Update: adopted dog with separation anxiety

16 years ago

I thought I'd give you an update on my friend's dog. We discussed his situation in this thread.

My friend bought a crate and read up on the training process. But I don't think he was very consistent with the training, and it didn't seem to matter (to him) because he works mostly at home and had no occasion to leave the house for a week or so. When he did leave for the first time after that period, his brother was visiting. Mikey was put in his crate, my friend left, and the brother went to take a shower. When he came out of the bathroom, he found Mikey out of the crate and the crate door still latched.

I meant to mention that the vet had sold him D.A.P. Â pheromones said to have a calming effect on anxious dogs. The diffuser was pumping out pheromones at the time Mikey escaped from his crate.

The next day my friend and his brother went out. When they came back, Mikey was once again out of his crate. I'm guessing something was amiss with the crate assembly.

Anyway, today they didn't bother putting him in the crate. They were gone three hours, and at some point Mikey peed by the front door. He hasn't done anything destructive, though.

The most important part of my update is that my friend is totally in love with Mikey. I don't blame him...I got to meet him last week, and he's a big, beautiful sweetheart. Very much attached to his new person. While I was there Mikey slept on the floor with his head on my friend's foot. Awww....

Susan

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Comments (4)

quirkyquercus
16 years ago
Is it a crate or an exercise pen? Ex-pens have an open top and some dogs can easily get out.
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
No, it's a crate. Six sides. He hasn't been in it since...
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cindyandmocha, I honestly wasn't referring to your post at all. I completely got what you were trying to convey and I totally agree. Something else about crating people often don't understand is it should never be used for punishment. It's supposed to be their safe haven, like a bedroom would be for a child. Punish them to it and they will not enjoy being there. We don't punish our dog. We use positive reinforcement instead and as a result we'll often find her relaxing in her crate. We seldom ever close the door, but when we do, she still doesn't mind. I think it really helped to make her feel secure in her new home. She was one of 11 so very used to company and we ended up having to bring her home at the young age of 6 weeks. From day one the crate has been her spot and she never cried once for her mother or siblings, not even at night. She also gets a little put out when the cat decides to give the crate a try. She knows it's hers and likes that. But I do have to say, she doesn't sleep with us unless we crash downstairs on a Saturday night. She sleeps downstairs and we're upstairs. If you have more then one pet, it does seem to help. Our cat seems to fill any void she'd have if she were alone instead. I don't believe that one style will fit all. Our dog is a Lab, very even tempered and eager to please. The techniques we used may not work well with another breed or dog. You sort of have to customize each technique to fit your situation.
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OMG, I went through this with my little Tubby and I know how you feel. Mine was in a shelter, in a damaged cage next to his sibling. Both were deposited at the same time. When I brought the little fellow home, I was not prepared for what happened. He would not let me out of his sight for an instant. I had to put him in the car, drive back to town and get him a crate so I could bring him up to work because he mutilated himself if I was out of sight. He only stopped crying long enough to chew his tail to the bleeding point. My husband was out of state and thankfully I owned my business and it was on my property, so up to the greenhouses he would come with me. It continued, I could not go from one structure to the other without him chewing at the metal bars to the point of injury. I did just exactly as Justplaincountry said she did. He had to learn that when I was out of sight, I would return. I told him to be a 'good boy' and did the come and go routine for days, extending the time by a minute or two. Then when hubby came back he was tolerating ten or twenty minutes and we took turns being inside with him or taking him on leash to 'visit' the other. Even a month or two later we were afraid of his anxiety level if we went for more than an hour or two, so we dropped him off at our daughter' house nearby to socialise with her pooches. We used to do the same for her dogs. The moment of truth came later that summer when my cousin died and we went to her services. It was four hours and that didn't even include staying for the wake. When we got home, he was fine and has been ever since. They just need to know you'll be back. I suppose this has something to do with trusting another human who never did come back. God only knows what they went through in a previous life. I believe mine was treated well. He came trained, healthy and with manners. Somebody broke his heart.
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Obedience class will do little for her. She really needs to be in a day care situation. Is it possible to leave her with someone you know? Pay a neighborhood kid? A family member, neighbor or friend she and stay with? I would contact the local humane society and ask if they can help. Also contact the police and let them know you recently adopted the dog and are diligently working on the barking issue. Seperation Anixety is a very very hard issue to deal with if you dont have the time or someone to assist you. It took me close to a year of very careful work with my bull mastiff husky mix to help him over his anxiety - I am retired and hoave the time. You really need help with this. If you can find someone to assist you when you are at work, I do have techniques you can use when you are at home in order to combat this problem but I warn you now it takes a considerable amount of time and patience.
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quirkyquercus
16 years ago
Well I don't know what to tell you other than it sounds like the crate that was used was either not sturdy enough or not assembled properly.

I have an adopted dog that used to get very anxious when I would leave. To this day he often curls up by the door that I walk out of and waits there the whole time by the door until I come back but not always.

Before he demonstrated he could be trusted alone in the house he had to stay in his crate. I made the crate a very rewarding place to be because he got Kongs stuffed with peanut butter, slices of bread and other goodies to work on while I was away. Fun fun fun. And it involves chewing so he'd calm down. Then by the time the Kongs are cleaned out he's wiped out and in need of a nap.

The crate should be used frequently before you actually have to leave the dog alone. Feeding the dog in the crate and giving him treats for going in there teaches the dog that being in the crate is a reward and not a punishment. It should never be a punishment.

Dogs do not know what cages are. They see wire or chainlink like walls of their safe little cave. But humans know what cages are and have preconceived notions about cages being cruel. If this is the case, decorate the room that the crate is in with happy doggie related decorations so that there is a feeling of happiness that overwhelms any wire cage crulety feeling the dog owner may have. This is solely for the owner.

After a while he graduated to bedroom and had freedom to the entire bedroom. Then eventually the whole house.

Then it just becomes up to the dog. The first night I gave my older boy rights to the whole house and an open crate, he wandered around for about 30 minutes then guess where he decided to sleep.... He went back in the crate all on his own decision.

These things take time. After a while the dog will start to figure out that the human is coming back. Setting up a routine helps.
mazer415
16 years ago
glad everything is going well, apparently the dog does better out of the crate, and suggest to your friend he take the pup out for walkies BEFORE he leaves on a errand and to leave a kong filled with treats or another type of puzzle food toy out while he is gone, it will give the pup something to do even for a little bit

Update: adopted dog with separation anxiety

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quirkyquercus

alisande
Original Author

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Update: adopted dog with separation anxiety

Comments (4)

quirkyquercus

alisandeOriginal Author

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quirkyquercus

mazer415

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alisande
Original Author