Separation Anxiety Tips?

[evenstar7139]

Voodoo doesn't have separation anxiety per sae but she has a signifigant dislike of being put somewhere she cannot get to a person or another dog. She'll cry for a good 15, 20 miniutes then give up and go to sleep.

Now, when the situation permits doing so, I absoutely ignore her while she's crying and don't take her out until at least 5 miniutes after she's quieted down. But I'm afraid by doing so I'm just going to make her worse. I had a dog I did this with. I tried to teach it not to cry when it was alone and I ended up giving it severe separation anxiety.....the dog would scream for hours without ceasing and it took a couple years to reverse the problem....but even still, if left alone for too long, that dog freaks. So how can I teach Voodoo to not cry when put up but not make her afraid of it?

 

[Doberluv]

I think you're doing fine. 5 minutes may be longer than necessary to wait after she quiets. That's an eternity to a dog. Even 1 minute is enough.

Keep your comings and goings matter of fact, low key....don't make a fuss over the dog or make any kind of issue of your coming and going.

As long as she's getting plenty of training time, fun time, affection when earned etc, she'll feel like a working member of the group and will get more accepting of her "job" to hold down the fort. LOL. Make her as secure in your leadership as you can and look up online some confidence building games you can play. Training build confidence. Be a confident leader, guide. Lead her, not the other way around and I think she'll be fine.

 

[Athebeau]

What I found worked for my dogs when I was ready to leave that is when they got their bones. So, basically I would throw an old blanket on my bed and futon get ready to leave and go to the freezer and get out a few raw bones. My dogs (rescues) take these actions as a cue of good things about to happen. They actually look forward to my leaving them...hahaha...

I leave music or TV on for them as well. You could also try rescue remedy to help your dog relax while your gone.

 

[Doberluv]

They actually look forward to my leaving them...hahaha...

That's a great way.