How To Cure Separation Anxiety With Pup

[BMAK]

My female foster pup about 3-4 months old had been isolated in a small cage as a pup from any affection and love before she was rescued and put into my care.

she was not overly spoilt with pats, cuddles and affection when she came into my care just as much as every other pup gets when they visit, but she has shown bad signs since day 3 that she may have separation anxiety when left alone.

When she is put outside in a fenced off area away us (humans) and the other dogs (never has interacted with my pair anyway), she will do the stafford scream and cry and it just gets that loud the neighbours would go insane as she does not stop (i've tried) so she has to stay inside when i go out nearly every day but even then i can still hear her scream a few minutes after i go but when i return she just wets herhelf with excitment the poor thing so i try to ignore her for a few minutes while trying to clean up her mess.

i feel the cause is from being isolated and left alone as a result from being caged away from people before she was rescued.

i got called to the vets the other day to pick her up early after her desex opp as she was screaming i suspect, as i could hear her from outside when i pulled up.

i plan to rehome her with another adult/calm mature dog, well that is the plan.

ATM she has a play mate who she is fine with being left alone with but he is a bully so they are never really left together more then a couple of minutes together as she has stiches and he gets ruff so i know that she should be ok with another dog.

but he goes next week and she still hasn't found a home.

Is there any thing that can calm her down or to help with her anxiety, i try to wear her out with obedience and a small park run but without her being fully vacc it is limited to resort to exercise.

* no bones are allowed inside so cannot distract her with that.

[macbodobe1]

My female foster pup about 3-4 months old had been isolated in a small cage as a pup from any affection and love before she was rescued and put into my care.

she was not overly spoilt with pats, cuddles and affection when she came into my care just as much as every other pup gets when they visit, but she has shown bad signs since day 3 that she may have separation anxiety when left alone.

When she is put outside in a fenced off area away us (humans) and the other dogs (never has interacted with my pair anyway), she will do the stafford scream and cry and it just gets that loud the neighbours would go insane as she does not stop (i've tried) so she has to stay inside when i go out nearly every day but even then i can still hear her scream a few minutes after i go but when i return she just wets herhelf with excitment the poor thing so i try to ignore her for a few minutes while trying to clean up her mess.

i feel the cause is from being isolated and left alone as a result from being caged away from people before she was rescued.

i got called to the vets the other day to pick her up early after her desex opp as she was screaming i suspect, as i could hear her from outside when i pulled up.

i plan to rehome her with another adult/calm mature dog, well that is the plan.

ATM she has a play mate who she is fine with being left alone with but he is a bully so they are never really left together more then a couple of minutes together as she has stiches and he gets ruff so i know that she should be ok with another dog.

but he goes next week and she still hasn't found a home.

Is there any thing that can calm her down or to help with her anxiety, i try to wear her out with obedience and a small park run but without her being fully vacc it is limited to resort to exercise.

* no bones are allowed inside so cannot distract her with that.

[macbodobe1]

My female foster pup about 3-4 months old had been isolated in a small cage as a pup from any affection and love before she was rescued and put into my care.

she was not overly spoilt with pats, cuddles and affection when she came into my care just as much as every other pup gets when they visit, but she has shown bad signs since day 3 that she may have separation anxiety when left alone.

When she is put outside in a fenced off area away us (humans) and the other dogs (never has interacted with my pair anyway), she will do the stafford scream and cry and it just gets that loud the neighbours would go insane as she does not stop (i've tried) so she has to stay inside when i go out nearly every day but even then i can still hear her scream a few minutes after i go but when i return she just wets herhelf with excitment the poor thing so i try to ignore her for a few minutes while trying to clean up her mess.

i feel the cause is from being isolated and left alone as a result from being caged away from people before she was rescued.

i got called to the vets the other day to pick her up early after her desex opp as she was screaming i suspect, as i could hear her from outside when i pulled up.

i plan to rehome her with another adult/calm mature dog, well that is the plan.

ATM she has a play mate who she is fine with being left alone with but he is a bully so they are never really left together more then a couple of minutes together as she has stiches and he gets ruff so i know that she should be ok with another dog.

but he goes next week and she still hasn't found a home.

Is there any thing that can calm her down or to help with her anxiety, i try to wear her out with obedience and a small park run but without her being fully vacc it is limited to resort to exercise.

* no bones are allowed inside so cannot distract her with that.

[BMAK]

Bit confused why this has been quoted twice macbodobe1?

[poodlefan]

This sounds like a situation that would benefit from a professional perspective.

[persephone]

I think that professional knowledge would help you and the pup She was caged during her developmental time ..and you will benefit from a good assessment and a plan to follow.

[Nekhbet]

This dog requires medication and intensive training, without it dont bother rehoming this dog. Also just rehoming him to somewhere with another dog wont be enough - what if something happens to the other dog and the foster has to be left alone? Using a dog as a crutch for such an extreme problem is not the solution.

I had a foster like this, he screamed and smashed his way out of several enclosures, once without the full use of his legs while coming out of anaesthetic.

He then started showing guarding behaviours between me and people/dogs. He couldnt be contained or happy so I put him to sleep.

[BMAK]

getting a professional would probably be right out of the question, rescue wouldn't be able to afford it then there is travel expenses ontop, same with vet bills without donations this probably won't be able to get done even though it is in the best interests, and I'm in no position to afford it either.

she isn't damaging anything will just sit there and scream.

I Agree about the other dog, but as far as I can see there is no other option.

Does anyone else here had a dog with separation problems???

[poodlefan]

getting a professional would probably be right out of the question, rescue wouldn't be able to afford it then there is travel expenses ontop, same with vet bills without donations this probably won't be able to get done even though it is in the best interests, and I'm in no position to afford it either.

she isn't damaging anything will just sit there and scream.

I Agree about the other dog, but as far as I can see there is no other option.

Does anyone else here had a dog with separation problems???

She's young and without help, the behaviour may escalate. I appreciate how difficult this is but without professional help this dog is likely to bounce out of any potential home - compounding her anxiety.

[persephone]

With this pup, you have the compound problems of her missing all that very important developmental stuff .. so what may normally be implemented for S A may not be as effective, as she has great gaps in her life experience, and therefore learning how to do a lot of things...

[BMAK]

thanks for your help guys,

she is a sweet intelligent little pup minus that one problem that i have spotted. if i have the back door open she will wonder outside and stay out there on her mat, wonder around then come back in when she pleases. It is when she has to stay behind walls and fences that this problem occurs, my dogs don't have any separation problems and are so content being by themselves,

so this is a new case for me as i have never dealt with a dog/pup with this problem i don't know what is worse a dog with aggression or aniety!! thank god it isn't both

Do you think if i use a pen(don't own a crate) and put her behind it and did some clicker training(smart dogs who loves food) and marked being quiet/calm and not trying to jump out it might make her acceptance a little better being away from me while supervised?

or do you think will make her worse?

Edited March 4, 2011 by catherine.b

[chran]

Is there any thing that can calm her down or to help with her anxiety, i try to wear her out with obedience and a small park run but without her being fully vacc it is limited to resort to exercise.

I think she needs time to adjust to the new life. How much time do you have for training? Our boy was 8 when adopted. Cried when I was in another room for the 1st couple of weeks. What we did (and still do):

• Zero attention when crying, a quick yes (marker) & reward when he stops for a second. This goes alongside obedience (needs to shape marker word etc).
  
• Reward him when we leave the house (we use treat balls/ bob a lot) - these rewards are not available otherwise.
  

[BMAK]

Is there any thing that can calm her down or to help with her anxiety, i try to wear her out with obedience and a small park run but without her being fully vacc it is limited to resort to exercise.

I think she needs time to adjust to the new life. How much time do you have for training? Our boy was 8 when adopted. Cried when I was in another room :D for the 1st couple of weeks. What we did (and still do):

• Zero attention when crying, a quick yes (marker) & reward when he stops for a second. This goes alongside obedience (needs to shape marker word etc).
  
• Reward him when we leave the house (we use treat balls/ bob a lot) - these rewards are not available otherwise.
  

Well between her, my own dogs, other foster pup and my classes training, she doesn't get as much as she probably could.

she has settled in here fine but it is when she goes to her new home that will be the problem i dread.

I would keep her if i could but Don't have the room for three, time and money.

[chran]

Well between her, my own dogs, other foster pup and my classes training, she doesn't get as much as she probably could.

she has settled in here fine but it is when she goes to her new home that will be the problem i dread.

I would keep her if i could but Don't have the room for three, time and money.

Well SA takes time to cure. Took us 2 months before ours can be left alone (with toys). Even now (going 6 months) he's restless if we're late from work (but manageable ie 30 seconds whining).

I think it's better to be selective of her new owner - people who have time and commitment to cure it (someone who works from home, retiree, housewife etc). I realise it's harder to find people like this, but it's better for her.

You can also try controlling her diet - it's harder since she's so young (when they normally can eat as much as they want) - but high energy food make SA worse since it provides the energy to worry/ cry.

[Nekhbet]

ask trainers if the will help rescue or take on a pro bono case.

No point being a rescue if you cannot fully help the dog to what it truely requires. And not fair to pass on the problem to someone hoping it 'gets better' with home made advice. I dont mean to be rude but if you dont have the money to do more then simply feed and basic vet a dog then maybe reconsider fostering cases like this that require specialist attention. If the dog cannot be helped and the behavior keeps snowballing your hands will well and truely end up tied.

[BMAK]

I am not the rescue group i am just a carer i don't pay for any vetting i only provide a safe home from being pts food water affection and training as in obedience.

It is the rescue responsibility who decided who they take in and what they what to do which special cases, i think this group is eating more then they should chew and can chew money wise it is nice to save all of these dogs but if they cannot pay for their needs the dog should not be taken into care, and i just get any pup that needs a foster home and look after it so i am doing more than my fair share anyway trying to help this dog and many others. No one else wants to take on puppies as they are so much hard work anyway so thanks for your help, but please do not assume.