Separation Anxiety - barking

Jessw0

surely a dog wouldn't starve itself. I think we as owners are far too soft nowadays!
We feed our dog an hour after his morning walk at 8.30am and then an hour after his evening walk at 7.30pm, just to give you an idea.

gettingready

Been without internet for a whole week almost - some fault with the BT Line, only got it fixed now... HMmmm

Caroline_a

Oh I know that high pitched puppy squeak!! Took Oakley aaaages to grow out of it! Have to say I found ignoring him the best way, but oh goodness that was hard! I suggested to the lady with the beagle that she try to teach extended 'wait'... have a try with that one?

Tesco_points_addict

Hi and thanks for reading.

We rescued a terrior cross about three years ago. He was found in a distressed state tied up and abandoned:mad:. When we first home homed him the vet thought he was about 12 months old.

He is an adorable little chap, a lovable rouge perhaps:o

We have taken him to obedience lessons, took 6 months to learn how to sit:rotfl:

I know we are the problem, we spoilt him rotten when we first took him into our family as he had such a horrible start in life. He was obviously beaten as was petrified if we raised an arm/leg etc. and even when we removed our shoes:(.

The problem that we have now is his barking, if the phone rings he barks (constantly until we put it back down again) if the door bell goes he barks and turns in circles same if one of us gets up to go to the toilet.

Surely it cannot be good for him being this 'stressed'.

He is walked twice daily, fed twice daily on Iams dry food, is not overweight and generally fit and healthy other than fairly regular ear infections.

We also have a cat, if she jumps on our lap, he wants to be there, if she sits on the poffee, he wants to sit on it, if she drinks water, she wants to drink water..., and so on.

The other issue is the vet, he is petrified and has already bitten one:eek:. As soon as we get to the waiting room he starts shaking head to toe. We did change vets last year and he has been much better, they spender longer with him, allowing him to stay on the floor and genrally 'making friends'. He is due for his boosters this month, so fingers crossed.

TPA

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

poor little chap, have you tried DAP (dog appeasing pheremone) My last dog was a rescue and stressed over allsorts of things and this really worked for her, she used to wee when fireworks went off but after a few days with this she calmed right down. Worth a try. Also a bit of healthy ignoring her when giddy might work interspersed with lots of fuss and cuddles too

Tropez

There's a few possible options but none of them are truly guaranteed.

Often you are able to find specialist classes for dogs with anxiety or fear related behaviours such as barking, over-timidness and aggression. Your vet may know of such classes taking place in the local area. They're not necessarily cheap but if you have insurance that covers behaviour training then you can look into that, particularly if your vet recommends it.

Vets can also prescribe anti-anxiety medication but this will generally be a last resort and will only ever come about as the result of a long consultation with your vet.

One thing that you need to try and do is not go too overboard with the reassurances whenever the dog exhibits fear. While it is natural for you to comfort your dog and say "there, there" (or similar) the dog interprets this as justification that there was indeed a threat to it. Dogs need to realise for themselves that things that scare them are harmless to them.

Also, think of ways of distracting the dog when he is exhibiting undesirable behaviour, such as barking whilst you're on the phone. Toys, treats... anything of the sort. If there is something in particular that he loves, then you can reinforce that there is nothing to be afraid of by providing it when something occurs. E.g. the phone rings, he loves little bits of chicken... make a little bit available to him. He will learn not to associate the phone ringing with cause to be concerned over time. Similarly, you can try and desensitise him to certain sounds by using recordings to play them very quietly throughout the day until he gradually begins to become more comfortable with them.

dizziblonde

In a way you're a bit luckier than a friend of mine whose dog hated the phone ringing so took it upon themselves to lift the handset, drop the phone and wander off leaving it off the hook!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

We have a 2 year old jack Russell. He lives outside whilst were at work (tues 8-5, wed 8-5 thurs 9-2, am home rest of the time) but has a kennel, toys etc and a fenced off area to run around, My parents live round the corner and check on him 6/7 times a day - They can't take him to their house as they have a dog and the dogs don't get along. My dog prefers to be outside and will wreak havoc if left inside during the day.

We're in a terraced block. there are 5 houses in total. Neighbours A, B, C (me) and E, All of us have dogs except my neighbour D. I'm in third house, she's in fourth house so she's got dogs on either side of her.


Neighbour D is now complaining about my dog barking - not to me, but to other people! I asked about it and she informed me that her and neighbour F (this is one of her friends, who lives at the back of us) are sick of hearing my dog bark "constantly Day and night" and that if it carries on they'll report us. Now - I'm in after 5pm, I KNOW my dog doesn't bark after 5pm - 8am in the morning, as I'm there. My mum (who goes up 6/7 times a day) insists the dog doesn't bark, my aunty, who walks past my house has now started to stop and listen for the dog and doesn’t hear it. Neighbours A and B have told me the dog only barks when people are around - such as the window cleaner or if there's a cat about. Haven't seen neighbour E to ask but neighbour D is insisting neighbour E is complaining also.

Is there anything I can do to "prove" my dog doesn't bark constantly?

Luckily OH is off work for a while so can keep an eye (and ear) out but I'm worried about when he goes back to work.

Can anyone help and suggest ways to "prove" he doesn't bark ? (trying to rig a recorder up as we speak - well type!)

Caroline_a

I had a similar thing last year, with 2 very snotty women coming to the door, saying that Oakley was barking outside all day. Now... I don't leave him outside, and as I work fairly close to home I'd often come home and no sound at all when I approached the house, whatever time it was.

However, it did upset me... that is until I went to our local shop, told the lady there what had happened, and she said 'oh no it isnt your dog, its the one on the corner, I hear him all day long!'

The one smile I did get out of it was that when they had come to the door, I'd left him in the dining room door opening, with the command 'sit, stay'. These women rabbitted on and on, particularly about him being unruly and out of control. I opened the front door wider without a word, to show them my dog, sat patiently 10 feet away with no restraint, watching my every move. He still didnt move, even when one of the women went on about how beautiful he was.... his finest hour I feel! And additionally, bless him, he didnt move until after they had gone and I went back to him! :T

PS I think the recorder in the room the dog is in or a friendly neighbour is the only way you can prove though...

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I've been trying to train Benji but he isnt having it lol

If i say "sit" he will lay down!! He is part collie so i think thats where he gets it from.

I'll get a recorder going - thanks :T