Hello! I adopted a Blue Heeler 10 days ago from a rescue. They believe he is about 10-11 months old. The woman who heads the rescue recommended this website. My dog has a lot of fear. I started the pack leader groundwork training 7 days ago. When I am home, my dog is submissive and calm in the crate. When we go on walks, he does not pull, bark, nothing. He is not dog aggressive and LOVES people. He is very sweet. He automatically sits when coming out of the crate, after I open the front door, and goes right into his crate when we come back home from being outside or going on walks. I am staying consistent with him. My problem comes in when I leave. he barks and whines non stop. He broke out of his kennel yesterday while i was gone. what can I do to ease his separation anxiety when I am gone? Anyone have any successful stories and training that works? I just need a little direction.

Sounds like you have a wonderful dog!

A set schedule is best at making a new dog feel secure. The same things happen the same way every time.

Before I leave the house, I make sure the dog is in a state where he has the least amount of things to worry about. And he is tired. Make sure he is fed, rested an hour, then exercised earlier in the day before you leave. I used to run my dogs (playing fetch after they rested) til they dropped. Put him in his crate with a good, strong chew toy he only gets when he is in the crate and which no other dog gets to use. And I throw in a handful of kibble or treats so he can look for those while I close the door.

Once he gets a bit more secure at your house and that you always return things should improve. A tired dog is always a good dog

Good luck!

Thank you! I am going to amp up our exercise and do bike rides instead of walks. I am also going to get him a tough chew toy/treat for the crate. I am hoping my consistency and his exercise helps. He really is a wonderful dog!

A few random thoughts:

10 days is still new to his environment. And he's probably not had a lot of stability or predictability in his life up to now, which, in my book, are the things happy, stable dogs need more than anything. With time and a new routine to settle into, he may very likely overcome this on his own.

Make sure that you are not creating a lot of "high energy" when you are coming and going from the home. No big goodbyes. No big celebrations upon your return. Keep this coming and going as the "lowest energy" part of the dog's day. Coming and going of the owner should be seen as "no big deal" (because it isn't). But sometimes the human can make what seems like to the dog a big production out of it--and so it causes stress for the dog anticipating these big events.

Try covering the crate (old towel or blanket--if you don't think he would chew them). The "den" effect created from the enclosure might encourage him to settle himself. It would block out some visual and sound distractions.

Try very short training spells in the crate when you've got the time to work on it. Put him in (no goodbye) and then leave for 30 seconds...then come back in, say nothing (wait for him to settle in the crate) then let him out again. Repeat over and over, gradually increasing the time, and randomizing the amount of time in the crate. Again, the idea is that going in the crate and the human leaving is a perfectly normal, predictable event--the human always comes back, and when they do it isn't much of an event anyway.

I assume he also has access to the open crate as a retreat even when you're home? That's a good habit to have as well. Give him crate treats (or even feed in the crate) to increase positive associations with being in there.

 Quote: Sara Severson

Thank you! I am going to amp up our exercise and do bike rides instead of walks. I am also going to get him a tough chew toy/treat for the crate. I am hoping my consistency and his exercise helps. He really is a wonderful dog!

Folks are giving great advice Just one precaution:

Don't over-do that BIKING with this young dog -- Too much running is Bad for his Body at this age & could cause future physical Problems ... An alternative that will drain more energy is the "mental exercise" of Marker Training which is even more tiring to the dog than running.

My understanding in the pack leader groundwork training is that establishing yourself as pack leader is number 1, is that correct? Can marker training be utilized in addition to groundwork pack leader training? He is always in his crate when I am home. I tried covering up the crate, and he pulls the sheet through and shreds it. I don't acknowledge him ever when coming in or out of the home, or even when I walk by his crate.

They are fearful, many ACDs are, highly intelligent....sounds like his main fear right now is that you will disappear. Don't let him get into ritual behaviors which he "thinks" make you materialize.
Shredding the sheet covering his crate sounds like a great way to get your attention. ACDs like to "make something happen".
I'd marker train many times a day, small periods of time, 5 minutes. Teach him tasks, bring your bowl, bring your leash.

I'd have him out some when you are home, on leash in the house.

My ACDs have been bored by heeling, but I'm not a good trainer. My ACDS have loved short games of fetch, and especially tug, and "hit" the tug.

Don't make a big deal out of leaving the house. If your stressing over leaving that only transfers to the dog.

Don't leave immediately after you crate him. That can start his reactions to you leaving.

"DO" make sure he can no longer escape his crate. Once that starts it can create a dog who will try and escape anything you put him in.

Thanks for all the input. I don't make a big deal coming or leaving. I make no eye contact with him, and I usually walk around for a minute or two before leaving. When I come in the door, I do the same thing. I think I am going to incorporate marker training to keep his mind busy. That's huge for heelers. Their minds need to stay busy. He already has learned to automatically sit when coming out of the crate and before we walk out or in doors. He was afraid of the stairs in my home at first, but I started giving him treats when he would walk nicely behind me up and down the stairs, and now he has no problems with the stairs. He is almost house broken. He is learning incredibly fast. He really is an amazing dog. Now, I am wondering, how do I know when to move to the second level of the pack leader training to where he is out of his crate but on a leash? In Ed's video he says that the dog must be calm and submissive 24/7 and earn the right to be on a leash in the home. When I am here, he is an angel in the crate. It is just when I am gone and his anxiety kicks in. I want my dog to feel as safe, comfortable and structured as possible. I don't want to end the 24/7 crate too early and throw anything off. Anyone with experience with this training? Thank You everyone!!

I don't think you're going to get a cattle dog who is calm submissive 24 hrs a day...

I'd look instead for a dog who is quick to respond and wants to work with/for you. Which it sounds like he is