I am travelling out to the red centre for two months and wondered if anyone can help. I have always travelled with my 14 year old cross breed dog and she is always so good. She waits patiently and never barks. Recently I have managed to find myself with another dog. She is a rescue dog. She's a cavoodle, very pretty and loving but has been badly mistreated and is terrified of everything. I have been to see a dog therapist who as given me loads of tips on how to manage her behaviour and she has improved no end. As long as I am in sight she is calm and very well behaved. The minute I am not there she is hysterical . She has separation anxiety. She has learnt to stay at home without barking for an hour or two. I have been training her for small periods of time to wait with my other dog in the my campervan for me. Three minutes is about it and then she starts barking incessantly. I couldn't leave her behind as she is my little mate and it would destroy her trust. She is only 12 months old and has had three owners already. I have found the thunder jackets work well when she has really dropped her bundle and it certainly calms her immediately. I have bought a citronella collar to take with me. I don't really want to use it but don't want to have her barking while I go to the shower. My question to all you other dog owners out there is do you have any ideas? Luckily I am travelling with a friend for this trip and she will be able to mind her at times, but I still need to address the problem. I will look forward to any ideas. Thanks Lynne
sounds like you have all bases covered Linzeelou.
I too have a thunderjacket and citronella anti bark collar for my dog. Works really well too.
As he too has separation anxiety.
However, on a recent visit to the kennels he had on him a calming collar
They emit a pheromone that mimics the scent a mother dog gives to her puppies.
At the kennel they said he was a lot calmer. These collars can be purchased on the internet for about $20.
To extend its life you can put the collar in a plastic bag and put it into the fridge.
Anyway that's my two bobs worth , hope it helps
Keep up with the many short periods of disappear, come back....lots of times in many situations. If you can make a tape or in some way record your voice talking in a normal way, my boys get the radio left on if they are on their own, classical or ABC talk, not the shock jock stuff as that often sounds harsh/agro.
A good juicy bone takes a fair while to chew on and by the time it is finished dogs will often sleep awhile....try to get the little one into a regular routine, so she learns that no matter where she is life can be fairly predictable, this is especially the case with rescue dogs from caged situations as they likely got no socialisation and she is likely going thru such a steep learning curve she is scared when the person she trusts is not there.
Also, ask vet for clomi calm, use calming voice and signals that dogs understand and possibly use rescue remedy to help her through all this.
Annie
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Annie - after my 2nd cup of coffee I'm almost human! Together we are pawsaroundoz!
Lynne we have worked with many rescued dogs we foster them, I agree with the method of disappearing at odd times and varying lengths i would like to add that when initially doing it or starting to do it one thing that is of benefit is to heavily exercise the animal before hand so it is in a tired state and more likely to want to rest or even sleep. This takes the edge off the animal and gives you a good starting point.
Cheers karl
Separation anxiety takes time to overcome, perhaps in the meantime, while the dog is learning, you could have the Vet de-bark her. For those that think this cruel, dogs that have had this op learn how to bark again (with a huskier note) - it is not permanent. Speak to your Vet.
Hi. She is only 12 months old, still a baby, it takes years to trust you to come back. I have 2 dogs and they had problems too, they are big and started howling, i could hear them from the end of the road. Now they are perfect and have you tried tying her up with a big bone when you leave? I don't have to tie mine up but when travelling i do, and they feel secure, same mat to lie on same toy to keep company or if i am somewhere new i leave my jumper or worn shirt with them. Not now anymore but it might help. Good Luck.
When we are both going out, I distract our dog by smearing peanut butter on a really durable rawhide chew bone she has. It takes her ages to clean out all the cracks and crevices.
