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Emily94 · Mar 15, 2010, 02:44 PM

Hello,
This weekend I went away for hockey provincials, and had to leave my dog behind. When I got back my mom said that all he did was cry at my bedroom door, when she let him in my room he laid on my bed and whimpered. He didn't eat or drink. There is also two other dogs here which he usually plays with all the time and when I was away he wouldn't play at all. He also wouldn't go to the bathroom. When I got home he wouldn't leave my side at all!
I am extremely worried to leave him again.
Does anyone know what might help?

FadedMaster · Mar 15, 2010, 07:14 PM

I run into this since my dog actually lives with my parents, and where I rent a Labrador is too large of a dog. So whenever I'm about to leave my parents house, I make sure he is calm. I put him in his kennel and do not leave until he has calmed down.

I do this same thing when I arrive. I do not enter his eyesight until he has calmed down. Usually upon seeing me he gets excited and I do not let him out until he calms down.

It takes a lot of time and patience.

Aurora_Bell · Mar 15, 2010, 07:20 PM

My favorite is protocols for relaxation and deference. It works for ANY type of separation anxiety or aggressive behavior.

Douglas Island Veterinary Service - Training

Protocol for relaxation

These 2 websites are very detailed and will help you with the techniques. It's the same stuff you would be doing with a behaviorist, and is really just elaborating on Faded Masters reply.

Lucky098 · Mar 16, 2010, 09:40 AM

It doesn't sound like separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is usually more destructive and irritating. Sounds like your dog is just love sick and missed you. Most people don't realize, but dogs do bond very close with their people. Sounds like your dog just noticed you were gone and was mourning the loss of a pack member. Now, that you're back, your dog doesn't want to keep you out of his sight. However, this could very easily form into separation anxiety if you allow it.

Good methods to overcome separation anxiety is to leave... then come back... then leave again... then come back a couple minutes later. Ignore all his whining. Don't allow him to demand a pet (Where she shoves his head under your hand or stares at you until you pet him). Any time of controlling mechanism that he'll try and get you to do, ignore it. Everything is on your terms. Not his.

Aurora_Bell · Mar 16, 2010, 11:17 AM

There are many different forms of separation anxiety, not just destructive ones.

Emily94 · Mar 16, 2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Lucky098

It doesnt sound like separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is usually more destructive and irritating. Sounds like your dog is just love sick and missed you. Most people dont realize, but dogs do bond very close with their people. Sounds like your dog just noticed you were gone and was mourning the loss of a pack member. Now, that you're back, your dog doesnt want to keep you out of his sight. However, this could very easily form into separation anxiety if you allow it.

Good methods to overcome separation anxiety is to leave... then come back... then leave again... then come back a couple mins later. Ignore all his whining. Dont allow him to demand a pet (Where she shoves his head under your hand or stares at you until you pet him). Any time of controling mechanism that he'll try and get you to do, ignore it. Everything is on your terms. Not his.

I leave for school, and to go out for awhile with friends, he doesn't seem to mind as much. It's when he has to sleep alone he gets sad...

Lucky098 · Mar 16, 2010, 03:45 PM

Dogs don't exhibit human emotion. If you think your dog is developing some type of anxiety, then you need to speak with a behaviorist. Aurora_bell is right, there are a tone of different types of anxiety dogs can exibit. (My specialty is the destructive type :).. Joy!)... Only a behaviorist will be able to tell you how severe, what type and what types of medications or methods that will work for your dog.

Still doesn't sound like separation anxiety to me.. even in its mildest form.

Emily94 · Mar 17, 2010, 04:44 PM

If you don't think it is anxiety what would you suggest that it is? I'd rather have an idea and see if I can try and fix it myself than have someone do it for me.

Aurora_Bell · Mar 17, 2010, 04:49 PM

Check out the web site I suggested. Protocols for relaxation and deference. It's an at home guide for what you would be doing with a behaviorist. Even if it isn't separation anxiety, the routines will help with any "anxious" behaviours.

Emily94 · Mar 17, 2010, 06:24 PM

Just to double check, the relaxation exercises is getting the dog to sit and stay and rewarding that (Sorry I may have misunderstood and just want it clarified) because if it is, my dog has no problem with that with or without a treat..

Aurora_Bell · Mar 18, 2010, 05:07 AM

It's not about if they can sit or not, it's about the mind frame. You are setting your dog up for success by helping him relax, which discourages any anxious behaviors. Yes it is boring, and long. But it works. It's not about doing tricks, it's a relaxation exercise, and it works.

Aurora_Bell · Mar 18, 2010, 05:08 AM

Oh did I mention it works? :p

shazamataz · Mar 18, 2010, 06:29 AM

Hey Aurora... does it work? :D

Lucky098 · Mar 18, 2010, 08:39 AM

Please describe your dogs behaviors. Mourning for you when you leave doesn't qualify separation anxiety. My dog wimpers a little when I leave and gets extra excited when I come home and enjoys being in my company. She doesn't have separation anxiety. Basing this type of sickness on his behaviour after you have been gone for a week doesn't help.

Are there other times that he acts like this?

Aurora_Bell · Mar 18, 2010, 09:27 AM

There are many problem behaviours associated with separation anxiety including but not limited to: defecation and urination in inappropriate locations, destructive behaviour, excessive barking and whining, depression, and hyperactivity. These behaviours may also be the symptoms of other problems. However, if undesired behaviours are clearly related to the absence of the owner, occur shortly after departure and a prolonged greeting response occurs upon the owner's return, separation anxiety is the probable cause.

Every dog afflicted with separation anxiety reacts somewhat differently (Borchelt 1983). Some dogs only engage in one problem behaviour while others may engage in several. Many dogs can sense when their owner is leaving and become anxious even before the owner leaves the house.

Other dogs become depressed and will not eat or drink while their owner is gone. This is especially detrimental if the owner is gone for an extended period. In rare cases, dogs will have diarrhea, vomit or engage in self-mutilation such as chewing on themselves or excessive licking after being left alone. Most affected dogs will become overly excited when the owner arrives home and will engage in an unusually prolonged greeting.

Does this sound like what you experienced with your dog Emily?

Emily94 · Mar 18, 2010, 09:42 AM

When I am away his behaviour consists of: Whining, NO desire to play or interact with anyone/thing, he jumps the fence(and then shows aggressive behaviour to anyone around him, including my mom when she tries to catch him) he chews off clumps of fur the point where is looks like he is balding, he won't eat, won't drink, and since I'm not there this is from what my mom has told me.
When I am home: He loves to play with anything/anyone, he eats like a horse, drinks plenty of water, and the couple times he jumps the fence (I do not allow him outside alone because of this, but sometimes he does it while I am watching) I can walk up to him grab him and bring him to the yard without a single growl, and by chance if someone is out walking he sits in the driveway and just looks at them.

If there are any other questions which might help in discovering what is wrong please just ask!

Aurora_Bell · Mar 18, 2010, 09:55 AM

Is he neutered and age?

Have you thought about obedience classes? He sounds like he would LOVE the bonding experience between you two. The relaxation protocols are very boring, and monotonous, but Emily, they honestly do work. I am seeing a behaviorist right now for my dog. This the same stuff we are doing. I know it seems like just sitting, but it's so much more than just that. IT really puts your dog in a different frame of mind. Obedience is more than just learning tricks as well. The more commands your dog knows the happier and easier he will be to get along with. The destructive behaviors can be fixed with the protocols for relaxation and deference, same with the aggression issues.
How much exercise is he getting and what does it entail? What is your daily routine with him like?

Emily94 · Mar 18, 2010, 10:42 AM

Yes he was neutered 5 months ago, and he was a year in December. I've been to obedience but he really had no interest, he'd rather play with the other dogs than do anything else(at home he is fine, I go over his obedience with him quiet regularly).
He is in the kennel while I'm away at school (8-4) so usually I try and give him as much excises as I can when I get home, usually we go for a walk (since it is mucky out it isn't very long at the moment), when we get home we play ball outside, Occasionally he goes to the dog park (use to be everyday, except now it is just a giant puddle), we also play catch in the house if it is miserable outside (don't tell my mom:) ) so he gets at least an hour of exercise with me a day, that doesn't include him just frolicking around with the two other dogs.

Aurora_Bell · Mar 18, 2010, 11:04 AM

That's great Emily. I know the weather isn't permitting, but at his age, he is going to be a little rambunctious, so YOU need to make sure he knows you are in control. It doesn't mean making him fear you or anything, but the obedience is a great start. Try the protocols, give it a month. It’s going to take some time too after getting neutered for him to calm down. However; if he is showing ANY sign of aggression you need to nip that in the bud ASAP. Aggression will continue to develop until they are about 5, and neutering doesn’t always fix that. It’s good that he is getting socialized with other dogs too. If you can when it starts to get nice out, take him to the dog park and practice your exercises with him there where there is plenty of distractions.

Emily94 · Mar 18, 2010, 11:16 AM

He is not aggressive when I am home, he knows he'd get a mouth full, but when my mom or someone else is watching him, he is one peed off pup! I don't leave that often (especially overnight!) so I don't know how I could deal with that, simply because there is not very many times it happens. All I do is say "Bad dog"(I may say it a little louder than most people), and he runs into the house and into the kennel and he gets a little time out. It works to get him back in the yard. I never say "Bad dog" unless I am VERY mad, and he knows it usually it's just a simple no. He is a really good dog when I'm home but it is the exact opposite when I am gone, we cancelled our summer plans because we didn't want to leave him in a kennel in case he was to bite someone (Thank gosh he hasn't yet)