Increasingly anxious newly rehomed rescue dog

[FreyaAshcroft]

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Help! We picked up our bitch Freya from a rescue centre ten days ago. For the first week she was happy to go to sleep on her bed, was happy to be left and was really easy going, she played and interacted with us and seemed really relaxed.

In the last three days she has been increasingly anxious started shaking, has an upset stomach, she paces and will not sit still, the only way I've found to calm her is to hold her still on my lap and eventually after a bit of struggling she gives up and goes to sleep ( of course this isn't ideal as its going to feed any separation anxiety she does have). If I leave her in her crate and go out she is fine but if I leave her in a room by her self for 30 seconds she barks, wees on the floor, and gets very upset. Today I've noticed she is eating her own poop after she goes.

The frustrating thing is she is happy in her crate but we obviously don't want to keep her locked up 24 hours she needs to learn to be happy outside of it. She seems as if she will only settle if she has no other choice either by putting her in the crate or by holding on to her, as if she's not sure otherwise how to relax. How can I get my calm happy little girl back? Is this separation anxiety? How can I calm her without making her over dependent

 

[meddling]

Has she been spayed? Just wondered if she was coming into season as her vulva looks quite swollen...just a thought

 

[FreyaAshcroft]

Has she been spayed? Just wondered if she was coming into season as her vulva looks quite swollen...just a thought

Thank you for your reply Meddling, no she was in to be spayed yesterday but because of her bad tummy we had to cancel it, does coming into season affect their behaviour in such a way? Could be the answer if so!

 

[meddling]

Yes hormones can do all sorts!

Weeing in the house when previously clean, whinging, whining, clingy...might be good to get a urine sample checked for signs of infection too...whippets are incredibly sensitive, and delicate little flowers when they want to be!!!

If at all possible, I would hold off on the spay until you no for certain what is going on...wait for her to have a season even...so you do it at the safest time

Good Luck

 

[Rocky Rescue]

What breed is she ? Looking at the picture above she looks like a Staffy a breed know to suffer from separation anxiety.

Are you able to leave a radio on for her during the time she is left alone, just pop it on a talky station something like Radio 4 should be fine for this ?

Can you build up her alone time gradually, start off by going in another room and just listen to what she does. Then try leaving the home for just a few minutes then go back inside.

Gradually build up the time she is left alone until she can be left for an hour or so.