Anxiety when the other dog gets attention...

[ancientdance]

I'm wondering if any one else who owns multiple dogs has had this kind of situation, and if you have any advice. Jazz is a 1 year old Sheltie and last month we rescued Jubilee, a lab who is approximately 3.5 months now. They get along well and LOVE LOVE LOVE to play/wrestle constantly.

The biggest problem I have since introducing a 2nd dog revolves around potty time, mainly. I keep them in separate crates next to one another, and I almost always take them to potty separately because otherwise they will distract one another and take forever to do their business. So, for example, if I take Jazz out of her crate to go outside, Jubilee will sit in her crate and whine/bark/cry/yell until I come back inside (I can hear her from outside). Conversely, when I take Jubilee out, even if Jazz isn't in her crate while I'm doing this, Jazz will stand anxiously at the door and bark until we come back in. Even if she isn't barking, she's incredibly anxious and whiny until we get back inside.

I thought maybe it was a separation anxiety issue at being left inside alone, but even if my husband takes one dog and I stay in with the other (or vice versa) there's still that anxious "Why are they gone with out me???" whining. Jazz is so bad she will hardly even listen to me if I try to distract her and redirect her focus.

Not only is it frustrating to know that the other dog is going beserk when I take either one outside (I live in an apartment so other people can hear), it also makes it very difficult to be able to have one-on-one time with each dog. Instead of patiently waiting their turn, if I take one dog out of the crate to do training or play, the other sits in their crate and barks/whines. And just to clarify...if the dog is in their crate and they are barking/whining/etc, I completely ignore them until they calm down, so I don't think the dogs expect me to let them out when they do it.

I'm sorry to write a novel...thanks so much for any advice! Let me know if I need to clarify any part of this.

 

[mbfrench]

This is an ongoing thing here,between Trapp & Jasper.They both want to be together all the time.
We have 4 here,but Mia is blind & deaf,Earnhardt(lab) really could care either way if he is where the other 2 are.

We seldom only take 1 of them anywhere's.honestly I think Jasper would be lost without his big brother.
As far as potty times,I really can't help you there,as they get older it will get easiar with them.Since now you find they distract each other,but they are young pups. We are fenced here,and they all go thier seperate ways to potty,even Mia.

I think it is important to teach them,patience,as you will always come back to them,whether it be for fun or for taking the other out to potty.They will learn.

I kinda overlook the whining,as we only have one whiner here,and that is Trapp.I just simply tell him,he needs to wait his turn.He knows the differance,and he knows I mean business when I talk to him,to behave.

Our biggest issue is when we play with frisbee.They both get thier turns,but one must be left inside.Since they both seriously love the frisbee,they only will get in each others way,and most likely hurt each other if we were tossing to both.

 

[SheltieChe]

teach them potty on command and take them both out, takes few seconds to "do the biz"
concentrate on behavior you want your dog to do... lets say your hubby took other out... play with the one you have inside- teach them go to place, watch me, chase me, puppy push ups or whatever you want... pretty soon it is going to be "who is lucky to stay with mommy time"
dogs are unable to grasp " don't whine in your crate" concept but they easily able to grasp Do- "sit" " down" rollover" "bring it" or whatever...
if you want to keep dog in crate you can always play "Crate games" by Susan Garrett, great help!

 

[Caro]

I still go through this - why is he going out and not me! All I can suggest is keep a kong handy and shove it into the crate when you go out and take it back when you come back. I have always used food to bribe the other one to not bark when they get left behind.

 

[corbinam]

My two do this a little bit at home. But they are HORRIBLE about it at agility. They always want to be the ones going out.

I don't really have much of a recommendation. I try not to come back in until the dog has stopped carrying on, but that's not always possible. I also always wait until the crated dog is calm before letting them out (but it sounds like you are already doing that).

 

[MavRyder]

I'm wondering if any one else who owns multiple dogs has had this kind of situation, and if you have any advice. Jazz is a 1 year old Sheltie and last month we rescued Jubilee, a lab who is approximately 3.5 months now. They get along well and LOVE LOVE LOVE to play/wrestle constantly.

The biggest problem I have since introducing a 2nd dog revolves around potty time, mainly. I keep them in separate crates next to one another, and I almost always take them to potty separately because otherwise they will distract one another and take forever to do their business. So, for example, if I take Jazz out of her crate to go outside, Jubilee will sit in her crate and whine/bark/cry/yell until I come back inside (I can hear her from outside). Conversely, when I take Jubilee out, even if Jazz isn't in her crate while I'm doing this, Jazz will stand anxiously at the door and bark until we come back in. Even if she isn't barking, she's incredibly anxious and whiny until we get back inside.

I thought maybe it was a separation anxiety issue at being left inside alone, but even if my husband takes one dog and I stay in with the other (or vice versa) there's still that anxious "Why are they gone with out me???" whining. Jazz is so bad she will hardly even listen to me if I try to distract her and redirect her focus.

Not only is it frustrating to know that the other dog is going beserk when I take either one outside (I live in an apartment so other people can hear), it also makes it very difficult to be able to have one-on-one time with each dog. Instead of patiently waiting their turn, if I take one dog out of the crate to do training or play, the other sits in their crate and barks/whines. And just to clarify...if the dog is in their crate and they are barking/whining/etc, I completely ignore them until they calm down, so I don't think the dogs expect me to let them out when they do it.

I'm sorry to write a novel...thanks so much for any advice! Let me know if I need to clarify any part of this.

I dont have a problem with potty time because I have a large fenced in yard.
If I am taking one dog to class, walk, or training. I put food in a kong lock one dog up in a room or crate and sneak out the other dog.
If you have both dogs side by side in a crate. Maybe you could freeze peanut butter and yogurt in a kong( something long lasting) and take the other out to potty. And then switch dogs.

 

[Calliesmom]

Fenced in backyard too so the pups can potty together or separately.
I have been walking each pup separately to work on loose leash walking. The two left behind can sometimes bark when they see me walking the other dog outside but it's not too bad - they don't bark the whole time that I am gone. and they all know that they will get their turn.

If the new addition is still really new, maybe he's not sure that he's there forever and maybe your other pup isn't sure that he's staying so neither is sure what's going to happen when one or the other gets taken away individually.
Kongs can definitely work when one is left in the crate and the other goes away.

 

[danisgoat]

My two do this a little bit at home. But they are HORRIBLE about it at agility. They always want to be the ones going out.

This is my problem. The noise

Although when it is time for the crated dog to work, they do a great job because they feel like working is a reward.

 

[BarbV]

I don't know how much time you have for them to do their business, but I would start taking them out together.

It might take awhile to get them settled enough to pee, but if they need to go, they will go eventually. It just might take a few more walks for them to get the idea.

One thing that you should NEVER do, is bring them inside immediately after they do their business. That's like punishment. "So if I pee, I have to now go inside???? Hmmm....maybe I'll hold it a little longer".