Separation Anxiety

[Kid]

Hi all,

I have a 8 month old German shepherd that really seems to have an issue when I leave him. If I walk away from him at training he will bark like mad and doesnt seem to settle till I return to him...Same if he is in the car.

At home he is stuck to me like glue...Every where I go, and I mean everywhere.. ..He has to come with me.

Has anyone got any ideas to fix this issue as I'm worried when it comes time for "Out of sight stays" I'm really going to hit a brick wall!!!!!

Cheers

[Erny]

It's not necessarily Separation Anxiety (an over diagnosed condition in too many cases).

What's your dog do when you are away/at work?

Check your leadership status - think of what that status is from your dog's pov not so much yours.

Could be something environmentally related that is causing the anxiety/behaviour. IE The car and being left in it (and the anticipation that he will be). At training, the stimulation (fear or excitement) at all the other dogs that are there.

[CP*]

This isn't unusual - esp at his age. They do tend to settle and get more confident of being alone as they get older. I have clingy dogs and did private training for out of sight stays (for obedience purposes). You can do this at home by teaching stays and then moving further away, then moving towards the door, then opening the door, then standing on the other side of the door and then working on stays with the door closed. It is a longish process in increments but it does work.

[Aidan]

Your dog might be a candidate for the "Calming Yo Yo" exercise found in this article:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1556