overcoming separation anxiety in a puppy
Discussion
about two weeks ago, we took ownership of a 5 month (now 6 month) old miniature dachshund dog.
we bought him from a show breeder and his home had been with 9 other dachshunds in a house at the end of a very long private driveway.
he is now living with myself and the missus in our small townhouse.
so far he is coming along quite well. he takes daily walks (daytime and night) through town so he can become used to other people and traffic (he has adapated extremely well). his toilet training is also coming along quite well (in his old home, the kitchen door was simply left open, so the dogs could come and go as they please).
the big problem is that he is suffering from the most extreme separation anxiety. he cannot bear to be seperated from human company for even 30 seconds (if i go off to the loo, he starts to panic and bark).
we have been trying to get him used to sleeping in the kitchen (a nice big kitchen with his bed, toys, water, ticking clock, small light, underfloor heating etc etc), but he just barks all through the night.
last night, we finally threw in the towel and put his bed at the bottom of our bed, and he slept like a baby and also remained clean and dry throughout.
we really didn't want to have him in our bedroom, and it feels like failure to allow him to do so, but without sleep for 10 days, it became a case of 'us or him'.
does anyone have any good advice on how to overcome separation anxiety (especially in dachshunds who are notorious for it and are famously stubborn about anything and everything).
we are desperate!
cheers
we bought him from a show breeder and his home had been with 9 other dachshunds in a house at the end of a very long private driveway.
he is now living with myself and the missus in our small townhouse.
so far he is coming along quite well. he takes daily walks (daytime and night) through town so he can become used to other people and traffic (he has adapated extremely well). his toilet training is also coming along quite well (in his old home, the kitchen door was simply left open, so the dogs could come and go as they please).
the big problem is that he is suffering from the most extreme separation anxiety. he cannot bear to be seperated from human company for even 30 seconds (if i go off to the loo, he starts to panic and bark).
we have been trying to get him used to sleeping in the kitchen (a nice big kitchen with his bed, toys, water, ticking clock, small light, underfloor heating etc etc), but he just barks all through the night.
last night, we finally threw in the towel and put his bed at the bottom of our bed, and he slept like a baby and also remained clean and dry throughout.
we really didn't want to have him in our bedroom, and it feels like failure to allow him to do so, but without sleep for 10 days, it became a case of 'us or him'.
does anyone have any good advice on how to overcome separation anxiety (especially in dachshunds who are notorious for it and are famously stubborn about anything and everything).
we are desperate!
cheers
Some Gump said:
get another puppy?
what fantastic advice... better still... why not take a perfectly healthy, intelligent, loving puppy and have him put down because he barks too much.anyone out there with some constructive advice on how i can make this little chap feel more secure on his own in his new surroundings?
I think that was meant to be "get him a friend", rather than "replace him"!
Wouldn't recommend it though, he would just teach any newcomers to be anxious.
Things I would try:
1) Distract him when you're leaving... leave a few bits of chicken scattered around the kitchen floor.
2) Build it up slowly... Step out of the kitchen, close the door, then immediately go back in. Do this over and over until he gets bored of trying to follow you. Gradually (over several weeks or months) build it up so you're out of the kitchen for longer.
3) Don't make a fuss when you first see him. I know they're cute when you come home, but just completely ignore him. Otherwise you're building up the anxiety of waiting for you to return and make a fuss of him.
Wouldn't recommend it though, he would just teach any newcomers to be anxious.
Things I would try:
1) Distract him when you're leaving... leave a few bits of chicken scattered around the kitchen floor.
2) Build it up slowly... Step out of the kitchen, close the door, then immediately go back in. Do this over and over until he gets bored of trying to follow you. Gradually (over several weeks or months) build it up so you're out of the kitchen for longer.
3) Don't make a fuss when you first see him. I know they're cute when you come home, but just completely ignore him. Otherwise you're building up the anxiety of waiting for you to return and make a fuss of him.
village idiot said:
what fantastic advice... better still... why not take a perfectly healthy, intelligent, loving puppy and have him put down because he barks too much.
anyone out there with some constructive advice on how i can make this little chap feel more secure on his own in his new surroundings?
Erm, wrong end of the stick mate - I meant go back to breeder, bring his sister home. anyone out there with some constructive advice on how i can make this little chap feel more secure on his own in his new surroundings?
weas just a suggestion, like
We had a few nights of it with our lab. I know it's hard but you need to leave him, don't go and see him and don't I've any reaction. Poppy soon realised that by yelping and barking she was getting nowhere. Now she goes into her crate as soon as we start to turn the lights out and remains silent all night, we had a few accidents but this was to be expected and she soon learnt to hold it until she was let out.
i have a crate, but he is petrified of it, perhaps because we took him at 5 months rather than 8-10 weeks (when crate training could just be part of him growing up). we tried him in it for a few nights, but it just seemed to make things worse.
the main problem we have at the moment is that we simply cannot function in our lives with no sleep. letting him get on with it, is not an option. we both work and we cannot afford to compromise our careers due to mistakes made through lack of sleep.
the main problem we have at the moment is that we simply cannot function in our lives with no sleep. letting him get on with it, is not an option. we both work and we cannot afford to compromise our careers due to mistakes made through lack of sleep.
Feed him in the crate, make it the best possible place he most wants to be. Put him in the crate while you are in the same room, gradually build up to steping out of the room for a few seconds then longer. He will learn to deal with it. You have to learn to ignore the yelping etc, I know its hard and I've even slept on my kitchen floor with one of mine when he was younger. I may sound cruel but never ever let them in your bedroom, you are making a rod for your own back.
As the others have said, crate training really works. Yes, you’ll have a few rough nights at first while you’re kept awake by his upset noises—but it really is worth the inconvenience in the long run.
If you fancy some reading matter to help work things out, Jan Fennell’s books are very helpful and practical. She has a book specifically on puppies that covers separation anxiety.
If you fancy some reading matter to help work things out, Jan Fennell’s books are very helpful and practical. She has a book specifically on puppies that covers separation anxiety.
village idiot said:
i have a crate, but he is petrified of it, perhaps because we took him at 5 months rather than 8-10 weeks (when crate training could just be part of him growing up). we tried him in it for a few nights, but it just seemed to make things worse.
the main problem we have at the moment is that we simply cannot function in our lives with no sleep. letting him get on with it, is not an option. we both work and we cannot afford to compromise our careers due to mistakes made through lack of sleep.
So is he left alone all day? (Not judging as I work full time and have dogs, but it's likely if he gets upset at night he also gets upset when you leave, but you aren't there to hear it) Just trying to get a fuller picture. the main problem we have at the moment is that we simply cannot function in our lives with no sleep. letting him get on with it, is not an option. we both work and we cannot afford to compromise our careers due to mistakes made through lack of sleep.
village idiot said:
we really didn't want to have him in our bedroom, and it feels like failure to allow him to do so, but without sleep for 10 days, it became a case of 'us or him'.
Why specifically do you not want your dog to sleep in your bedroom ? Not what other people say, what's your objection ?Look at it from the dog's point of view. Separated from parents/brothers/sisters, strange new environment, new owner etc.
You can see why it would need some reassurance, surely?
BOR said:
village idiot said:
we really didn't want to have him in our bedroom, and it feels like failure to allow him to do so, but without sleep for 10 days, it became a case of 'us or him'.
Why specifically do you not want your dog to sleep in your bedroom ? Not what other people say, what's your objection ?Look at it from the dog's point of view. Separated from parents/brothers/sisters, strange new environment, new owner etc.
You can see why it would need some reassurance, surely?
OP - I think perhaps allowing to dog to stay in your room initially, but in a crate may help. Then gradually move the crate / dog out of the room until you get to the desired location. That way he/she will get used to both being in the crate and being apart from you.
Someone else also mentioned small doses of leaving the dog alone, by leaving the room for 10, 20, 30 secs and up the time until you can leave it long enough to go to the loo! Also, not making a fuss of the dog when you leave, or immediately when you arrive may get it used to being alone.
Two weeks is a very short space of time for him to have been with you and I expect he is still feeling insecure as his world has been completely turned upside down.
I would continue with crate training. Feed him in there, drop sweeties in there at random for him to find, put some toys in there. I wouldn't shut him in to start with, so he doesn't panic. Over time he should start to see it as a safe place.
Overnight I would allow him to be in the bedroom with you to start with. Once he is comfortable in his crate and also starts to settle down, you can start to gradually move the crate across the room towards the door, then gradually out the door onto the landing, etc.
Otherwise I would just do things such as leave the room and come straight back in again, gradually building up time.
With everything, set him up to succeed so that everything is a positive experience
Gwen Bailey's The Perfect Puppy is a good book. I would stay away from Jan Fennel and anyone else who still believes in outdated pack leadership crap.
Hope it goes OK
I would continue with crate training. Feed him in there, drop sweeties in there at random for him to find, put some toys in there. I wouldn't shut him in to start with, so he doesn't panic. Over time he should start to see it as a safe place.
Overnight I would allow him to be in the bedroom with you to start with. Once he is comfortable in his crate and also starts to settle down, you can start to gradually move the crate across the room towards the door, then gradually out the door onto the landing, etc.
Otherwise I would just do things such as leave the room and come straight back in again, gradually building up time.
With everything, set him up to succeed so that everything is a positive experience
Gwen Bailey's The Perfect Puppy is a good book. I would stay away from Jan Fennel and anyone else who still believes in outdated pack leadership crap.
Hope it goes OK
thanks for all your replies.
we will give the crate another try (open door, his comfy bed in there plus some toys etc) and start off in the bedroom.
the problem with these dachshunds is that their fantastic intelligence also gives rise to their notorious stubborness... certainly makes them full of character!
we will give the crate another try (open door, his comfy bed in there plus some toys etc) and start off in the bedroom.
the problem with these dachshunds is that their fantastic intelligence also gives rise to their notorious stubborness... certainly makes them full of character!
As others have said, gradually building up the time you spend away from him seems to work. It did with mine, however I guess every dog is different.
How about one of these diffuser things you can get that mimics the scent of a lactating b
h, or whatever they do? Can't rememeber what they're called, but I'm sure someone will.
How about one of these diffuser things you can get that mimics the scent of a lactating b
h, or whatever they do? Can't rememeber what they're called, but I'm sure someone will.poprock said:
As the others have said, crate training really works. Yes, you’ll have a few rough nights at first while you’re kept awake by his upset noises—but it really is worth the inconvenience in the long run.
This 
I've recently acquired a now 4 month old collie pup, these are notoriously clever and therefore quite nervy and insecure. She was very upset for about an hour the first night we left her alone in her crate (didn't start her off in our bedroom as some have suggested). After this she has become much better as she realised that we were coming back. Dogs are sociable animals, but they need to be able to cope when left alone, my dogs main issue is boredom not separation, give him something to occupy him and he'll come good. I reckon dog ownership is a true test of a person's character, and little has given me more satisfaction than my little dog learning and developing as she grows up. Try giving him a t-shirt that you've worn and smells of you in his bed at night or when you leave him during the day. We found it helped with a Rottweiller pup we had.
He may be missing the heat from his siblings so maybe a hot water bottle filled with warm water to snuggle up to, covered by the t-shirt.
He may be missing the heat from his siblings so maybe a hot water bottle filled with warm water to snuggle up to, covered by the t-shirt.
Can't really help , as most of my last dogs have been rescue ones . I'd suggest lots of love /affection ,make him feel that your home is his safe area . My daughter's last dog had problems ,wher her(dogs)security blanket was her lead - put near dog and she'd be happy ,move it and she was disturbed .Perhaps some sort of security blanket - toy etc . MY present dog ( ex rescue) doesent exhibit seperation anxeity - but prefers to come out in car and be left to guard car ,than stay in house .
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