Dog advice needed.

[rich62_uk]

We got our bitch from Balmore over a year ago aged six months. She had been kept in a shed from what we could gather but has matured into a great family dog with only one problem, she poos and wees and cries whenever we go out and leave her !

Help !

Rich....

[blondscot]

It seems like she has seperation anxiety!! Have you tired leaving the radio or telly on when you go out ? or you could try recording your own voice and leave that playing which should help calm her!
How long is she left on her own? Does she have plenty of toys etc to keep her amused? you could also try one of them ball that you put treats into and she has to work with it to get them out which will keep her mind occupied!
But much depends on the dog and yourself and how you interact when you are at home, there are a few methods that may help but it will take time and patience!

[emb123]

It seems like she has seperation anxiety!! Have you tired leaving the radio or telly on when you go out ? or you could try recording your own voice and leave that playing which should help calm her!
How long is she left on her own? Does she have plenty of toys etc to keep her amused? you could also try one of them ball that you put treats into and she has to work with it to get them out which will keep her mind occupied!
But much depends on the dog and yourself and how you interact when you are at home, there are a few methods that may help but it will take time and patience!

I agree - we obviously think on the same lines

I used to know a Jack Russell who ate a flat, basically. She ate the carpets, the furniture the curtains, the ornaments, the doors etc etc. Handled in the wrong way it will get worse.

I came across this site and there is some excellent advice here:

http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm

good luck! Sounds like she is getting so much of your love and fuss and cuddles and attention when you're around that being without you is just unbearable.

You need to put a bit of distance there - like a person who tells you they love you and you like them back but you're not sure you're ready to declare 'love' just yet.

You can turn up the warmth again once she's calmed down and got used to the fact that there are times when you need to be absent and her job is to live with it without going crazy.

It's not an easy problem to fix. What the Americans call 'crate training' (Google) would probably help too.

best of luck!

[rich62_uk]

Thank you for the advice, we are going to try leaving her with one of my tops and the TV on, we only ever leave her for short times (school runs etc) but no matter how short we always come home to a surprise. She also has a ball to play with and always a nice bone from the butchers which she usess alot when we are here.

We are also going to try ignoring her for a bit and see how that goes. If we have to we will resort to a kennel in the house we really dont want to do this but if we have to we will.

Thank you, will let you know how we get on in a week or two.

Rich....

Thank you for the pms too .

[porshiepoo]

Just wondering what happens in the run up to you leaving her?
Do you feel so guilty about it that you make a big fuss of her?

You could try a crate. I used to think it was cruel to crate them but now I wouldn't be without one. They're only needed for a short time and they really work. It gives you a place to put your dog while she gets used to being alone and dogs will not poo or pee where they sleep - not if they can possibly help it. It prevents the chewing as well. If she howls or cries at first, cover the cage with a blanket. You'll be amazed how they end up taking themselves off to their cage just to have a nap.
It's your peace of mind too.

Other than that I would suggest that before you go out don'y make a fuss of her, as bad as you feel for her don't make a big thing of it.

We had a german shepherd puppy once that obliterated our kitchen. i had no idea what to do about it back then and at the time I thought cages were cruel.
That german shepherd wouldn't chew a thing now and the best bit is that it can be done without getting fraught and cheesed off. Everyones happy!

[rich62_uk]

Well heres the update I said I would give you.

We tried all the things advised and nothing worked so in the end we bought a cage, placed her double quilt into it and gave her a bone from the butchers, she RAN into the cage and didnt come out for half an hour .

Tonight we are going to wait untill the children are in bed and go and have a coffee in the garden letting her think we have gone out by moving the car.

Fingers crossed.

Rich.