LOOKING FOR DOG CARERS AND OWNERS HELP!

[James Butterworth]

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Hi Everyone!

I'm currently studying at Nottingham Trent University, and i'm aiming to tackle the growing issue of dogs with separation anxiety, and those that are left home alone for long periods of time.

01_The Carer - Firstly i'm looking into those who look after dogs, and problems they face looking after dogs with anxiety issues, or looking after dogs specifically.

02_The Owner - Being able to understand what you dog owners have dealt with raising dogs, and specifically those who currently have dogs with anxiety is important, and ability to see how you care for your dog and the challenges you face is really important to me.

If you could message me in the meantime to find out more, and so i can send you some questions through that'd be great. Appreciate your time and help!

Thanks!

James Butterworth

 

[Violet Turner]

Feel free...

 

[James Butterworth]

Feel free...

Hi Violet,

I've put some questions below... if you can answer them in as much detail as possible that'd be great, thanks!

DOG OWNER QUESTIONS


01_Did/does your dog have separation anxiety?


02_How did/are you tackling raising your dog?


03_What were the most difficult areas around training your dog to be left home alone?


04_Do you notice anything in your dog’s behaviour when left at home during the week in comparison to weekends with your dog?


05_Whats the difference (if any) in your dog’s behaviour in the morning to at night time?


06_Did you feel informed on how to raise your dog when you first received them?


07_Did you choose a breeder, and why not alternative means?


08_What are the biggest problems when leaving your dog at home alone, and the ones you found most difficult to overcome?


09_How disconnected do you feel from your dog when away?


10_Dogs breed and age you own?


11_If you were to select from the following three categories, which would be more appealing to you and your dog, and why?

- Leaving dog home alone, if anxiety and environment could engage and comfort dog

- Allow your dog to be cared for during the week by someone, if you could trust them to

- Bring your dog to work with you, if the environment was dog friendly


12_Does your dog always get left at home alone, or is one of the above an alternative you have tried to approach, and why?

 

[Violet Turner]

1. 
   Not that I know of, but my old dog had mild form of SA.
   
   
2. I find it easy, but sometimes it can be difficult.
   
   
3. Olive weeing and pooing in the house, and both of them not chewing.
   
   
4. No difference.
   
   
5. In the morning excited but at night more timid.
   
   
6. No I did not feel informed but from my old career I have/had enough knowledge.
   
   
7. With the cockapoo yes we used a breeder because we found her easier, with Olive we rescued her from Spain.
   
   
8. Toilet and chewing because they were/are left for 6-8 hours a day except weekends.
   
   
9. Extremely but when I get back I feel better.
   
   
10. Cockapoo she was 14 when she died, Olive a miniature schnauzer 2 ish’
    
    
11. Bring your dog to work with you, if the environment was dog friendly, I can take olive some days but not every day.
    
    
12. I try an alternative approach with leaving her every day like taking her to work etc.
    If you have any more questions just ask away.

 

[JudyN]

01_Did/does your dog have separation anxiety?

Yes

02_How did/are you tackling raising your dog?

Positive reward-based training - I tried 'telling him off' in the early days and it had no effect at all.


03_What were the most difficult areas around training your dog to be left home alone?

The fact that at the start, he'd even get confrontational when I put my pen down (I work from home) because he didn't want me to go upstairs for a wee... And then, having to go out for just a very short time every day for weeks on end.

04_Do you notice anything in your dog’s behaviour when left at home during the week in comparison to weekends with your dog?

Yes - he's fine now if I go out during the week for a couple of hours when I've been home on my own. Weekends and evenings, when both I and OH leave the house, he's not so reliable. Possibly because we haven't worked on this so much.

05_Whats the difference (if any) in your dog’s behaviour in the morning to at night time?

Do you mean in terms of being left? As above, he's better in the mornings than evenings.

06_Did you feel informed on how to raise your dog when you first received them?

No.

07_Did you choose a breeder, and why not alternative means?

Yes, though not a commercial breeder - someone who wanted one litter from her dog. Being first time owners and having a cat, we wanted a puppy, had a clear idea of the 'look' we wanted (which can't be guaranteed with pups in rescue), and thought a dog from a breeder would be easier than a rescue.

08_What are the biggest problems when leaving your dog at home alone, and the ones you found most difficult to overcome?

Wanting to go out when J would be due a walk or feeding, or a 'bedtime wee' which is usually 9.30-10pm. Normally I can juggle walk times, sometimes my son can dogsit, but mostly we just avoid going out at these times.

09_How disconnected do you feel from your dog when away?

Sometimes I worry about whether he's coping, but as I don't go out often, I concentrate on enjoying myself when I do!


10_Dogs breed and age you own?

Lurcher, 8 years old.

11_If you were to select from the following three categories, which would be more appealing to you and your dog, and why?

A: Leaving dog home alone, if anxiety and environment could engage and comfort dog

B: Allow your dog to be cared for during the week by someone, if you could trust them to

C: Bring your dog to work with you, if the environment was dog friendly

A. Though I'm not sure what 'if anxiety and environment could engage and comfort dog' means. B is out as he can be unpredictable and fear aggressive so I wouldn't trust him with anyone else apart from family. C is out as I work from home.


12_Does your dog always get left at home alone, or is one of the above an alternative you have tried to approach, and why?

He doesn't get left regularly - say, just two or three times a week for a couple of hours. I did try dog daycare once when he was young but he jumped up to investigate a shelf, and snarked at the dogsitter when she told him to get down. She was concerned that if he snarked at her, her dog would attack him - so he didn't go back!

 

[Mad Murphy]

01_Did/does your dog have separation anxiety?

No



02_How did/are you tackling raising your dog?

With positive re enforcement


03_What were the most difficult areas around training your dog to be left home alone?

His guarding behaviour means he barks if people walk near the house


04_Do you notice anything in your dog’s behaviour when left at home during the week in comparison to weekends with your dog?

No/ not applicable



05_Whats the difference (if any) in your dog’s behaviour in the morning to at night time?

In the morning he is more active he knows this is the time for his long walk at night he is more calm.



06_Did you feel informed on how to raise your dog when you first received them?

Yes



07_Did you choose a breeder, and why not alternative means?

I have always had rescue dogs and dealt with whatever special need they had this time due to family needs we chose a breeder /pup



08_What are the biggest problems when leaving your dog at home alone, and the ones you found most difficult to overcome?

Outside influences. Our camera has shown that children will tease the dog by making barking noises. People banging car doors or standing at our fence line to chat.




09_How disconnected do you feel from your dog when away?

I am not away for long and the remote camera allows me to check on him



10_Dogs breed and age you own?

Stabijhound age 18 months



11_If you were to select from the following three categories, which would be more appealing to you and your dog, and why?


- Leaving dog home alone, if anxiety and environment could engage and comfort dog


- Allow your dog to be cared for during the week by someone, if you could trust them to


- Bring your dog to work with you, if the environment was dog friendly

Selecting A ; if by this you mean the dogs environment could be changed to ease his angst.



12_Does your dog always get left at home alone, or is one of the above an alternative you have tried to approach, and why?

If we leave then he is left at home. If we are away for longer than 2 hours we arrange a trusted person to come to our house.

 

[James Butterworth]

Thanks for all your replies, some good information in them!

I was just wondering, in terms of the following categories you selected, the ones who chose 'take your dog to work', if this option wasn't available what would your alternative option be, and why?

I am looking into building social communities (so option 2), but would like your input in terms of the greatest problems you find around carers (was it tracking them down, finding someone trustworthy, reliable, etc...), or if you do/did have issues finding suitable care that'd be great to hear from you also!

Overall also what would it take for you to be persuaded to chose a carer over the other means?

Then lastly for now, would you be interested in a service that allows you to connect to your dog when far away, and be updated when they are anxious? Also what about an ability to respond to these 'anxiety moments' with calming interactive therapy (so one idea was the ability to send calming waves to your dog from afar, similar to 'virtual stroking', any thoughts on that?

 

[Violet Turner]

I would take her to doggie day care and if not that i have a friend that runs a dog boarding kennels its amazing...
Option 2) Finding someone trustworthy
yes i would be interested...