Hi, advise please, I've just re-homed a lurcher from the a rescue centre and she has severe separation/anxiety issues. I'm currently trying to leave the room for a few minutes and she's still freaking out. I had no choice to leave her for half an hour to go to the doctors and returned to the house and she had ripped and chewed all the windows blinds down. I certainly don't want to give up on her. Any advice will be so welcome
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Severe anxiety
- Thread starter lukkat
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Hi Lukkat
It can take up to 6 months for a rescue to settle. The seperation anxiety your dog is feeling right now is born out of fear. Do you have a crate for your dog in another room where she can go to? If so, start by putting some nice tasty treats in the crate, especially stuffed Kongs that will take some time for her to figure out how to get the tasty treats out. Put it in the crate and just wait there until she starts to go in and feel comfortable there. Stay there while she eats the treats. Then gradually start to go into another room for a couple of minutes then come back. Gradually increase the time spent in another room. Slowly does it. all dogs learn at different paces so don't rush her.
Then when you have got up to about 10 mins in another room, try shutting the door whilst she is occupied. If she makes a fuss go back in but ignore her completely. Don't even look or speak to her. She will learn that she will not get your attention this way. If she does'nt make a fuss then start to go outside and shut front door. Come back in again and sit down. Increase lengths of time gradually,
As regards the damage, it may be worth investing in a baby gate so that she cannot get to the furniture and keep her in the kitchen. Always give her a Kong filled treat or chew-bone to occupy her mind and her teeth before leaving.
The best stress reliever is plenty of exercise so that she has enough physical and mental stimulation to tire her out. A tired dog is a happy dog..
Hope this helps
Lady Dog Whisperer
It can take up to 6 months for a rescue to settle. The seperation anxiety your dog is feeling right now is born out of fear. Do you have a crate for your dog in another room where she can go to? If so, start by putting some nice tasty treats in the crate, especially stuffed Kongs that will take some time for her to figure out how to get the tasty treats out. Put it in the crate and just wait there until she starts to go in and feel comfortable there. Stay there while she eats the treats. Then gradually start to go into another room for a couple of minutes then come back. Gradually increase the time spent in another room. Slowly does it. all dogs learn at different paces so don't rush her.
Then when you have got up to about 10 mins in another room, try shutting the door whilst she is occupied. If she makes a fuss go back in but ignore her completely. Don't even look or speak to her. She will learn that she will not get your attention this way. If she does'nt make a fuss then start to go outside and shut front door. Come back in again and sit down. Increase lengths of time gradually,
As regards the damage, it may be worth investing in a baby gate so that she cannot get to the furniture and keep her in the kitchen. Always give her a Kong filled treat or chew-bone to occupy her mind and her teeth before leaving.
The best stress reliever is plenty of exercise so that she has enough physical and mental stimulation to tire her out. A tired dog is a happy dog..
Hope this helps
Lady Dog Whisperer
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Excellent advice from the Lady Dog Whisperer.
I will say exactly the same but I would lock her in the crate when left on her own; once she is used to the crate and happy and comfortable in it without any issues. This will prevent any damage to home completely.
My dog is 2 years old and as we currently live in rented and he stays in his crate whilst we are out at work or wherever.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Sophie x
I will say exactly the same but I would lock her in the crate when left on her own; once she is used to the crate and happy and comfortable in it without any issues. This will prevent any damage to home completely.
My dog is 2 years old and as we currently live in rented and he stays in his crate whilst we are out at work or wherever.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Sophie x
Thank you Lady Dog Whisperer, I'm quite lucky at the moment I've got a couple of months off work to work with her. I'll certainly try you advice and hopefully in a few weeks we'll see a big difference in her....here goes !!!!
Thanks Sophie.....watch this space lol, I'm determined not to give up because apart from the separation issue she's a great dog that deserves a forever home x
Thanks Sophie.....watch this space lol, I'm determined not to give up because apart from the separation issue she's a great dog that deserves a forever home x
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Hi Lukkat, and welcome to DogForum 
There's no point in me typing out just what ladydogwhisperer typed all over again, so I won't Suffice it to say that your little one must be so stressed with what is happening that there's no amount of snapping out of it or throwing a tantrum involved- she really does think that the world is ending when she is left and she genuinely can't cope with it.
The solution starts with seconds of being left in a constructive way, and graduates onto minutes over the course of weeks. These things take time, effort and a huge input of trust from your dog. Be worthy of that trust and show her faultlessly that you will always come back for her, and once she starts learning that then she will start to be a much happier dog.
I can't stress enough that a dog that is well exercised has less energy with which to panic. In fact as well as a walk before you go, when you have returned from wherever you've been when you've left her (and been careful not to make too much of a big thing of your return too, which is important) a quick saunter is a good way for her to shake off the bad vibes that she felt when you were away.
You'll know when she's starting to get a bit of control over her emotions when she starts yawning instead of panicking and when you're back and she has a good shake to throw off the panicky feelings she's generated. Dogs DO yawn when they're tired, but in stressful or exciting circumstances a yawn is your dog venting their stress/panic/excitement and thereby getting back a bit of control of themselves.
Good luck
There's no point in me typing out just what ladydogwhisperer typed all over again, so I won't
Suffice it to say that your little one must be so stressed with what is happening that there's no amount of snapping out of it or throwing a tantrum involved- she really does think that the world is ending when she is left and she genuinely can't cope with it.The solution starts with seconds of being left in a constructive way, and graduates onto minutes over the course of weeks. These things take time, effort and a huge input of trust from your dog. Be worthy of that trust and show her faultlessly that you will always come back for her, and once she starts learning that then she will start to be a much happier dog.
I can't stress enough that a dog that is well exercised has less energy with which to panic. In fact as well as a walk before you go, when you have returned from wherever you've been when you've left her (and been careful not to make too much of a big thing of your return too, which is important) a quick saunter is a good way for her to shake off the bad vibes that she felt when you were away.
You'll know when she's starting to get a bit of control over her emotions when she starts yawning instead of panicking and when you're back and she has a good shake to throw off the panicky feelings she's generated. Dogs DO yawn when they're tired, but in stressful or exciting circumstances a yawn is your dog venting their stress/panic/excitement and thereby getting back a bit of control of themselves.
Good luck
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