Anxiety

[HeelerLove]

Not sure if this should be in here or training but will give it a shot in here first.

Received a call from my council on Friday, to say my 10 month old pup is barking constantly while we're at work. The guy from the council was quite concerned as he felt it was quite anxious barking rather than barking at something in particular/bored barking and has basically given me 2-3 weeks to get it sorted.

So we just got back from the vet, who said physically she is fine and she appears to just be an extremely vigilant dog who is most likely suffering from seperation anxiety while we're not home.

Vet has recommended I speak to Adelaide Veterinary Behaviour Services. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these guys? Tracey Henderson and Tracy Bache.

Also has anyone dealt with 'Superdogs' or another trainer in Adelaide that may be able to help? Happy to see AVBS if need to but with an initial $600+ fee, I kinda need to consider some other options first.

Thankyou in advance!

Edited September 5, 2016 by HeelerLove

[Scottsmum]

No advice on your question - not local.

Just wanted to send you good vibes.

[HeelerLove]

Thanks Scottsmum.

She has already cost me more in vet bills than my 10yo has in her whole life lol but she is worth every cent.

Edited September 5, 2016 by HeelerLove

[Papillon Kisses]

I'm not in SA, but I would make an appointment to see a vet behaviourist ASAP and ask them to recommend a behavioural trainer.

[Dogsfevr]

I would be buying CCTV to record what your dog is doing & to truly determine how much barking & if there is a pattern .It would be a good start to see what is factual & have some vision for anyone you seek help wise to be able to view .

[Papillon Kisses]

I would be buying CCTV to record what your dog is doing & to truly determine how much barking & if there is a pattern .It would be a good start to see what is factual & have some vision for anyone you seek help wise to be able to view .

If you have access to it, an alternative to CCTV is to use a GoPro positioned where the most action is likely to be; if the barking is enough to warrant a council complaint it should still be picked up I think. You can also apparently setup skype on an iPad to automatically answer when called but I've never done it.

[trifecta]

I reckon Snook would be a good person to talk to - I would shoot her a PM :)

She has often posted about her journey with Justice.

[Stitch]

Have you considered a barking collar...either citronella or e-collar?

You don't have a lot of time to get things sorted so this might be something you could use whilst waiting to consult a behaviourist.

[Papillon Kisses]

A better choice in the interim would be to trial an Adaptil diffuser and/or collar.

From one of the leading experts on separation anxiety:

http://malenademartini.com/separation-anxiety-faq/

Can’t I Use A Citronella Collar Or Shock Collar To Stop The Barking?

We highly discourage the use of any anti-barking collar. The use of a citronella or shock collar may suppress anxiety-induced barking for a while, permanently, or not at all. Either way, the barking is a symptom of severe panic and getting rid of the barking doesn’t get rid of the panic.

A dog with separation anxiety is suffering—hence the desperate barking, whining, or howling. With or without sound, your dog needs and deserves help. And typically, anti-barking collars worsen separation anxiety dramatically, even if they sometimes silence the dog in the process.

Please see a vet behaviourist and a positive-reinforcement based behavioural trainer.

Edited September 6, 2016 by Papillon Kisses

[Kynan]

Scott McGuinness from Canine Connect is excellent and I highly recommend him from personal experience.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I've been to a lecture done by the two traceys... First you go see Tracey the vet - who assesses your dog and may prescribe anti anxiety meds or adaptil or whatever she thinks will calm your dog down enough to be responsive to training with the other Tracy the trainer.

I haven't used them other than listening on the radio and going to the occasional lecture. Didn't learn anything from the last lecture that I didn't already know and they were very focussed on the meds + training route. I'm not sure if that was only for extreme cases or what. They weren't very clear.

I second sending Snook a pm.

I'm not sure who the vet-behavourists are - you want the combo - drugs and training. Or training first and if that's impossible then the combo.

Personally I'm not sure who to get as a trainer. You want someone who is good at training you more than the dog but good timing and rapport with the dog helps. The last few trainers in Adelaide I've been to - I know more about what needs doing than they do (theory), but they often have better timing than I do (practice). But I don't know much about fixing a really anxious dog.

I also went to a training course run by Alexis from scholars in Collars (mount barker) - I like her training methods tho she was not familiar with "reward in position" ie it's important where you place the reward for faster learning... She is now.

I don't know if she deals with anxious dogs but she might be able to recommend someone.

My dog got over her screaming the house down when I went out - pretty quickly. But I play the "I forgot something" game a lot. Ie when I go out the door or pack up my stuff and gather my keys - I might be leaving. And I might not. I find she's not all that keen to come with me after a long beach walk - she'd rather stay home.

I also give her yummy treats when I go out. The first few times she didn't touch them till I got home but after a while - all gone way before I got home - or even before I could get back into the house to get the thing I forgot when I went out. Hat, coat, phone, money, book, notepaper, shoes, spare sox, drink, shopping list, errand list, address... go back in for one thing at a time...

You've only got three weeks. I would definitely be talking to the neighbours to let them know you're aware and working on it and could they please let you know what happens, make it clear you're willing to listen. Take your dog around with you and introduce the dog. I find that helps a lot - ie people who know you will listen and do your best to improve things will not call the council.

My dog is inside when I'm out - so her initial protests about being left alone - were somewhat muffled... one neighbour leaves his dog in a tin shed - his dog is VERY LOUD and the shed makes it worse.

[westiemum]

1473143064[/url]' post='6843188']

A better choice in the interim would be to trial an Adaptil diffuser and/or collar.

From one of the leading experts on separation anxiety:

http://malenademarti...on-anxiety-faq/

Can't I Use A Citronella Collar Or Shock Collar To Stop The Barking?

We highly discourage the use of any anti-barking collar. The use of a citronella or shock collar may suppress anxiety-induced barking for a while, permanently, or not at all. Either way, the barking is a symptom of severe panic and getting rid of the barking doesn't get rid of the panic.

A dog with separation anxiety is suffering—hence the desperate barking, whining, or howling. With or without sound, your dog needs and deserves help. And typically, anti-barking collars worsen separation anxiety dramatically, even if they sometimes silence the dog in the process.

Please see a vet behaviourist and a positive-reinforcement based behavioural trainer.

Yep this. Please don't use a citronella collar. A friend of my mothers has a dog who wears one to stop barking is the most timid, withdrawn and depressed dog I've ever seen. It seems to be afraid to move or do do anything in case it sets the darn thing off. Owner won't listen. ( and yes I've considered dog napping...)

[ness]

I would see if you can get some sort of barking log from the council if one has been provided. May help to determine the pattern if its a neighbour who has reported the dog. Is the dog getting sufficient mental and physical exercise? I would find a trainer but its hard to know without the full history if it warrants a vet behaviorist at this stage.

The reason I would be asking for the data/facts is because council rang me and told me the dogs barked 24/7 and given I am home with them 24/7 at the moment I can assure you they were not.

Edited September 8, 2016 by ness

[HeelerLove]

Thanks everyone for your input, much appreciated.

Hoping to rig something up this weekend to get some footage so I can see it myself but I have no doubt she is barking as my neighbour can see over the fence and we've spoken about it.

Have made some small adjustments like leaving her frozen kongs filled with yummy stuff in the morning, giving her lots of praise when she is calm and quiet outside, more brain games and training etc.

She gets walked most days and a big play session after I get home from work each night.

I've printed and started filling out the AVBS questionnaire and hopefully I'll be able to get a video so I can speak to them early next week with an accurate description of her behaviour.

Thanks again

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

a big play session after I get home from work each night.

I ignore my dog for the first 10 minutes or so from when I get home. I'm a little less strict about it now than I was when she was a puppy.

First thing I do is march out into the back yard without talking to her or looking at her directly - and make sure she does a 1 or 2 or both - because she's shut inside when I'm out with no dog door.

And then I go unpack the car and do what I need to do. I might have a play session but it's quite some time after I get home.

Having a really excited greeting with your dog when you do get home - is normal. But can also contribute to anxiety. So you need to balance up what you do for your dog depending on how your dog is.

[HeelerLove]

Thanks Mrs RB.

When I get home I get changed, do a quick tidy up, maybe throw some washing on before I go outside and greet them. She is usually calm by then and if not I'll ignore her until she is. Once she's calm and we've said hello nicely we'll start to play.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

before I go outside and greet them

So you have more than one dog all outside when you're away from home, ie she's not by herself but she still gets upset?

How long have you had the 10 month old and how long has she been doing the anxious barking - ie (according to your neighbour perhaps) - is it since you got her? (will be ingrained and a bit harder to train calm), or only recently?

If only recently - did something happen that might have upset her eg a grumpy meter reader or tradie visit? Or worse - burglar, tho only really stupid or high burglars would go in a yard with a dog that looks like the one in your profile. or have your hours changed? Like you were home more and all of a sudden you are away longer?

Hopefully the video and the Tracies can help.

[HeelerLove]

Yep her and my 10yo are outside together during the day so she has doggy company.

Had her since 10 weeks.. mid Jan. It's def been going on for last month or so as we got a letter from a different neighbour but could have been going for longer.

I know she has been antagonised on at least one occasion so it wouldn't surprise me if it's happened several times.. but I have no proof.

The neighbour that can see over the fence quite often talks to her and her kids try to talk to her through the fence which I'm not sure would be helping?

OH's hours have changed but mine haven't so still getting home at usual time most nights and I'm the one that feeds them and gives them more attention so I don't think that would be a big factor.

About to have a look to see if the GoPro picked up anything today.

Edited September 12, 2016 by HeelerLove

[HeelerLove]

I don't think it helps that she is always on alert. The smallest noise or movement will always get her attention and it can be difficult to get her focus back on me.. eg yesterday she was fixated on something and when I bent down to her level to see what it was, all I could see was a bird in a tree probably a good 100m off in the distance. That time when I said her name she broke her stare and responded to me straight away but other times it's like she can't even hear me.

She was sick as a pup so couldn't have her second vaccination until she was 15 weeks old, so I'm aware we missed some of that important socialisation time as well which also probably doesn't help.

She also still has quite a high pitched puppy bark which is quite earsplitting at times so I don't blame my neighbours for getting upset!

Edited September 12, 2016 by HeelerLove

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

high pitched puppy bark

My cattle dog cross has that and she's about to turn 8 years old. When she's really really excited... the high pitched squeally bark comes out... and yes it hurts.

I know she has been antagonised on at least one occasion so it wouldn't surprise me if it's happened several times

This could be a factor - and now she's hyper vigilant because of it. Is there any way to prevent this?

I would be considering shutting her inside while I was out - but - that's what I do now with my dog. I don't think she or the meter reader could be safe otherwise. And now I've got new dogs next door - one of which (the silly boxer puppy) puts his face and paw under the fence to say hello. And my dog isn't very happy about that. We are getting a new fence. And strangely - the previous neighbour's dog would go crazy barking at her through the fence and she completely ignored it.

So we can't be out there unsupervised at the moment. And I'm working on my dog being calm while we can hear the dogs next door snuffling around the fence and playing with each other.

OH's hours have changed but mine haven't so still getting home at usual time most nights and I'm the one that feeds them and gives them more attention so I don't think that would be a big factor.

Was OH home more than he is now - or did his and your hours overlap better so there was more time when at least one of you was home.

With our family dog - the dog got more attention and feeding from the kids but the one she was bonded to was Mum. And she was not home the most either. If your dog's extra barking started about when your OH's hours changed - I'd say that was a factor but not sure how you fix it now.

Edited September 12, 2016 by Mrs Rusty Bucket