andrewang Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Hi guys, Caesar is about 7 months old now and turning into an absolutely gorgeous dog. Anyway, I have always wondered what Caesar does when alone at home so I set up a camera to record for the whole duration while I'm away. I left him his Kong Wobbler with his lunch, some of his favourite toys, his bed and free roam to the apartment. When I returned and went through the video, it was very heartbreaking to see that he spends almost all his time looking out the window waiting for me to come home after he finish his lunch. He'll only leave the window to take a toilet break and go back to the window again. I asked my neighbours to see if he's been barking while I was away but they all said he did not make any noise. So I was wondering if he has separation anxiety and what I should do to keep him busy while I am away. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Just a thought but if he seems otherwise calm maybe he enjoys looking out the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuddleDuck Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Just a thought but if he seems otherwise calm maybe he enjoys looking out the window. Yep, my toller is like a cat, she looooves to sit and stare out the window for ages, even if we are sitting beside her :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewang Posted August 4, 2013 Author Share Posted August 4, 2013 Just a thought but if he seems otherwise calm maybe he enjoys looking out the window. He doesn't really do that when I'm at home. I just thought he might use the alone time to sleep as I brought him out for a free run before I went out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 What symptoms of separation anxiety is he displaying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 That doesn't sound like anxiety, just waiting and loyalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 He does not have separation anxiety, he is relaxed and passing the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 (edited) :) Edited August 4, 2013 by Rebanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Yeah, he's probably just watching the world go by but when you're home he's otherwise engaged with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 He doesn't do that when you're home because he has other things to do- following you around, playing, watching you etc. When you're not there there is nothing to watch inside so he looks out. Highly unlikely to be separation anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 My Mums little dog sits and looks out the window all the time, he was doing it today when I was there. If he isn't distressed it isn't seperation anxiety, just sounds as though he's a bit bored and outside is more interesting than inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Both my 2 do that if they get left at home and indoors! I often come home to see 1 or 2 faces through the curtains that then run to the door once they realise it's my car! I think it's pretty normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I wouldn't worry about him if he is just sitting and waiting. If he was ripping the curtains down and trashing the place then you would have something to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 (edited) Separation anxiety, is when you come home to see your bed, or couch, clothes etc torn to pieces. Speaking from experience here. :laugh: Edited August 4, 2013 by mantis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjrt Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Congratulations on raising a well adjusted calm puppy who can occupy himself and is happy enough with his own company and does not display dependency issues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I think separation anxiety is one of the most over-diagnosed things out there - it doesn't seem as though Caesear is displaying any kind of anxiety at all, from that description. My little dog Maggie sits at the baby gate and waits for my fiance to come back if he ever goes out unexpectedly, even if I'm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Looking out the window is a good thing :) He needs to occupy himself somehow .. so he watches things happening . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I think it's UNDER-diagnosed. We only diagnose it when there are seriously obvious signs of distress. In the academic literature, waiting by a window or door is considered related to separation distress (not the same as clinical separation anxiety). What's more, it's entirely possible we only diagnose it in dogs with a proactive coping style, because they are the only ones that actually show the symptoms. For all we know there are dogs out there just as distressed but they show it in much quieter and less troublesome ways so nobody ever knows. I would consider waiting by a window for long periods of time potentially indicative of low level separation-related distress, although I wouldn't consider it alone something that necessarily needed to be treated if that's what it was. I don't think it serves dogs to assume that they are fine home alone until they start ripping things up, eliminating inside, and provoking neighbour complaints. Personally, I'm under no illusion that my dogs are somehow perfectly happy at home without me when I'm out for the day. The signs are subtle, but they are there if someone cares to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 He sounds like a wonderful dog.If he slept all day he would be keeping you awake at night.It's good that he can look out the window and watch the world ; You are doing a great job raising your dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingly Pet Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Hi guys, Caesar is about 7 months old now and turning into an absolutely gorgeous dog. Anyway, I have always wondered what Caesar does when alone at home so I set up a camera to record for the whole duration while I'm away. I left him his Kong Wobbler with his lunch, some of his favourite toys, his bed and free roam to the apartment. When I returned and went through the video, it was very heartbreaking to see that he spends almost all his time looking out the window waiting for me to come home after he finish his lunch. He'll only leave the window to take a toilet break and go back to the window again. I asked my neighbours to see if he's been barking while I was away but they all said he did not make any noise. So I was wondering if he has separation anxiety and what I should do to keep him busy while I am away. Cheers I would not call this separation anxiety, I would call it love . You have a little guy that can't wait to see you as soon as you get home, lucky you! On another note, have you recorded him for more than one day? Maybe there was something REALLY interesting out the window that day, so he wanted to watch it all unfold. Maybe if you recorded him tomorrow he would be doing something else.......Sleeping, reading the paper, looking through your stuff :laugh: KP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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