Dealing With Separation Anxiety

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by Sunsilver on 14 April 2009 - 01:04

I purchased my female from a breeder at 14 weeks. She's now 2 years old, and has had a very good life. She has my neutered male for company when I'm out, a fenced yard to play in, and gets to go on regular walks and long rambles through the woods.

I have not spoiled her. She sleeps in her crate (of her own choice) is not allowed to get up on the furniture, and I'm not overly generous with treats either. We only use them for training, and phase them out once she understands what's needed of her.

Yet when I go out somewhere, especially if I take my male GSD with me, she freaks. She runs from the back door to the window, and cries. She also often gets up on the couch or my bed when I'm gone (the two places my scent is most likely the strongest.)

I am starting a tracking class with both dogs next Sunday, and am wondering just how well she's going to behave when I'm working with my male. I will take her crate with me, and may cover it with a towel so she can't see us while we're working.

Any suggestions on dealing with her separation anxiety would be appreciated.

by RONNIERUNCO on 14 April 2009 - 02:04

ITS ALL ABOUT ONE THING. SCENT SCENT SCENT. WHEN STINKY IS AWAY FROM ME MY STOMACH HAS BUTTERFLIES AND I LOSE MY MIND. IF I CATCH HER SCENT FORGET ABOUT IT. THOSE SCENTS FROM THE BED AND COUCH ARE HEARTBREAKERS. PLEASE PLEASE JUST TAKE HER WITH YOU AND SCENT IT UP. HAVE A WONDERFUL SPRING AND MAY THE SCENT BE WITH YOU.

by sueincc on 14 April 2009 - 02:04

She will probably pitch a bit of a fit, but this might actually work in your favor. Work the male dog first. See if she isn't real drivey for you when you take her out 2nd. Also it might be good when you take the male out of his crate, completely ignore the bitch, don't talk to her and don't even look at her until you are ready to take her out of her crate after you have finished with and put the male back in his crate

by DebiSue on 14 April 2009 - 11:04

I'm starting to notice the same behaviour with my 6mo pup. She insists on going with us so we are firm with her as we go out the door but we don't fuss over her. She runs back and forth when either my husband or I go out without her. If one of us stays behind we can usually get her to calm down with some distraction. We don't fuss over her when we leave and we do our best to ignore her when we come back in. (they can be so hard to ignore) We still crate her when we both leave to avoid any damage to the house if we are going to be gone long. Since we don't have another dog I really can't relate to the training issue while working with the other dog. But I can tell you, a few in the club have more than one and some of them really pitch a fit when they are left behind. I think it makes them more drivey as they are anxious for their turn. I know you don't treat often but have you tried giving her a kong with peanut butter in it when you leave the house? Might take her mind off of things...I know it works for our girl when she needs a time out. I try to keep one on hand in the freezer (makes it harder to get the peanut butter out). Good luck with her.
Deb

by Sunsilver on 14 April 2009 - 14:04

Here's Star's kong:

What's left of it, that is! It only lasted until she got her adult teeth in.

I do have a few toys I can trust her with, but she's not interested in them when I go out, nor is she interested in food. I don't make a big fuss over the dogs when I come home, and when I'm leaving, all they get is a very firm "STAY!" as they try to follow me out the door. They've learned to respect that, as if they don't, they get dragged back into the house with their front feet barely touching the ground!

Sometimes I ask my room mate to crate her if she gets too agitated as I'm leaving, then let her out when she settles down. She still fusses in her crate, though.

You know, I think you're right about this being connected to drive. It's only gotten really bad since we've started some serious training now that the snow is nearly gone. We've also been doing more frequent runs through the bush, which she really loves. She gets very excited and vocal when she realizes we're going to the bush!

Maybe it's not such a bad thing after all. The reason I'm concerned about it is I'm remembering my first tracking instructor getting really annoyed at my previous GSD for crying, and telling us we had to stop her from doing it. We put her in the car. By about the third lesson, she'd settled enough that she didn't do it any more. She was crazy about tracking, and couldn't wait for her turn...I SO wish they'd had the PEN number for unregistered dogs back then! (Canadian version of the ILP.)

by 4pack on 14 April 2009 - 14:04

Sounds like what any of my dogs will do if I pack the rest of them up and leave 1 behind. Who wants to be left? They throw a big tissy, bark, spin, howl but they shut up in a few minutes of me being gone. They do the same song and dance when I pull up in the driveway. As long as the dogs not barking the whole time you are away or chewing itself or your belongings, it's not seperation anxiety.If it was true SA, you wouldn't have any furniture left, your neighbors would have called the pound on you 10x's already or your dogs tail would be half gone.

by Franki on 14 April 2009 - 14:04

There is another toy out there that is actually better than a Kong IMO.
It's called a Treat Stik.
It's a very hard plastic and shaped sort of like a flashlight with a hole in the handle end.
You fill it with food and hand it to the dog.
Virtually indestructible. I've had three of them for about 6 months now and they get regular use from dogs that can destroy a natural bone.
They are made for dogs that are home alone.
My dogs love that thing.

by Sunsilver on 14 April 2009 - 14:04

When our obedience instructor tested the dogs for separation anxiety by having the owner go out of sight, Star did show some mild anxiety. Not over the top, but she did get a bit whiney and agitated.

She did destroy stuff when she was a pup, but that's what puppies do. (Looks at the legs of a couple of her dining room chairs....) When I first moved north, she chewed up a couple of things (magazine rack, one of my room-mate's shoes) so I think she had a certain amount of stress over the new environment. She's been fine the last few months.

Of course, leave any dogs alone too long, and uncrated, and all bets are off. Here's what greeted me one day when I decided to watch two movies in a row at a friend's house, after having dinner there!

I SO love that wide-eyed 'innocent' look on Ranger's face!

by Two Moons on 14 April 2009 - 16:04

I don't leave a dog in the house while I'm gone running loose. Use the crate or a large folding cage as I do. Leave something with your scent on it with the dog.
A knoted sock works well at least make it something you wont need anymore..:)
If one dog gets one on one without the other, just make sure they both get the same priveledge. They get jealous.
I give mine a treat when he goes in the cage as a reward, I don't want him to think he's being punished, and he gets one on one when I return.
I know that wide eyed innocent look...LOL

by DebiSue on 14 April 2009 - 16:04

Oh My! She did have a time with her kong! Funny how she chewed from the top. Echo chews hers from the bottom but Star has her beat!!

Guess you were lucky if the plastic bags are all they destroyed while you were out enjoying yourself. They do look like they had some fun.

You might want to use a different command when you leave. Especially if your dogs have been trained for long sit/down stays. By using the stay command you could be adding to the anxiety by asking her to stay because when she doesn't stay she will know she is being "bad". I prefer to tell Echo, "I'll be back soon" which she knows means she can't follow me out the door. Does your roommate work with the dogs? Maybe your roomate could do a simple training/play time (on leash if necessary) with Star as you are leaving. Just some little something for a few minutes to make your leaving a good thing. You may want to teach her the command "enough!" when she vocalizes and misbehaves.

Hope these suggestions help. Hang in there, I'm sure she will continue to mature and settle down.
Deb

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