Jellyblush

Yep - inner West is great for dog parks, beaches etc too. Try Williams RE in Williamstown - they assume a place is pet friendly unless the landlord specifically asks that it not be - I know because I've rented out a place there before (dog friendly of course!).

That is such a sweet post! And the pig scenario has definitely happened! She is in total command of all toys in the house. Of which there are many, we go to the $2 shop together every Satruday morning on the way to get my coffee, she chooses a new one from the stand outside. Spoilt much?! Silly little muppet is asleep on my feet right now. She has a red raw snout from who knows what sort of anxious scratching at it. But is snoring away happily. Since you have been so sweet about the pics here is my favourite mum and Roo pic :) and Roo & a very surprised looking little friend Roo-dolph :)

oh and as to why this thread on separation anxiety has so many posts - it is clearly cos my dog is so cute :laugh:

Hi everyone, just popping in quickly to clear up any confusion regarding possibly finding the thread overwhelming - I find ROO overwhelming, but not this thread! People have been wonderful with both encouragement and practical support, most especially Nekh but also so many others and I HUGELY appreciate it. I love this thread, it means a great deal to me to be able to share Roo's improvements or have people sympathise over her setbacks, I have absolutely no support in the actual world, none of my friends have dogs, and frankly, they all question my grasp on reality for caring so much about mine. Without this thread both Roo and I would be in a much worse place, there is no doubt. So, I really would not like to see it either closed or deleted. On the other hand, it is very upsetting to see Nekh questioned when she has helped me purely out of kindness. Both Nekh and I know Roo. A commitment to Nekh's advice and methods has been made - yes I'm very aware that there are other views and perspectives, and yes I originally came in here asking for some of those, but I have tried most if not all alternative approaches without success. I would like to see this thread support Nekh as much as it does me, rather than question her or her methods. At the end of the day she is a person who is freely giving her time and attention to help me and my dog as best she can for no gain to herself.

Rosetta, she's been on it five weeks now.

she IS gorgeous!! Here's one of her with her Dad, he who moved to the UK and left me to deal with the mental one on my own. Too cool for school.

I also wanted to especially thank Tdierikx, Woofnhoof, Hankdog, Snook and Sheridan for your comments over the last day or so. In one way or another you have all especially made me feel supported and encouraged. Hankdog, I'm sorry to hear about your dogs problems How can creatures so adorable be so mental!!

Woah.... what happened in here?! Extra pages appeared from nowhere! As ever thank you so much to all of you for your support and kind words. Many different perspectives in this thread, however I know each of them is put forward in kindness and with Roo's best interests at heart, so thank you. I have never been offended by any suggestion to put Roo to sleep - the reason I came to this forum was to see what genuine dog lovers and dog experts think is a reasonable way forward, and so it is as helpful to hear that as anything else. I see Roo every day feel I do a pretty good job of assessing her quality of life. When I began to post here, it was not high, she was anxious as often as not. Now, through a mix of medication, some moderate behavioural change, and daycare, she is anxious for a much much much smaller fraction of her life. I know there will be some of you that think any anxiety at all is too much, and unfair to her, while others will think a loved, happy dog for 80% of the time is a dog worth keeping around. In the end it is me that has to decide. What I am not as good at, is drawing that same line for myself. I often feel trapped by my life revolving around Roo, Greymate is right in this. However, again, the extent to which I care more for Roo than I do for myself is also up to me. Anyway, as far as I can see there is one thing I haven't tried, and that is Nekh's training program without medication. Other training programs have not worked, but have been markedly different to Nekhs in ways I won't go into, and medication has not worked in the long term, except to make me broke, it has worked pretty well for that! I intend to discuss weaning off the meds with my behaviourist (I do not think this will be welcomed but still...) and give it a shot. Wish us luck, and thank you all again. Here's a pic for the Roo-lovers :)

Also - that's a big YES to listening to Nekh. There's gotta be an answer that isn't 5 day a week daycare or high levels of tranqs. Just has to be.

okay okay :) here come the pics. Roo seemed ok alone today. I guess like anyone with a mental illness she has good and bad days?! Tomorrow daycare again so that's a relief. Houseguests this weekend so hopefully that doesn't unsettle her. Roo with her favourite prawn :) Roo & mum Roo on the hunt for breakfast!

A thundershirt? Only about $35 and they do help some dogs. Otherwise food dispensing toys or a DAP collar?

Hi guys. Thanks for checking in on us :) Sorry for the lack of updates. Things have not been going that well to be honest. Roo did seem a little better her first couple of days home alone in the backyard after the clomicalm kicked in, but then regressed again. The vet behaviourist has recommended another drug that could be used in combination with the clomicalm if need be, trazodone, and gave me a sample. I declined to use it, as I'm not even happy about the clomicalm and would really prefer Roo wasn't medicated - anyway, I did ended up trying it but it didn't help anyway. I've attached some pics of Roo on a dose of clomicalm plus the trazodone - I came home to found she torn her nails, scratched her neck till it bled, bitten her leg till it bled, and broken another tooth. As well as my heart. I sent these pics to her vet, who seems to think it's the end of the road. I still think it is worth working really hard on the new stronger crate. I've been doing short absences and am still working on that. I mean short though, up to 15 minutes. No escapes yet. I've been away seeing my brother and nephew in Perth (Roo is with my best friend, who works from home) so haven't spoken to Nekh for a while. Thanks again for reading and your support and interest in us both.

Don't worry it's not my current daycare - Roo didn't go back after that. Council actually ended up shutting them down..

I was MORTIFIED. Was all unsure about sensitivity of replacing guinea pig so took her flowers and cupcakes instead....

She would eat a ferret friend in two seconds flat. I provide as evidence for this a report she once got from daycare:

Thanks for asking Harley :) Not sure really. Crate stuff continues, lots of shorter absences in the new crate kindly donated by someone reading this thread - people are amazing. It is a strong one and I've put those clip things all over it. No escape yet but I've not tried a full day. Roo is currently 2 x daycare, 1 x either I work at home or she goes to a mate, and 2 x in the backyard on her meds. Backyard is not going so well tbh. Here is her little leg when I got home tonight: Bit of Roo-chew! Not sure what to do except keep at the crate-work really. She clearly isn't loving the two backyard days...but...kind of out of options. She gets a run before I leave, I've left a stack of boxes out there for her to rip into as well (good tip from this thread!) but it doesn't really seem to be helping...

You have TWENTY ferrets?!?! No wonder one psycho little bullie x doesn't phase you!

Yaaaaaaay :) That made me so happy! Thanks for posting. P.s. Peanut is the cutest

Tell me about it!! :laugh: Don't worry Greymate, Nekh is looking after me very well and I know is at the end of the phone if I have a question. I was just worried I'd gone a bit fast, and made her dislike the crate, but actually don't think the crate is the issue now - think it is the 'buzz' of the escape. The fact that Roo is currently chilling in said crate by choice adds weight to that. Someone very generous who shall remain nameless has offerred me a much stronger crate, which I will pick up as soon as possible, and we will see how that goes. Which seems like a good time to thank all of you for the constant support and many very practical offers of help I've had - so kind from people I've never met! Amazing. Wish us luck!!

Thanks that's a great explanation, and I do get it...it just doesn't seem to be working out for Roo or I'm not doing it right. She did stay in all day on Monday but every time since then including tonight, even though only short practice stays, she's gone mental and busted out of it. I must be doing something wrong or going too fast, I'm trying to mix up the durations and not giving her much the rest of the time, she has her food in there and she hangs out in there when I'm home, so I don't know....

Oh my gosh Nekh, that last photo is adorable! Hard not to forgive a furry little snout like that :) That must be my problem, way too much of a sucker for a big pair of gooey eyes! Cheers everyone for the input on the crates. Here's this thing - I have a perfectly secure backyard. My issue with leaving Roo in it is that shes injured all her teeth chewing on the steel doors. So, if I get a really strong steel crate, I dunno....how is that different? She might as well be in the backyard? Unless the crate thing is the hope that eventually she will just have a light bulb moment and like it, which, if so (and Nekh says so on the weekend or before) then I'll keep at it. Otherwise, I might as well save my money and go back to the backyard. She was in the backyard today and the video footage was great, no panic. I put stuff she hates all over the backdoors (another good bit of Nekh advice) just happened to be her calming paste so haha doubly good effect if she licks it off! Anyway she was cool, hung out, played with her toys and slept in her kennel. JUST LIKE A NORMAL DOG lol! Daycare tomorrow. Really liking Ka-pooch, that was a good move.

Hey everyone, sorry if I've confused you - Roo has not gone through three crates. She has managed to get out of one not overly strong one. The reference to three is the number I will have purchased for her IF I buy another stronger one. Greymate, I do understand your point, and agree that improvements must be seen in a reasonable time period. I have a timeframe in mind which I have discussed with my vet behaviourist, and wish to discuss with Nekh when I see her on the weekend as well, remember Roo is also on a new medication which I do not expect is working at it's full capacity yet since she's only been on it 11 days. When Roo's anxious moments are greater than her happy moments it will be time to pts. With my current arrangements for her care she is crated a total of under 20 hours per week. That leaves a lot of very happy time EVEN IF you assume she's anxious every second she's in the crate, which I don't. One bust out of the crate in the first 10 days of crate training is not the end of the story for me and thanks very much to Sheridan for your comments :) I think I may have gone too fast. I also crated her too soon after eating (i.e. she had energy). Remember also that I videoed her. She did not exhibit any particular signs of anxiety in the video aside from exiting the crate. The lip licking, quivering etc were not present. I am encouraged by this.

I know the shelter where I got my dog calls any bull breed a kelpie cross if they can get away with it, for easier adoption. Maybe this is why?

Thanks guys, those vebopet ones look good and deliery to Vic isn't too bad; still only half of what I paid at Petstock for the Kramar one! The c crates look good too JRG but have a wait on them, I think I need something stronger now. This will be my third crate in 10 days....is that excessive?!

Oh! she is beautiful! But her poor little teeth Do you think she has a happy life now? I hope you are all right. Roo didn't seem in particular distress on the video. Just determined. Where would I get a stronger crate do you think ? I've only seen versions of that one I've got online and in pet shops. I will definitely be trying the leash hook and cable tie idea. I'll do a bit more practice tomorrow.