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My dog has really, really bad separation anxiety?

Our Dog Has Separation Anxiety! - Help?

  • Hello, We have a dog, Buddy, and he is a great dog. Very gentle and cuddly, loves everyone and everything and wouldn't hurt a fly. But there's one problem that he has developed over the four odd years we've had him (we got him when he was six) and that is: Separation Anxiety. He is very attached to my Mum and just tonight we went out for dinner for maybe an hour. Our puppy Chewi was locked in the bathroom and he didn't make a puddle or anything. Buddy had a much bigger room fenced off for him, but some how he slipped past the fence and had free-range throughout the house. He piddled next to my Mum's bed, but sometimes he will actually pee ON the bed! The thing is that I can understand why he does this, while my parents do not. They tell him off, sometimes Buddy will get his faced rubbed in it, one time Buddy even had to endure three entire days outside with only a pet bed and water (with his usual meals of course). I try to explain to my Mum that these accidents are the cause of Separation Anxiety but it does not seem relevant to her. I feel so bad for Buddy, I have tried to get my parents to read a website on this but still - nothing. Help me! Any advice or tips? Also, he is a ten-year-old Havanese (possibly X). We got him free off a man who could not handle him any longer, as they also had another dog who was becoming jealous. He was previous bought as a puppy as a present, then given away to a man who abused him. Then Buddy was taken off the abusive man by a friend, and then he came to us. Thanks for any replies! *Chance*

  • Answer:

    Hi Chance, It sounds like you love Buddy and your Havanese very much and it is great that you are seeking a solution for Buddy. It is really tough to have a dog pee in your house. I had my maltese pup pee on my carpets for 7 years before I finally found a solution. Some "old school" people will tell you to put her nose in it or hit him. This is insane and cruel for the same reason you would not take a baby's diaper off and stuff their face in the diaper - neither the baby or the dog understands why you would do that! Hitting him will not help for this same reason. Perhaps if you told your mother this - she would better understand that she should not put Buddy's face in his accidents. Okay - so putting Buddy's face in the accident and banishing him to outside is what wont' help. But the good news is there are some easy techniques that you can use to actually help him not get mad at you for leaving him at home AND break his bad habit. First, WHEN YOU ARE AWAY, continue to keep him in a crate or a confined area on tile floors (with a soft bed for her to lay on). The small area is not meant to be cruel - it is a safe place for him. Dogs need dens much like children like to have their own rooms. If it is just big enough for him to stand, turn around, and snuggle in - he wont' pee there but he will feel safe. Make sure he has breaks so that he is not forced to hold his pee so long that he cannot hold it and has an accident in his "bedroom/crate". He doesn't want to do this anymore than you don't want him to do that. You can have him wear a "belly band" in case he gets out and tries to pee in your house - it will catch the pee like a diaper and there won't actually be any pee to clean up! Put an absorbant pad inside or use the disposable Wiki-Wags ones for real convenience. WHEN YOU ARE HOME, keep him close and under constant supervision so you can catch him trying to pee in the house. There is a device called The Housebreaker that is safe and he can wear it inside a belly band to alert you immediately as soon as he tries to pee inside your house. You will be able to correct the misbehavior immediately and take him outside. The added bonus is there won't be any pee on your floors since the diaper catches the attempted accident before it make it to your floors. You can check it out at http://www.TheHousebreaker.com Now your mom wont' have any of the accidents to get mad about AND you will housebreak buddy once and for all! I hope this helps you out! Take Care, xoxo

*Chance* at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Other answers

really the only thing you can do is make the dog like having time to himself. think about when he spends time alone... take this time away from him and give it to him when you need to.

Qw Tulip

He needs regular exercise and a "job" to do. Like walking with a weight bag they make for dogs.

Dan

What a wimp, leave him alone loads and the woos will get used to it

Ted

He's 10. This means he's getting quite elderly, and it's quite possible that he's losing some of his faculties - sight, hearing. This in turn could well mean he's more reliant on your mum being there for him. When she's not, he's reacting. And this is quite understandable. Shutting him outside for three days is sooooooooooooooooo cruel. Your mum must have no heart if she can do this to any dog, never mind an oldie like this! You might also consider whether there's physical reason for him peeing more often than previously. UTIs are quite common in dogs, and easily treated, if recognised. Collect some of his urine and get your vet to run a urinalysis to confirm what's going on. Your poor boy has had such a hard life - he deserves some understanding in his old age. ps Would it be possible to have two crates for your two dogs - so at least when you all have to go out, they can be in their crates next to one another - it won't be helping that the puppy is shut somewhere other than where your old boy is, even if you can't leave them actually together yet. Perhaps your old dog hears your puppy crying, which is upsetting for him too.

Verulam

If your Mom won't listen then there is probably nothing you can do about it. Telling off a dog after the fact means absolutely nothing to the dog, but since you aren't the one in charge of the situation, she probably won't listen to you. If you can get her to read this, it might help, but don't count on it. http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/separation-anxiety-in-dogs.html You might explain that I'm a Behavior Consultant as well as a competition obedience trainer and handler for 40+years. Print off the article and ask her politely to please read it.

Marianne, UDX,OTCH Shelties

Well for a start you need to help your mum realise the problem. And the best other thing I would suggest would be to contact a dog behaviouralist. Otherwise you need to help him to realise that being left isn't such a bad thing, a good long walk before leaving him alone to release any pent up energy should help, also for mine I give her a big rawhide chew to help her pass the time. Another thing to help him get used to it would be to shut him up while you are still in the house so he gets used to it and should be more relaxed with you still being there. I'm currently doing this with my new collie pup and it's proving to be working.

Hannah

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