Separation anxiety

[COLONEL_SMITH]

Any tips or tricks that can be used for a dog that has suddenly started to be destructive when left alone?
Its an almost 7 year old female Rhodesian Ridgeback who upto last week had not done anything like it. She had a check at the vet on Saturday to make sure she did not have any health issues that we could not see but the vet said she is a fit and healthy dog.
Her routine has not changed and we are not leaving her alone for any longer than normal, she eats normally and no change in the toilet routine.
The only thing that has changed is we got a new sofa a couple of months ago and she has had a wee on that twice now but we put that down to being scared when some christmas lights fell off the door during the night and it scared her.

[Crudeoink]

Have you considered crate training? With our most recent arrival we decided to crate train her (never previsouly crate trained dogs before) and its been amazing. She goes in at night or while im at the gym etc. Never have to worry about her eating things she shouldnt and causing chaos while we're out. Started with food bowl always being in the crate, then only ever getting her Kong while in the crate. Treats for staying in there for extended periods with the door closed etc. Shes good as gold in there and just chills out and sleeps when in there now. I've set a camera up a couple of times while we've been out to see if she's moaned or kicked off and she doesnt make a peep. That said you're going to need quite a big crate for a Ridgeback

[COLONEL_SMITH]

Crudeoink said:

Have you considered crate training?

She was crate trained as a puppy and she has been out of the crate for 6 years now. Going back to a crate is a last resort and at them moment we are not sure if the behaviour is a one off or likely to happen every time she is left alone.

[Red9zero]

Maybe a walk before you go out, then leave a radio on and some treats / toys to keep them amused while you are out ? Our neighbours dog has terrible seperation anxiety and barks and howls constantly while she is out. Her solution is to leave her back door open so the dog can wander round the garden. Hardly the safest option though.

[COLONEL_SMITH]

Red9zero said:

Maybe a walk before you go out, then leave a radio on and some treats / toys to keep them amused while you are out ? Our neighbours dog has terrible seperation anxiety and barks and howls constantly while she is out. Her solution is to leave her back door open so the dog can wander round the garden. Hardly the safest option though.

Took her out this morning so I am hoping that might help. This only started on wednesday last week so there is still a chance she got spooked by something as over the weekend she appeared fine

[Youforreal.]

The smallest thing can upset them, I noticed this with my dog, even me getting up and leaving before the wife annoyed my dog, they soon settle though, she will probably be grand in a day or two, there must have been something happen though to trigger it, probably very small too.

[COLONEL_SMITH]

The walk, calming tablets and the pulled curtains failed yesterday. Was not as bad as friday last week but her blanket and the rug were in a pile on the floor.
I have never had a dog with separation anxiety but does the dog go back to normal the second you get home or will they display some signs for longer. She doesnt show any signs of it when leaving either.
Does it just happen in dogs too? She is almost 7 and she has never had issues when left alone til last week so it seems strange to have started almost overnight.

[Smint]

One of ours, the 7 year old male cocker we bred (still have his mother), is absolutely devoted to my retired wife she was the very first thing he saw when his eyes opened, when she goes to the loo he has to go with her, out to the gym and he goes mad at her leaving, when she goes out for an all day visit or something and i'm home he would sit up by the gates (with his mother the sidekick) watching and waiting for her return, yes spoiled rotten but they return that in spades.

Cage trained from puppy, they all have their own cages in which they sleep at night, when put in there he and the others are fine, they know its going to be a while but they are safe and warm/cosy.
The other good thing about this arrangement is the burglar alarm can be left set whether we are home or out, the dogs won't be moving around to set it off, and if a determined thief does enter regardless of alarm we don't want to return to find injured or dead dogs who would naturally try to defend their home.

[COLONEL_SMITH]

The crate is looking like its the only solution at the moment. We are going to give it a few more days in the hope she returns to normal.

[dave123456]

COLONEL_SMITH said:

Crudeoink said:

Have you considered crate training?

She was crate trained as a puppy and she has been out of the crate for 6 years now. Going back to a crate is a last resort and at them moment we are not sure if the behaviour is a one off or likely to happen every time she is left alone.

Don’t know why you would say last resort. As long as you don’t use the crate to punish her it should be seen as a safe place, safe for her and safe cos she won’t get bked for wrecking anything.

I’m about to leave my 2 year old spaniel for 4 hours, which is the maximum she is left for and it only happens once or twice a year, but I just say bed and she trots in, shut the door, she barks a little occasionally but is otherwise fine.

[Red9zero]

Have you got a camera you can set up to see what is happening while you are out ? The first few times we left our dog, he would be pining at the door when we left and seemingly still sat there when we got back. Turns out he "pined" for 30 seconds after we left and then went to sleep. He would hear our car coming back home and go back into position at by the door

[COLONEL_SMITH]

dave123456 said:

Don’t know why you would say last resort. As long as you don’t use the crate to punish her it should be seen as a safe place, safe for her and safe cos she won’t get bked for wrecking anything.

I’m about to leave my 2 year old spaniel for 4 hours, which is the maximum she is left for and it only happens once or twice a year, but I just say bed and she trots in, shut the door, she barks a little occasionally but is otherwise fine.

Although she was fine when we did crate her she is a big dog and I always felt guilty about putting her in it as she is much happier on the sofa(or was much happier)
We are not shouting at her or telling her off when we see what she has done, we just stay calm so not to make things any worse.

[COLONEL_SMITH]

Things got a bit worse late last week and she decided the carpet needs to come up. No damage to it but it made our mind up that she needs a crate again.
Got a camera on her to and today she has been fast asleep in the crate with no odd behaviour so for the time being she has a new bed during the day.