Help! I Have An Escape Artist

[Purple Julie]

Okay, I'd like some advice from the behaviour experts here.

Jyra has dug her way out of our garden and to the streets two days in a row. Click here for more details. Read the first post by me, then there is an extra post further down about the second escape episode.

We think we have now got her exit place sealed up, so hopefully it won't happen again.

But she will still get herself into the garage, fortunately she can only open the back garage door and not the front one and we don't think she will be able to open that one ever.

Ok, so what is the cause of this behaviour? These are the options:

1. Boredom

2. Separation anxiety

3. Sooking about being outside and not inside

Re: point number 3. Today mum was out in the backyard and Jyra wouldn't go outside to be in her company. Jyra is reluctant to go outside when we leave the house. In the past I have left her alone inside for several hours with no issues or damage to the house. (My parents do not wish to keep her inside when there is no-one home though).

I'm not sure what separation anxiety would look like, but I don't really think it is that.

Re: point 1. She is five, why hasn't she got out before? My Dad does walk her regularly. I gave her a good walk and obedience on Sunday.

I'm considering 1 and 3 as the real options, but I don't really know what to do. More obedience and walks has been suggested, or new toys outside, or a marrow bone cut in half lengthways to keep her occupied. I have a kong, but she doesn't really get enthused much by it.

ETA: I don't live at home during the week. I am studying and living on campus, I have been there all year. I go home on weekends and school holidays. If it's me she's missing, this should have started earlier in the year.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Purple Julie

[Staff'n'Toller]

I read your post in general...or wherever it is....and it sounds like classic separation anxiety to me.

Are you modifying your routines or does she watch you get ready for Uni/work everyday and then being put outside as you leave?

Are you leaving her with environmental enrichment when you go out? Kongs, buster cube, bones, chewies etc etc?

I think the fist step would be a Vet Check if she has only just started digging out of the yard, but I can remember you speaking about her doing damage to the garage trying to get in, in the past. So from what you have said the anxiety is in her history.

Mel.

[Purple Julie]

SnT, see the edit, in response to MY routines.

Jyra doesn't get overly excited when I do go home and I ignore her if she does and only give her attention when she settles.

My Dad's routine is pretty regular as he works full-time. My mum is retired and she doesn't really have a regular routine, in and out various times. She is home the most, but Jyra loves Dad more.

Jyra knows when people are leaving the house and sometimes she would go and stand at the door to be let out, other times she will try to melt into the furniture and sook about going outside.

She has a rope toy in the yard which she doesn't play with much. I mentioned bones and kongs in my original post. But no, not really many toys in the yard.

ETA: Why get a vet check? What would we be looking for in that?

Also, I have asked my mum to fill Jyra's kong with mince and freeze it. Then after it is frozen, when they go out next, they can give her the frozen kong. Hopefully that will keep her entertained and keep her mind off other activities that she shouldn't be doing.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Purple Julie

[Purple Julie]

The latest update is that Mum left out a food toy for Jyra when she went out today, then she came home half-way through her meeting to check up on Jyra. She parked on the street and quietly entered the house so that Jyra didn't hear her come home. Mum looked out the window, and there Jyra was, at the small gate sticking her head through it, whining and doing all she could to try and open it. (Jumping fences only seems to occur to Jyra when she is chasing something!). Jyra has started off playing with the toy when Mum left. Mum returned after an hour and found her doing this.

She is fine when left inside by herself. She doesn't even want to go outside when mum is out the back and the doors are left open.

I am taking her to the vet tomorrow for a check, but I think she is perfectly healthy and it is probably a behaviour issue.

[Cosmolo]

How much time does she spend outside when people are home? Is she always inside with your mum and dad?

[Purple Julie]

She is usually inside when people are home. I don't think she spends a lot of time outside by herself when we are home.