Separation Stress/Anxiety Suggestions?

When my two were pups, I would turn the radio on, give them a treat. At first
I would leave for 30 minutes and as time went on I would leave them longer
and longer. This was making certain they knew I would be back.
 
We tell Mally that we need him to watch the house for us....and we will be back in a little bit. Then we throw a few treats on the floor. He identifies us leaving as a good thing, he gets treats.
 
Chris said:
Beckon pitches a hissy fit whenever one of us leaves. As soon as the door shuts, he's fine -- it's just what he does. :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

Yep, Fasb does this (most of the time) when the wife or I leave. Goes bonkers. Yaps, runs around, jumps on the door. Soon as the person leaving gets out of the driveway, he stops, settles down, and is fine.

We tried training the behavior away, bribing him with food, bribing him with toys, crating him, talked to an animal psychologist (psychiatrist? I don't remember which). Nothing worked. Eventually, it just became a funny Fasb trait. We do take some care to make sure he doesn't hurt himself or destroy anything by jumping on it, and if someone's still in the house, they try to distract him, but basically, the best solution is to run for the car and pill out asap. :lol:

We've been assured he's basically fine, and he seems calm and quiet while we are gone. He just doesn't like the idea we have anything else to do besides spoil him.

FYI: Most mornings I get up before dawn, run 7-10 miles, then come back to the house for breakfast and a shower - and the all-important feeding of the sheltie - before heading to work. Wife is a little less amused with the barking dog when it's 6 AM and he wakes her up to let her know I'm going out to run.
 
I always have fed Gavin with treat balls and treat toys. He actually WANTS me to leave every morning so he gets his breakfast! Of course, I can't ever leave no without giving him some sort of kibble in a treat ball.

I have an old automated kong dispenser that was discontinued years ago :( I love the thing, it got me through puppyhood. It will spit out a kong or treat ball every 2 hours or every 4 hours.

http://www.amazon.com/Dogopolis-Kon...p/B0009X0MMO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

I found one (just 1) on ebay, too. just search KongTime or Dogopolis. I can't believe they aren't sold anymore. Great toy, just remember too put it up high where the dog can't get it, like on top of the fridge (or you will learn, like I did, that a dog can open the lid, or knock it off a counter)
 
Thought I'd check on these things, but this is completely new to me. Cindy- I must say it is one of the smartest I've ever seen :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top