Lucy and separation
#247529 - 07/21/2009 06:36 AM |
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I hadn't realized just how dependent Lucy is on me and Hambone until this morning. Hambone chose to stay outside while I was getting ready for work, so Lucy and I were the only ones in the house. I shut the bedroom door (never do that) and went to the master bath to finish getting ready. I heard a high pitched yip, then another, and the last one was really panicky. I thought she was stuck somewhere (although I couldn't figure out in what!) and there she was, panting outside the closed door.
sooooo...this cannot happen. I have gone over the separation anxiety threads and I think I can get this nipped.
My idea is to work with Lucy in the house while Hambone is outside sunbathing. I won't start with the master bedroom door closed between us because that is where she sleeps (fear of the dark is still present in this little girl, so she sleeps with me), but the bathrooms, and other rooms are a perfect opportunity. I plan on stepping through, shutting the door, opening the door and marking for good behavior--i.e. no yip.
I will gradually lengthen the time and mark for good behavior. Then, when she can calmly wait for me to come out, I will begin with the master bedroom.
I am hoping if I can get this done, her fear of the dark will fade too, at least to a workable level.
Any other ideas I can incorporate? Once I get her comfortable, should I put Hambone in the room with me, and start all over or would that be too much to expect?
PS Lucy does NOT sleep in a crate or is even confined in a crate. I tried that and all I got out of it was a robot. It took two weeks after eliminating the crate to get a dog. She does accept her outside kennel (20' by 30') but isn't happy with it.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#247540 - 07/21/2009 08:56 AM |
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Disclaimer: I have no experience with separation anxiety.
However, one thing I have heard that can be very successful is practising separation as you would an out-of-sight down or sit-stay.
Teach the dog the stay command. Practise getting farther and farther until you can go in another room, or around the corner, then pop right back. Graduate to closing a door. Etc.
Sometimes practising an obedience command gives them a mental "job" and helps distract them from the fact that you are gone.
Good luck and be sure to keep us posted on the progress I know you will make!
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Angela Burrell ]
#247542 - 07/21/2009 09:02 AM |
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Oh, good idea! We are working on extending the sit (down still isn't in her vocabulary), so I can incorporate your idea by standing near a corner of the hall way arch, command sit, bridge, lean behind arch, (hiding my face and upper body), lean back in and mark! Then just extend the peek-a-boo game.
Edited by Jo Harker (07/21/2009 09:07 AM)
Edit reason: added
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#247606 - 07/22/2009 01:58 AM |
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I plan on stepping through, shutting the door, opening the door and marking for good behavior--i.e. no yip.
I will gradually lengthen the time and mark for good behavior. Please forgive me if I am hijacking - I just wanted to ask if this could be a good way to teach/acclimate a puppy (6 months old) to spending some time outside alone? Although when opening the door and marking would you be marking for the behavior they are displaying when you opened the door or would they make the connection between the mark and the duration of silence before you opened the door?
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Jasmine Dillon ]
#247609 - 07/22/2009 06:40 AM |
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Good question and I don't consider it a hijack...it all goes to separation. Thanks for extending the area...I was just thinking inside the house...outside exists too.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#247616 - 07/22/2009 08:16 AM |
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Jasmine, if your dog is anxious beig outside by herself I would back it up even further and don't close the door just yet. Have the dog outside, you step inside, mark, return. In this way she cannot associate the door closing/opening with the mark.
If she is not at all anxious, then you could (for example) just give her a great chew toy such as a stuffed Kong or bully stick, go inside for several minutes (ignoring the dog) and then come back ouside (ignoring the dog). Do not call attention to the fact that you are leaving and returning. You want it to be NO BIG DEAL for the dog.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Angela Burrell ]
#247645 - 07/22/2009 11:14 AM |
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I started out just stepping back inside and shutting the door, then immediately opening it and letting her in. Then I worked up to where I could leave her out for ~ 5 minutes. But the past few times I sent her out (I didn't go out with her), she turned around quickly and would yip at the door.
So maybe I should take a step back to the beginning and do what you've suggested Angela - leave a chew toy and then go inside and return? I don't think she's anxious...maybe mildly so, as the yip is similar to the crying when you first crate train a puppy.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Jasmine Dillon ]
#247646 - 07/22/2009 11:28 AM |
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Good plan. Maybe at first you stay out with her a few minutes, till she's good and busy, then go in and get a magazine or something, then return outside to sit down and read it. Then if she is fine, read an article and then go back in and get another magazine.
When I am gardening or something I have a habit of forgetting everything in the house (gloves, pruners, hand shovel, etc) so I keep having to go back in. I try to condition my dogs not to worry about my comings and goings.
I guess you want the dog to not associate you going in and out as her having to do the same.
However, in general I don't leave my dogs outside unattended for very long - they are very good at getting into trouble when they know I'm not looking!
I guess for a SA dog you could do the opposite too.. have her inside and step oustide then return, etc. The main thing is to not pay any attention to the dog before you "leave" and after you "come back" - otherwise they start anticipating the attention and therefore the act of you leaving/returning.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Angela Burrell ]
#247647 - 07/22/2009 12:47 PM |
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So um.. Jasmine, I should have added that your pup just sounds like she thinks you are more fun than the boring old backyard. It sounds like you have successfully acheived the goal of most puppy owners: be the most fun!
If that is the case (good!) and you like this behaviour, I would maybe add a command word to the pup indicating you're going inside (such as Wait) and then reward if she waits calmly.
Jo: I would practise inside the house (different rooms) before moving on to inside/outside. How is she when you go to work?
I hope someone with real SA experience can help you guys further. I haven't had to deal with true SA, but I do definitely take steps which (I hope) prevent/reduce it in all my new fosters.
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Re: Lucy and separation
[Re: Angela Burrell ]
#247648 - 07/22/2009 01:48 PM |
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She is put in her kennel and she barks and barks and barks, but finally settles down. I have mom do a drive by every now and then, and she says she must be in her box, because she doesn't see her.
Oddly enough, this morning, she would rather have stayed in the house alone than go out into the rain to the kennel...lol.
It'll work out. You gave great suggestions. It is jsust a matter of time before she succumbs to training.
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