GSD Separation anxiety? - Page 1

Hi everybody, I'm Keef and am a new member of this board. I need some help/advice please regarding my GSD "Viggo".

We have owned good stock GSD males for over 25 years now and although we do not claim to be experts by any means, we do have a fair bit of experience with the breed. Viggo is our third dog....sired by Shotaan Fabius out of Tramella's Irena. Shotaan Fabius is currently the top winning dog in the UK at present. This is not meant to be a bragging exercise........just to give you some background! He is a beautiful dog and extemely affectionate and good natured.....perhaps the soundest temperament we have had so far from our dogs. He is now 14 months old and has been diagnosed with a mild case of panosteitis for which he is on a course of anti-infammatory mecication. He has been hip scored and the results are very good.

The problem with him is that he simply follows me around everywhere. If I am not there then he follows my wife. He eats with one eye on us.....If I leave the kitchen for whatever reason when he is eating then he will leave his food and follow me. I can't go to the toilet without him being there. If we are quietly watching TV and I get up to get a drink or whatever he will immediately get up and follow me. I know that it's sweet and that he obviously loves me but I think it's a bit excessive.

All our GSD's have shown a bit of separation anxiety at some time or other......It is a trait of the breed I expect....and all have grown out of it. Viggo is not too bad when we leave him...seems to have got over the desructive stage when he is left on his own, although he will try and look out of the window to see where we are.

We also have a 16 year old tom cat who has been great with all our dogs and the pair get on with each other fine!

I know we have most probably spoiled Viggo a bit. We had to have our last beloved GSD " Jago" put to sleep last July. He passed away in my arms on a beautiful sunny morning with all the family with him at the end. Most of you out there have all been through the same thing it I know.  The feelings of guilt etc. are hard to come to terms with although we here know that it was the kindest thing to do for our baby.

We are guilty I suppose of loving Viggo a bit too much now and I wonder whether that is a reason for his behaviour or whether the panosteitis causes him a bit of distress and he needs re-assurance etc. or am I worrying needlessly about nothing?

Otherwise he is a playful, fit and active dog. I take him to training classes each week where he has recently got his silver award. He is regularly exercised although the vet has advised me that we take it a bit easy for a while.

So. Anybody got any ideas why he should be so anxious as to where I am all the time? We should have called him Shadow!

>All our GSD's have shown a bit of separation anxiety at some time or other......It is a trait of the breed I expect

errr ... No!

I suspect he has a submissive nature which has further been encouraged by you. In saying this, I do not mean to offend but rather point out that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

For example, it is quite common for a puppy to go through a "boogie man" stage, a time when a garbage can he has seen countless times suddenly attracts his attention and unsettles him. It is at these times where the owner's actions make a difference. Comforting the puppy only serves to assure him that he should be affraid and that his response is appropriate.

If he is submissive, you will need to ease into being firm with him, start forcing seperation (place him in another room) initialy for short periods , and ignore his whinning or barking. Slowly increass the length of time apart until he becomes more comfortable being appart from you.

Most importantly, get him a job!.  By this I mean, allow him to find his own self woth, be it through increased training (start if you have not done so already)  better yet, persuing activities/sports with him where he has the opportunity to prove himself and earn your praise. GSD's love to work, it keeps them physically and mentally healthy, not to mention too tired to follow you around.

 Good luck!

FWIW,  My 2 GSD's follow me everywhere also.  I call it a Sheperoid.  I've heard people tell me the same thing about theirs also.  If I don't want them to follow me IE... to the bathroom, I just shut the door  and they will be there waiting for me when I'm complete. 

Keef,are you going to show Viggo?

Any chance of posting a pic. of him?

I've got a Fabius daughter.

Saw Fabius for the 1st time at last month's 2 day,he's a powerful looking dog.

How is Fabius the top winning GSD in the UK?

not flaming, just wondered where you got those facts?