Anxiety

[venture]

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Hi, I wonder can anyone give me a wee bit of advice as regards separation anxiety with whippets.

Miles our whippet of 5 months has settled in well in most respects. He still goes through a performance of whining etc when I leave him in his cage to go out but settles after a while. My major problem at the moment is when I leave him in the house with my husband or son he plays up terrible. As soon as I go out he messes anywhere he can even inside his cage and just wont settle. We have tried every thing we can think of to remedy this but nothing has worked.

Im at the stage where I dread having to go anywhere or have to take him with me. Unfortunately it wasnt convenient last night to take him to parents night so he had to be left. I spent the whole night on my return washing all the bedding from his cage, washing him and all the floors in the house. What I cant understand is when I am in the house on my own and have to go out and leave him he dosent mess its only when I leave him with someone else. Help please.

 

[lalena]

sounds like he's only doing it because he has an (un)appreciative audience. like the toddler who screams when mummy goes out, leaving him with a babysitter. you know he'll stop crying before the doors barely closed he's not going to waste effort if he doesnt have to

 

[Lolcoe]

First of all make sure that when you get back DONT shout at him for making a mess as he will associate you shouting with you returning home, therefore will get more panic stricken when you go out :blink:

Does he follow you around the house like a shadow? If so try putting him in his cage whilst you get on with your normal household duties, that way he'll get used to a bit of distance from you. Before you go out take him out to empty and give him a big fuss for doing so and then settle him in his cage with a nice snuggly blanket a soft toy and a nice treat. Only give him a really nice treat when you go out and he will associate this with you going out.

When leaving him with your husband you've got to find out why the dog is misbehaving. Has he ever bellowed at the TV or does your son play a bit rough?

Some dogs just dont like men (w00t) My Diamond was very wary of my OH at first and used to shake when i was at work but after some bribing on his part they are both found snuggled up together when i get home.

Also id not let him see you put your coat on, he may think your just upstairs and not worry, all my books say NOT to do this but it does work with my pup. :thumbsup:

 

[jnjsse]

v. good advice, to make things easier before u go out tho, when you put him out and does his business try making a noise (which wont distract him too much) that he can associate with doin his business, if it wrks u will get to the point that he'll almost do it on command, almost like clicker training.

jon