Housebound due to dog's separation/isolation anxiety

gettingready

Zara is very clever.

As some of you may remember she is very dog reactive which is another issue.

Where we lived before we had massive open fields/woods so it was easy to walk and simply avoid stressful situations.

Where we are now it is a regular large park and a lot of off lead dogs (Zara is always on a lead here unless we are in one large open part and there is no dogs).

She picked on "look at me=treat" within minutes and dogs can pass very close to her now with no problems. Unless some dog runs straight at her face which is another issue as some owners ignore seeing me having her on a lead and in sit position looking at me and me holding a treat and do not call their dogs back = but that is completely other issue.

So clearly she is clever and got me under her paw

gettingready

https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-problems/dog-barks-left-alone/

Leave for a brief period of time. Just a minute or two to start out with. If you wait for an elevator, ring for it and get in. Go one floor down and come back up using the stairs. Wait 1-2 minutes. If the dog has not barked, return and gently praise. If you hear him begin to bark, mark the behavior by a sharp rap on the door with a solid object like a brass key ring and start timing again. Each time the dog barks, rap on the door and set the timer back to zero. It may take a half hour to get 1-2 minutes of silence. When you do, go in and praise. Leave 15-30 minutes later and repeat.

The underlined bit is the bit I was clearly missing - homework for tomorrow.

Question though - if I leave Zara locked in the back room, which door do I rap on? My main door or the back room door? Hmmm

Person_one

I don't like that bit of advice at all GR. it does nothing to actually ease the dog's anxiety, just punishes them for expressing it. You might get a quiet dog (though I doubt it) but you won't get a relaxed calm happy dog.

Stick with what you're doing, the gradual build up of time away and the association of you leaving with delicious treats.

gettingready

So what do I do if she does start barking then?

Jackieboy

I totally sympathise. The rescue dog I adopted last year is like this and I can't go anywhere without her in the car with me, which meant I was housebound all last summer.

At least I don't go to work any more and she's now 13, otherwise I don't know what I would do. I'll read the advice you get and see if it helps me but just wanted to post to say I really understand.

bouicca21

When I had a dog and had to leave him I used to put all his toys in a bucket, including a Kong, and lace the bucket with treats. To get his treats he had to upend the bucket and start looking. He got really good at it. I also had one of those push around toys that dribbles treats out as it moves.

I think it's important that you return before barking or howling begins, otherwise it's rewarding the wrong behaviour. And then keep increasing the time.

Good luck.

gettingready

Thanks - still, what is she does start barking before I return or when I am just outside?

Jackieboy

Oh, and if you haven't tried it, the occasional use of Calmivet can be a lifesaver.

Person_one

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks - still, what is she does start barking before I return or when I am just outside?

You aren't going to leave it that long! You're going to stretch the time ever so slowly.

If she does bark just wait for a pause then go back in but without any praise, and don't wait quite so long next time.

Don't go back in instantly after she barks, you don't want her to make the association that barking makes you come back.

gettingready

So I just stay outside the flat? Otherwise will not hear if she is barking or not.

I live in a conversion now so there is main door into the house, small hallway and then the door to my flat. Then the back room is at the end of an L shaped hallway inside. I will have to lock her in the back room as if I let her have the run of the house she sill see me from the front room window.

(scratching head)