Hannah writes: Hagen, my seven-month-old doxie, suffers from the worst separation anxiety I've ever seen. He didn't have problems with it until we moved. We've tried everything short of medicating him to calm his nerves. He actually tore off the bars to his crate and managed to squeeze through the hole and get out! He works himself into such a frantic panic that everyday when I come home he is completely wet from froth and sweat, and then he does nothing but sleep because he's so worn out from barking, screaming and whining. I've tried leaving my shoes, keys, purse, etc. in the car, going out another door, not interacting with him for an allotted time period, and leaving treats in his crate. He even got a new puppy friend courtesy of my roommate. Nothing works. We need help!
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12 comments:
I thought I might try my hand with adding some suggestions. I'm not a dog trainer - nor do I claim to be an expert or anything.
I can only add some advice based on what I have learned with my own (and first) Doxie, Ammo.
Hannah...I've never had a problem with separation anxiety (in any of the dog breeds I've owned). I think this is so because when my dogs were young I took them EVERYWHERE. So I think they learned that when I leave, sometimes they get to come - verses them thinking they are ALWAYS going to be left. So I don't know if it will help or not, but maybe if you start taking your dog different places with you. Dog Park, Pet store, friends houses, the park, training classes etc. I strongly believe separation anxiety is intertwined with self-confidence. The more confident your dog is in new environments, the less likely they will become upset when you leave them alone. If I were you I'd probably sign up for some training classes with too - these can only help! :) And on a side note, I've never used a crate either. I find being locked in a crate/kennel just adds stress (unless your dog likes it) - just my opinion. Even when my guy was young I just put a puppy gate up in the kitchen and made sure everything was out of his reach. Now when I leave my dog has roam of the house. Anything I'm worried about gets put in a separate closed door room. Usually when I come home he's sleeping in the same spot I left him.
Vicky....My doxie is pretty good with kids. That being said - I've also had him introduced to them from the beginning. I think the important factor when introducing kids is not to let the dogs get over faced. For one, I would first observe my dog with other DOGS. Does your dog go right up and sniff new dogs? Does she hide in the corner? Does she become scared when other dogs are too over excited?
Dogs see young children as dogs (not people) - so most often they are going to react to kids the same way they would a new dog. So by figuring out what worries your dog (by watching it with other dogs) you can better understand what she might need in order to feel ok with kids. If it's the over excitement, I wouldn't introduce my dog to any kid under 10 to start (because 10 year olds can take some direction). Maybe have the child sit in a room - and not pay any attention to the dog. Let her decide when she wants to come up and sniff/etc.
I would not restrain her in any way (leash/you holding onto her). tension by you or a leash will just further aggravate her.
And again I would definitely recommend signing up for some basic dog obedience classes - being around new people/new environments will help GREATLY. :)
Hope I was somewhat helpful - again just speaking on experience I've gathered with my own dog, and in the taking of classes. Dog training classes are of a huge benefit to any breed/age dog. Even if your dog knows sit/stay etc, being in new environments can help any dog. Not to mention it's fun! :)
Kyley & Ammo the Dachshund
For Hannah - I saw a news segment that classical music works wonders to calm anxious dogs. I think there's a cd made specifically for that purpose. Might be worth a google and a try. Good luck.
Wow my doxie has had both these issues as this is what I've done.
SA - Re-Introduce the crate as a safe haven and not as a "Place you go so mom can leave" sounds like Hagen associates the crate with you leaving therefore it wouldn't be a "calm" experiance for him at all.
All my dogs (I have 3) love their crates, but only because we intro'd it too them as a positive thing.
Texas my mini would SCREAM for HOURS at the TOP of his lungs when I first got him, so what we did was start feeding him in the crate WITH THE DOOR OPEN, that way he can come in and go out. Then we'd toss treat, close the door while he was eating, and open as soon as he was finished. We did this for longer and longer periods, letting him out ONLY if he wasn't screaming. Look up: Crate Games on YouTube for a visual of this. IT worked. Now I get kongs or a treat and tell him "KENNEL" and he's racing for his crate. It takes time of course.
I also do this when I'm leaving the house, I'll walk outside for a 5 secs when he takes a breath, we walk back in. We're not completly over it, and having other dogs helps HIM, this may not be the solution for every dog, and we stuff Kongs to the brim, and freeze them, so that keeps his mind occupied.
I would defiantly contact a positive reinforcement trainer as well.
Vicky -
Kids and dachshunds are not always a good mix, kids are "strange" creatures to dogs as they don't act like adults would they have very strange actions and sounds that most dogs are concerned with, unless properly socialized from an early age. My lab/golden pup LOVES kids but then he was introduced to them at 8 weeks old.
Texas however didn't meet small children until he was about 1.5 years old, simply because he was having a hard time with adults. Truthfully I think, and this is just based off of my experience with Texas, that its better for dog and kids to be separate. Texas is ok with small children as long as they leave him alone, however since he is little they don't want to do that, since he SEEMS less intimidating due too his size. However after he nipped two kids I have backed off on letting him be around kids. I've even gone as far as to muzzle him if they HAVE to be around him. Ugh that sounds horrid, but I DO NOT want my dog taken away because he bit someone's kid. Does he hate it? Yes.
Are we training with him? ALL.THE.TIME But I've got too make sure everyone involved is safe all the time.
He's fine with kids 9+ but they are a little more settled at this age, and not prove to "randomly falling over" or being picked up which, for some reason, sets him off majorly.
So I've come to the realization that Texas+Kids do not mix, and I will have to be very very aware of that.
This is another situation where you need a knowledgeable pair of eyes to direct you in handling the situation. I would def look into a positive reinforcement trainer.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Erin & Texas- The Reactive Dachshund
My dachsie also had terrible separation anxiety (and we did take her everywhere, so that didn't help us. She just always wants to come). We found that the crate exacerbated it, so we gate her off in a small area, which she likes much better. We also give her a very full kong whenever we leave, which she now looks forward to, and I think it makes our leaving more positive. Now she pretty much just sleeps when we're gone, and I think the separation anxiety is over with.
As for kids, we're about to have one, so struggling with this too. Ours is not good around children she doesn't know. Children she's met a lot (my nephews and nieces, friends children), she adores (especially as they get a little older and can play with her), so I think repeat exposure is the trick here.
As a professional trainer, I feel a responsibility to respond :)
Hannah,
Separation anxiety is a very common thing dog owners deal with, and it's understandable because dogs are social animals and always want to be with their pack. But there are things we can do to lessen the stress. Before you leave for the day, take Hagen on a long walk. Once you start his day with exercise he will be in resting mode for the rest of the day. Then you can leave him with a kong stuffed with some treats..my dog LOVES them and it keeps him busy for hours.
Now the question is, when does he start exhibiting the anxiety? What triggers him? Is it when you grab your keys? Or walk to the door? You can also help him by working with him slowly..maybe grab your keys while you walk around not going anywhere, put your jacket on to read the paper..you get what I mean. Baby steps. Then you can go outside for 5 min and only return when he's quiet, then move that to 10 min, then drive around the block.
Now I'm not sure what your routine is but another key point is DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL WHEN YOU LEAVE HIM. When I leave for the day I tell my dogs, "see you later guys". If you start to panic over whether or not he will panic guess what.. he's going to because you are.
Hope this helps
Vicky,
First and foremost, children need to learn how to behave properly around dogs. I've seen way too many kids waving their hands in t heir faces and chasing them around. It's up to you and the other adults to teach kids to respect dogs and respect their space. When you say that you want to put the dog down so she can be around them, do you always pick them up and hold them? This can make her think theirs something wrong. My best advice is to go slow, don't overwhelm your dog. Put her on the floor, do not hold her, maybe have 1 child come over and instruct that child not to pay any attention to your dog. Monitor her behavior and most important, praise when she's good..she will associate good things in proximity to a child and it eventually will help her to feel less stressed around them. Don't rush it and you should be fine.
Incredible input, everyone. Thanks so much for bringing your experiences forward.
Keep 'em coming!
I have a rescue doxie, who has had terrible anxiety since I got her 4 years ago at 3 months old. She would constantly wet/soil the floor whenever we left the house, during thunderstorms and when men with loud voices were in the house. She gets terrible tremors and hyperventilates. Its quite traumatic. I tried all the suggested behavioral changes, for me and for her, but they didnt work at all. My vet finally suggested amatryptaline once in the morning and once at night because she was having such terrible anxiety attacks, sometimes even when I was at home. It worked wonders! She has never had an accident since and she gets a little nervous when we leave but she will stay in her area and doesnt hyperventilate, and no more messes on the carpet! When I return she is usually just resting, waiting for me. She has a sister so she has company when shes alone which helpts too. Even tho I hated to have to medicate her, I believe some dogs, especially rescue dogs, may have some unresolved anxiety issues that unfortunately cant be fixed with behavioral changes, although these changes like not making a big fuss over leaving and returning, can make transitions much smoother as well, I have found. The med made her groggy for about a week and then she was right back to running and playing as normal. She takes one pill in the morning and one before bed and I can see that she is so much happier and calm and I also feel so much better that she is not suffering anymore. There are occasional setbacks, but they are few and far between. Of course meds are not the answer for ALL anxiety probs but thats been my experience. Good Luck!
Instead of "crating" our Dachshund we bought a kids playpen (which, incidentally was half the price of a dog playpen) and put her bed and some food and water in there and treat like an exciting treat that she gets to spend time in there. Not sure if this helps but good luck.
Hannah - I don't know if it actually works, but I saw on some TV show where they used a plug-in fragrance thing that simulated the pheromones that a mother dog would give off to calm the dog. It's supposed to calm the dog down.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13043
I also read that you can try spraying a lavender scent near or around the crate, which also has a calming effect.
Hannah - good advice given. Patricia McConnell has a little book on separation anxiety that is worth the read: http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Home-Soon-Separation-Anxiety/dp/1891767054
You can try, as mention, the DAP pheromones too.
I'd really also take the dog to the vet and check for medical issues. He's a bit young, but can't hurt. I would also suggest you put him on a medication while you re-train him - prozac or the like - and your vet can help you with this also. Good luck.
Thank ya'll SO MUCH for all the feedback! I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to have some help on this issue. In my po-dunk town we don't have trainers to turn to, just my vet (who knows my number by heart now). Quick update: After talking with the vet we decided to put Hagen on medication (Clomicalm). It seemed the best decision since he was starting to hurt himself. He seems to do well on it, but he isn't the same Doxie I know and love...he sleeps all the time. ):
Sheila: The music works! (: He zonks out almost immediately..but thats only when I'm with him, not when he is by himself. (he loves Cristofori's Dream and the soundtrack from UP!)
Erin: We're working on reintroducing the crate. Its a slow-go process, but, I agree, it needs to be done.
Jackie: Thank you for your advice. Its gotten us leaps and bounds from where we were. We've started working on his triggers (keys/shoes) and now he hardly notices.
To everyone who helped by giving me and Hagen advice we SO appreciate it. The goal is to get Hagen to a point where we don't have to use the medication. Its going slow and steady, but with all the help from all you good folks at WYD we're doing a lot better than we were. If I thanked you all a million times it wouldn't be enough. (:
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