My dog (one year old beagle) goes insane when I leave. I could walk out the door for 10 seconds and she starts crying, and when I come back in she's nearly foaming at the mouth. I've tried various methods that I have read about (put her in her cage for a short period, let her out and then leave her in there longer, same thing with leaving the house), but nothing seems to work. I know it takes patience, but we've been doing the same exercises for three months. From what I've read, when a dog has a severe case of separation anxiety they need behavioral therapy from a trained dog therapist or medication. Am I way off here or do I need to talk to my vet about this?
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
- Thread starter rustjs1
- Start date
marc3039
25+ Posts
Get a second dog.
That's what I did.
They become companions ... before you know it she won't even know you're gone.
If you have a yard, I recommend it.
Two dogs are easier than one in my experience.
I realize the idea isn't practical for everyone ... but just throwing out ideas.
That's what I did.
They become companions ... before you know it she won't even know you're gone.
If you have a yard, I recommend it.
Two dogs are easier than one in my experience.
I realize the idea isn't practical for everyone ... but just throwing out ideas.
scottsins
1,000+ Posts
if you do a search WAY back, i had a thread w/pics of the extensive damage done by my dog from sep. anx.
We moved to a house with a backyard, and when we leave him inside now, no problem at all.
you need to exercise the **** out of your dog. it will be time consuming, but your dog and you will be happier.
We tried medications, behavioral threapy, etc.
that or you can call that "dog whisperer" guy on the nat'l geographic channel.
We moved to a house with a backyard, and when we leave him inside now, no problem at all.
you need to exercise the **** out of your dog. it will be time consuming, but your dog and you will be happier.
We tried medications, behavioral threapy, etc.
that or you can call that "dog whisperer" guy on the nat'l geographic channel.
She gets a ton of exercise as I thought that could be the problem initially. She has caused a lot of damage from trying to get out of her crate. Thanks for the tips guys. Getting a second dog isn't really an option right now because I rent, so I guess I'll put my call into "The Whisperer".
Touchdown_Texas
500+ Posts
I've got an australian shepherd...same deal...
RichUT
250+ Posts
We're working with a Dog Trainer at the moment on different issues, but she is pretty much an expert at behavior modification from what we can tell so far.
She mentioned ignoring the dog for the last 20 minutes you are home and the first 20 minutes you return as a good way to cope with seperation anxiety. Your case might be more severe, but it could be worth a shot.
If you are in the Austin area, you should check into her for training:
The Link
She mentioned ignoring the dog for the last 20 minutes you are home and the first 20 minutes you return as a good way to cope with seperation anxiety. Your case might be more severe, but it could be worth a shot.
If you are in the Austin area, you should check into her for training:
The Link
I definitely second the clam exit/calm entrance routine. Your leaving and coming home should be as unimportant as possible.
That being said, I have something of a routine when I leave that has helped my dog a lot. I always have him get up on the couch (I don't crate him) and I scratch his head and say quietly, "I'll be back. Be a good boy."
I used to crate him when I first got him and he apparently really hated it- he broke the door off twice and ate a hole in the side of it trying to escape. Each time he would break out I'd come home and he hadn't damaged anything, so I just quit crating him. I now just leave the door off (since it's broken anyway) and he goes in there to hang out when he wants to.
Most other people will tell you to slowly acclimate your dog to being alone. Do whatever you do in preparation to leave to the point that your dog starts to exibit signs of anxiety- pacing, whining, sticking to you, whatever. Then stop and repeat the process until she's cool with it. At that point you can progress further until she gets anxious again. Eventually you will be able to go outside the apartment for a few minutes at a time, working up to several hours. This, of course, is in the ideal situation when the dog behaves predictably.
You can also try giving the dog a treat or favorite toy everytime you leave so the dog will associate you leaving with not so negative of an experience. There are several websites that can help you with this and also books. I have a lot of dog books that each mention separation anxiety in dogs.
That being said, I have something of a routine when I leave that has helped my dog a lot. I always have him get up on the couch (I don't crate him) and I scratch his head and say quietly, "I'll be back. Be a good boy."
I used to crate him when I first got him and he apparently really hated it- he broke the door off twice and ate a hole in the side of it trying to escape. Each time he would break out I'd come home and he hadn't damaged anything, so I just quit crating him. I now just leave the door off (since it's broken anyway) and he goes in there to hang out when he wants to.
Most other people will tell you to slowly acclimate your dog to being alone. Do whatever you do in preparation to leave to the point that your dog starts to exibit signs of anxiety- pacing, whining, sticking to you, whatever. Then stop and repeat the process until she's cool with it. At that point you can progress further until she gets anxious again. Eventually you will be able to go outside the apartment for a few minutes at a time, working up to several hours. This, of course, is in the ideal situation when the dog behaves predictably.
You can also try giving the dog a treat or favorite toy everytime you leave so the dog will associate you leaving with not so negative of an experience. There are several websites that can help you with this and also books. I have a lot of dog books that each mention separation anxiety in dogs.
Sgt. Longhorn
100+ Posts
Considering that dogs are pack animals and consequently being alone is an unnatural state for them, it's a wonder that they all don't have it.
I was concerned about it when I got my dogs so I decided to get two. Mine happen to be siblings, male and female. Cuts down on dominance games a little and they love to play together.
I was concerned about it when I got my dogs so I decided to get two. Mine happen to be siblings, male and female. Cuts down on dominance games a little and they love to play together.
NameAlreadyInUse
500+ Posts
I got two dogs last time around too. They are siblings as well.
One of them is a picky eater and takes twice as long to eat. The other one is the dominant one so I have to feed them separately. The picky one is super worried the whole time he's without his pack mate, but he's fine just as soon as they are back together again.
As long as they are together and can run around and play, neither one of them cares all that much if I decide its time to leave the house. That's definitely a good thing.
One of them is a picky eater and takes twice as long to eat. The other one is the dominant one so I have to feed them separately. The picky one is super worried the whole time he's without his pack mate, but he's fine just as soon as they are back together again.
As long as they are together and can run around and play, neither one of them cares all that much if I decide its time to leave the house. That's definitely a good thing.
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