-01-11, 02:19 PM

Good advice from Lynn. We had pretty bad SA with Remus. He bent the bars of an extra strong dog crate (we had to put padlocks on as the catches weren't aligned)

he destroyed the plastic tray and howled the house down. Happy days!

Do saturation leaving sessions of different times. So put him in his crate and leave for 5 mins, come back toss a treat at the back so he doesn't bolt out. Ignore him until he's calm. Repeat this, varying the times... 5, 7, 5, 2, 10, etc After a while he can't be bothered to get worked up about you going.

Leave the radio on. In the crate an old t-shirt with your smell on. Have you left him a Kong in there? Does he like the crate and go in happily? If not you'll have to make the crate a nice place to be for him.

I always use a firm leaving command - I say 'Back soon!' whenever I go out, whether it's to go to work for 4 hours or to put the rubbish out.

Edit: Neither of mine are in a crate now. They've outdoor kennel+run. No room for 2 crates in the house!

LOVEGSD · #5 13-01-11, 03:24 PM

I agree with Anni we did the leaving him for different intervals so he learnt never to know when we ight be back and we also leave the radio on for him...xx