Seperation Anxiety - Another Question

[Michelleva]

Hi Guys,

Some of you may remember me, I have a rescue cav that lived his first 7 years outside, before becoming a much loved member of our family. We've had some behavioural issues, which has improved greatly in the past few months.

Our biggest issue we had with Jake is that he despised being outside and would bark continuously demanding to be let back inside with the family. This problem has almost been rectified now. I can put him outside and leave him there for a short while and he will be relaxed and calm. I've even seen him acting like a dog and barking at the little dog on the otherside of the fence, with his tail wagging happily.

The only problem we seem to have now is, he will still bark if he's outside and he can no longer see me. I have to say though, the barking is maybe 25% of what it was 3 months ago. I've taken on the leadership role, and now he has to play by my rules. I now decide when he goes out, when he comes in, when he's allowed to sit on the couch, etc. In the beginning these descisions were 100% made by Jake. Simply by being a better leader, he's learnt to cope and accept that he will be allowed back inside.

Where I am now, Jake can't see me, and he is letting out the occasional yap, but if I leave him he will get more worked up. When he gets to that state, he starts running to the laundry door and looking for me there. I try to avoid letting him get to that worked up state.

I'm after some more suggestions, to help him stay calm whether he can see me or not. Like I said I'm very proud, we've both worked really hard over the last few months and had some major successes, I think this is the final hurdle.

Thanks in advance.

[percyk]

i think it's timing it right

like if hes barking you cant let him in cos youre rewarding him

so you have to wait and invite him in BEFORE he starts to bark- that way he doesnt associate the barking with ' oh good theyre gonna let me in!" surprise him - call him and reward and teach him a word like 'quiet' while hes being quiet

i had one like that- hed not even toilet without nervously looking for me

but hes better - he is still a barker but the times between are much longer

i worked on his obedience all the while and hes a biddable dog

i will not open the door if hes barking

i will motion for him to sit ( i used to open the door and block the way then command sit and hed stop the barking as he sat thenid quickly let him in and repeat it - put him outside make him sit and let him in)

so this is what id try:

take the cav with you outside and just practise getting it to sit outside the door - no anxiety cos it knows youre with him

lots of treats along the way

then open the door - keep the dog leashed and make it sit

after its mastered that

you stand facing the dog still blocking the doorway with your legs and make it sit

now after a few goes and successes- you go in and make the dog stay - but only for a microsecond then step back outside with it so the dog barely notices your absence

increase the time that you are separated from the dog but keep it in a sit if you can

( basically it's like when you train the dog to stay - you only ever leave it for the time it can bear so it meets with success)

sounds like it's times- consuming but cavs love their food so it might work faster than you think

try to vary your routine - take the dog out on a leash and come back straight away - youre teaching the dog that the time spent out there is so insignificant

let the dog out and make it sit and then quickly bring it in again

repeat over and over - this way the dog is kept busy and not worrying about the prolonged separation

mind you - i did none of this with my first cocker who had sep anxiety - we were about to get the quick fix with a collar ( she was howling) and even meds but then the vet suggested we simply let her inside and she wasfine - surrounded by familiar things she was comfortable and calm

for this reason i allow my dogs to stay inside too - i have checked ( sneaked back and noone is howling and when we approach in the car my son has checked too by getting out of the car at the top of the street as we are heading home and sneaking round the back without them hearing and everyone is calm)

good luck with this - i know it is stressful

Edited October 8, 2008 by percyk

[Michelleva]

Thanks for the great reply Percy, its much appreciated.

I know Jake is not barking while we are out, he's smart enough to know no one is home. I've done the same as you and sneak back up. But as soon as he gets a clue that I'm here he will bark. He's a barker anyway, I'm convinced he loves the sound of his own voice. He may be old but there's nothing wrong with his hearing. He heard kids outside last night, that none of us could hear and all the doors were closed.

I never let Jake inside while he is barking, he must be quiet before I will even consider it. Then he has to sit and wait for the command, which is IN. He's improved heaps already because when he first arrived a year ago, I only had to stand on one side of the glass door with him on the other and he would go into a mad panick. That is over, now he's only panicking when he can't see me. So thats what I'm trying to overcome now. I do believe we'll get there and you've given me heaps of other ideas.

Thanks again.