Seperation anxiety...What to do?

ladiedoc · #1 01-06-2006, 10:42 PM

We rescued Doc from our local humane society, when we asked what his story is they told us that they occasionally do boarding and his parents never came back for him, ( it was cheaper to pay up front boarding fees than a surrender fee) he only weighed 45 lbs when we brought this poor guy home and you could see every bone in his body. He is now a health 67 lbs and a happy member of our family for over a year now. The problem is when we leave him home loose he pees and poops in our upstairs hallway in front of the bedrooms. We tried a crate and he was scared to death of it, he didn't fight going in but he would shake like a leaf. We now have a leash attached to our oven and hook him up to that when we leave. I really hate the idea of tiein him up when we leave but what choice do we have? Does anyone have any ideas how we can break him of this? We already let him outside to potty and it doesn't seem to matter, he always has reserves! Help!

**Jan** · #2 01-07-2006, 12:09 AM

I think the problem is the separation anxiety! Could you not shut him in the kitchen with a baby gate or two instead of tieing him up. I would hate the leash to wrap around his neck and choke him to death.

You could try a drug that you get from vet that will help with separation anxiety. It's called Clomicalm. It is also very important that you make your coming and going a non-event. Don't make a big fuss of him when you leave, just go. When you come home, just ignore him for 5-10 minutes.

Something else that also can help with separation anxiety is practicing NILIF (Nothing in Life is for Free) Have him work for everything. Sit for pats, sit before he goes out, or gets fed etc. It helps enforce that you are the leader of the pack and are in control and he does not need to worry when you are gone.

Good luck!

ladiedoc · #3 01-07-2006, 07:34 PM

thanks for the advice, unfortunately our kitchen/dining room and living room are one big open space and his stomach is sooooo sensitive that he can't handle anything stronger than benadryl. i HATE the idea of tieing him up also, but i don't know what else to do.our vet suggested the same thing (working for everything) and we've been doing it pretty much since day one...no luck. any more ideas?

Checkers · #4 01-07-2006, 08:38 PM

Is there any way you can baby gate off the hall way and leave him in there. Or if the room entrances are too large, getting a huge piece of wood and blocking the way. Perhaps a smaller space will help. Also if he is going to pee anyway, maybe some pee pads might make the clean up a bit easier. Its not ideal, but im thinking of your carpet

harleyboxer · #5 01-07-2006, 10:21 PM

I would just baby gate him away from the hallway where he goes to the bathroom. I had a boston terrier who would go to the bathroom on my bed when I wasn't home (as pay back) so I baby gated him from going upstairs which solved that. Harley would jump on my back door and chew the woodwork when I got him so I babygated him away from the door and that helped also. He may just go somewhere else in your house, but it's worth a try.

**Jan** · #6 01-07-2006, 11:24 PM

You could try getting an exercise pen and putting him in there. It may not stress him out as much as a crate.

BeckyNC · #7 01-08-2006, 06:18 PM

Have you tried making the crate a more inviting place for Doc? Maybe put a treat in the back and leave the door open. Let him go in to get it. Make it a really yummy treat. Try this some. Eventually move to feeding him in the crate with the door open. After some time of doing this, try closing the door, but not "locking" it. Just push it closed. If he gets upset at any point in this process, pretend not to notice. Act very nonchalant. If this goes well, lock the crate, then let him out the second he finishes eating. If he gets nervous, don't rush to let him out....pause for a bit.

You might also try giving Doc a bully stick or a kong stuffed with something yummy and putting him in the crate.

Try all of these methods for a while, then close him in the crate while you are home and in the room. If he gets really into whatever he's eating/chewing on, leave the room. Work on all of this and, if successful, try leaving him crated when you leave.

The idea is to make the crate a place with which he has a positive association. Sounds like his current association is very negative, but some good experience in there will help. If you can eventually leave Doc in there when you go out, perhaps stuff a kong with some peanut butter or plain yogurt or smushed banana and freeze it. Give this to him when you leave so he's preoccupied

These are some suggestions the behaviorist I have used gave me when I wanted to crate train Tae. She was not crate trained before I adopted her. Unfortunately for me, she panics when enclosed in a small space or even a room, so I leave her loose and she's OK.