My dog frets when I leave the house. What can I do?

xxdeebeexx

Hi we have recently adopted a JRT from the Dogs Trust. She is such a sweet dog, lovely temprement,playful, house trained,messes in the same spot in the garden and knows her manners. We have had her just over 2 weeks now and she has settled in beautufully. We have never had a dog before so want to make sure that we get things right.

I don't allow her upstairs or on the furniture. She is caged at night and also if we go out without her.

She gets into such a tizzy when I go out without her. She pines the whole time and will bark and stand on my dressing table looking out the window for me. She exhausts herself!

I popped out today, just for 20 mins, and left her with my children (14 and 12) she got in such a state that my older boy phone me and asked me to come home. The dog was on the chair looking out the window and she wet. Luckily it went onto a cushion so I was able to pop it into the washing machine.

How can I make things better for her? She seems to have a strong attachment to me. She loves everyone else, but she would curl up in my heart if she possibly could! I need to be able to go out knowing that she is ok.

Any suggestions would be great.

TIA

Dx

kirstiex

Hi - sorry to hear your situation. She sounds such a sweetie and its lovely the hear you've given her a loving home.

I'm not sure what to suggest other than contact Dogs Trust where you got her from who will be able to give you some sound and practical advice.

Let us know how you get on

starrystarry

The only bit of advice I can give is not to make a fuss of her before you go out, or when you get back. Try not to make it a big deal.

When you're about to leave the house it's tempting to try to reassure the dog (mummy won't be long etc etc) but the dog doesn't understand what you're saying, she'll just pick up on the sad tone in your voice. It's better to leave without saying anything, or if you do want to say goodbye to her do it in a firm voice. If she makes a fuss as you're leaving don't pay any attention, just walk out.

When you get back, again don't give her any attention if she jumps all over you. Don't let her know that you're as glad to see her as she is to see you. Make her sit down while you take your coat off etc, then reward her with a pat. The worst thing you can do is make a huge fuss of her.

kaya

starrystarry wrote: »

The only bit of advice I can give is not to make a fuss of her before you go out, or when you get back. Try not to make it a big deal.

When you're about to leave the house it's tempting to try to reassure the dog (mummy won't be long etc etc) but the dog doesn't understand what you're saying, she'll just pick up on the sad tone in your voice. It's better to leave without saying anything, or if you do want to say goodbye to her do it in a firm voice. If she makes a fuss as you're leaving don't pay any attention, just walk out.

When you get back, again don't give her any attention if she jumps all over you. Don't let her know that you're as glad to see her as she is to see you. Make her sit down while you take your coat off etc, then reward her with a pat. The worst thing you can do is make a huge fuss of her.

sound advice, exactly what i would suggest

Fire_Fox

Have you asked Dog's Trust if they have a tame animal behaviourist that could give you some free advice? Have you checked to see if a behaviourist would be covered by your pet insurnace policy?

YorkiePud_3

I'm having the same problem with my little dog too ... I am trying a few things myself though, such as picking up my house keys at odd times through the day, maybe taking them into the room and putting them down then each time I go into the kitchen, picking them up and taking them back in there ... just to try and "desensitise" him to the sound of me picking the keys up (cos he knows that means I am going out and may be leaving him!)

I'm also putting my coat on through the day too ... this usually drives him berserk because he thinks he is going to be left. You feel a real fool doing it maybe ten or twelve times a day but as I say, it's just to try and desensitise them to whatever actions are the trigger for them to start getting worried and upset!

worriedmummy123

Hi this is all really good advice. I would certainly try Dogs Trust. I have 2 JRTs and I got a lot of help from an online JRT club. Not sure whether I am allowed to post a link or not but if you google Jack Russell Terrier it is one of the first to come up.

xxdeebeexx

Thank you. I phoned Dogs Trust this morning and she suggests that feeding, walking ,playing and 'telling off' are shared out between everyone in the family. Also she suggested that I should go out and leave the dog with the rest of the family and they play 'ball' with her while I am out.

She also suggested that I caged the dog during the day, for a few minutes, and go out of the room ,so that I am out of sight.

My husband fed her this morning and has walked her twice today. He told her to get down off the arm chair and she is now settled on the floor, in the hall, where she can see my husband in the kitchen (washing up, I might add!) and me, at the computer, in the lounge.

I have been more aloof today. I am desperate to fuss her but have decided that it might be better for her if I was to 'let go' too.

She has had company all day today, which probably isn't ideal. We might all have to walk around the block in a while.

The lady at Dogs Trust also suggested that I left her with a 'loaded' Kong when she is on her own. I would be terrified incase she choked on something. The squirty filling seems so expensive.

Dogs Trust lady thinks it could take several weeks/ months before the dog is completely relaxed since most rescued dogs have had awful experiences in their past and it makes them feel insecure.

Still, we have time. I go back to work next week, I'm out of the house for 2.5 hrs at a time. I hope things get better for her.

Thanks for all your suggestions,

Dx

foreign_correspondent

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Have you asked Dog's Trust if they have a tame animal behaviourist that could give you some free advice? Have you checked to see if a behaviourist would be covered by your pet insurnace policy?

I agree, please do make sure the animal behaviourist is tame - you dont want one of those wild ones - I mean, they may be good with dogs, but they come to your house, wreak havoc, swing on the curtains, and poop on the carpet! :rotfl:

Sorry, only kidding - but it is a good idea, I think the dogs trust do offer after care / behaviour / training advice...

I agree with getting everyone involved in looking after her, having fun, playing with her etc.. a kong is good, you dont have to use the paste, people stuff them with allsorts of things, and you can freeze them to make them slower to unpack and eat!

http://www.squidoo.com/kongrecipes

Do keep leaving her, if only for a minute or two at a time, so she gets used to the idea that you do come back, and don't make a fuss as you come and go at all - let it become really boring for her...

beachbeth

I had this trouble when I rescued a Cavalier. I didn't have any other dogs at the time and she attached herself to me and adored me. I left my video camera on when I went out to see how she coped. She paced up and down and whimpered the whole time and got herself quite distressed. I got her a crate which she loved and slept in there all the time. When I went out I would shut her in, make no fuss or talk to her whilst I put my coat on and got ready and she happily went to sleep whilst I was gone. I think she felt more secure in the crate than me just leaving her loose in the room.

If you did this you could shut your dog in the crate, ignore your dog whilst you get ready to go out and leave for a couple of minutes. Return, open the crate and carry on ignoring her with no eye contact. Once she is settled and no longer asking for your attention you can then call her to you and give fuss. This always works with my dogs.

Raksha

A word of warning about the 'ignore your dog when you go out/come in' remedies - for some really sensitive dogs, this can make things worse rather than better, as they start to believe they've done something wrong and get 'depressed'.