Housebound due to dog's separation/isolation anxiety

Fosterdog

gettingready wrote: »

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

Just go back inside and ignore her until she is calm then go back a step. You know she can do ten minutes, don't suddenly jump up to say thirty minutes.

Tomorrow morning go out for ten minutes don't set her up to fail by leaving her any longer first thing, you know she can do that and give her lots or praise when you get back if she has been quiet. Maybe early afternoon leave her for twelve minutes, if she's calm then great you have added two minutes on to the time she can be left, if she barks next time go back to ten minutes. Early evening go out again, either ten or twelve minutes depending on the earlier outcome. Late evening go out once more for the same.

Four times a day shouldn't be too much for her.

Day two, twelve minutes if you can if not ten first thing. If you are now up to twelve minutes the late morning/early afternoon one try fifteen minutes. If that is OK late afternoon try eighteen minutes, then on to twenty.

Don't add on more than five minutes at a time for the first few days or you will be back to square one. Any time she barks the next training session rolls back to the last time she could cope with. Always start the morning on a shorter wait for her so you don't stress her too much for your training sessions the rest of the day.

I had a strange foster dog with SA, she didn't like me going out in normal clothes. I think it was all too unpredictable for her and she would bark, pee and poo, get very destructive and just generally be a very stressed out dog. But she was fine when I went to work, she recognised my morning routine when getting ready for work and probably recognised my uniform and she would just lay down on the sofa to sleep, she would still be there fast asleep when I got home from work. We filmed her on a webcam and she really didn't move all day. It's almost as if she knew I was going to a certain place and would be gone for a set amount of time and as soon as I got home she would get to go for a long walk. Days I was off work were unpredictable, she didn't know if I was just going to the shops for ten minute, going out for a few hours or leaving her forever, it's like she had no reference point to know when I'd be back.

gettingready

Taking notes, pen paper step by step from tomorrow. Zara fast asleep on the sofa and I KNOW if I leave the room now and go to the back and even go to sleep myself- she will not move.. sighhhhh

gettingready

Big thanks to everyone for your posts. Really appreciate all input.

Caroline_a

I'm sure that the answer is bit by bit as you have started doing. I've had 2 issues with dogs barking. The first was my old Dane who was deaf from birth. She would bark when we went out, but of course couldnt hear herself barking. Unfortunately everybody else could. I bought her one of those citronella collars that spray when the dog barks. Came home that day, the house smelt lovely and lemoney, citronella cannister empty, dog still barked. She eventually grew out of it - luckily my neighbours all worked during the day, so nobody complained.

The other one was about a year after I got Oakley. Neighbour came round reading the riot act that he'd been barking all day. I was fairly sure he hadn't been. Neighbour was adament until other neighbour pointed out that it was a dog 3 doors down....

Doesn't help you at all GR, but I thought it might make you smile :-)

bouicca21

And ideally you leave Zara something to do, like a treat ball, so she associates you going with something good, plus something distracting. I used to leave the radio on too - pop music seemed to be wrong, possibly the beat was too much? So he got classic fm, which seemed to relax him.

gettingready

Unfortunately Zara does not eat or drink when I am not at home - she ignores any food/treats left for her.

Person_one

gettingready wrote: »

Unfortunately Zara does not eat or drink when I am not at home - she ignores any food/treats left for her.

Even fresh chicken? Stinky liver treats?

gettingready

Yup. Even liver or kidneys (i boil those for her) that she normally loves. She is not keen on chicken at all.

I am just looking at various kong type of thingys as after the move can not find the king we have (somewhere)but considering she does not eat when alone that may be pointless..

johannalf88

We got a Kong Wobbler for our dog- he now practically chases us out the house in the morning for work- he is so excited for it! Might be worth taking a look as it is different from the normal kongs.

gettingready

Had the wobbler kong before - lasted Zara 10 minutes hahahah She is LARGE girl

I am looking at the toughest Kong but as I mentioned - I doubt she will be interested in whatever I stuff in it as she really does not eat or drink at all when I am not at home