 Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Diana Matusik ]
#106729 - 05/16/2006 10:28 PM |
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Excellently post Diana! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Michele McAtee ]
#106730 - 05/16/2006 10:30 PM |
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Excellently put on your excellent post Diana!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Catherine Coy ]
#106731 - 05/16/2006 10:33 PM |
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Loc: Long Island
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I'd really like to hear from a few people who have HANDS-ON experience with SUCCESSFULLY and FULLY overcoming this issue.
I increased the dogs exercise by about 1000% and saw a gradual decrease in the behaviors. I left my house dispassionately and when I found what he chewed upon my return, I didn't acknowledge it (No matter how IRATE I was or how much I wanted to choke the life out of him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />  . I didn't rush to greet him when I got home either, but ignored him for a while. I used NILIF types of methods. Today he's been chew free for about 5 years or so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
If I had known about crates back then, I would have definitely utilised one.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Diana Matusik ]
#106732 - 05/16/2006 10:36 PM |
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OK, OK...I can see that I'm getting responses from very few people who have actually personally dealt with separation anxiety which, according to several veterinary medical abstracts I've read, is a form of mental illness in a dog.
I'll try Clomicalm and a crate. If that doesn't work, at least I'll know that I did everything possible to help Sandy.
Thanks to everyone who wrote, especially those brave enough to write to me privately and admit that they failed. I can see why you didn't want to risk the judgment evident on this board.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Konnie Hein ]
#106733 - 05/16/2006 10:38 PM |
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I think we owe the Catherine a little respect in posting, as she has gone to great expense and effort to accomodate her dog. Not many dog owners would do this.
When words are minced, the idea of crate training can sound appalling. A range of ideas are being represented from mine, which is take your time and don't allow the dog to stress over confinements to sit next the crate and listen to the dog cry for hours. I'm not saying the second is a bad idea - it worked for my SA dog, but it's not for every dog either.
You encourage your dogs in training, you teach them what to do, you are patient when they don't understand the first time. I think the least we can do is show the same amount of respect to dog owners that are trying their best to learn and help/train their dogs!
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Barbara Erdman ]
#106734 - 05/16/2006 10:40 PM |
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Good work, Barbara! This is why I'm going to have a punching bag installed when we buy a house. If the dog does something bad, go whale on the bag to vent anger, then deal with the problem with a clear head! Must have taken a lot to hold yourself back when seeing that object chewed up. I hope I can do the same when the time comes!
Thanks, Michele!
Catherine, I'm not sure you've exhausted every behavioral option yet, but if meds work for you and the dog and you both end up living a happy life together, then that's excellent. Just be aware that not all vets are as well versed on behavior as they ideally should be. Human docs too are prone to whipping out the RX pad a little quick sometimes.
Best of luck, please keep us all updated.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Catherine Coy ]
#106735 - 05/16/2006 10:45 PM |
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......I asked for responses based on personal experience. Do you have any?.........
Again, yes. Not sure why my first "yes" didn't take.
The thread I supplied and the additional posts on this thread have given you a lot of excellent suggestions from many experienced and knowledgeable dog handlers/trainers/owners.
Your own reaction seems to be disbelief that people have suggestions involving effort or commitment (or, to be fair, MORE effort and commitment). I'm not sure what you thought you'd get, if not steps to take, and ways to work with it until it is manageable.
If additional work with the dog (and with your simmering resentment), doesn't work for you, then I'm afraid you have the wrong dog, and the dog has the wrong person. I'm sorry; I don't know what else to say.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Catherine Coy ]
#106736 - 05/16/2006 10:46 PM |
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Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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OK, OK...I can see that I'm getting responses from very few people who have actually personally dealt with separation anxiety which, according to several veterinary medical abstracts I've read, is a form of mental illness in a dog.
I'll try Clomicalm and a crate. If that doesn't work, at least I'll know that I did everything possible to help Sandy.
Thanks to everyone who wrote, especially those brave enough to write to me privately and admit that they failed. I can see why you didn't want to risk the judgment evident on this board.
The reason why you don't have scores of people jumping in to empathize is that 99.9% of these people exercise, discipline, and crate their dogs properly. Your parting shot about judgments on this board speaks volumes about the kinds of responses you were prepared to entertain. Bottom line is, you're being condescending and ignorant.
If your marching orders are to load the dog up with pills and throw her in a crate when you leave the house, with no other changes to her lifestyle other than further manifesting the resentment you have for her, perhaps someone here can help you find your next dog forum so you can register in advance of your need to vent and patronize.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Catherine Coy ]
#106737 - 05/16/2006 10:48 PM |
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Reg: 07-14-2005
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Loc: Wisconsin
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I would say it's a training issue. When do you pet her and soothe her? Do you pet her when she's being quiet and calm or do you go to soothe and pet her when she's being a dork? If it's the latter, you're training her to put up a hissy fit! I would let go of petting her frequently. Dogs need firm, fair leaders, exercise, and discpline first, affection only after all that has been satisfied. Stop sleeping with her on the bed, only let her sleep on the floor in her crate or tethered on a rug if she must be in your room.
IME, Separation anxiety can be training issue or a neurological thing. My dog (Abby) was a training issue. A "mental illness" for lack of a better phrase can be deal with effectively by approaching it as a training issue. If your dog can do a down stay, then you can shape that to a down stay at a distance from you. If you dog can do a down stay at a distance from you, the things you do before you leave are only distractions in training. Desensitizing in a format of obedience is a very slow process. If you are willing to try, it can be surprisingly effective!
Catherine, I have some texts which cover SA in great detail. I suspect that the solutions will be very similar as posted here, but I will look it up for you.
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Re: Serious Separation Anxiety
[Re: Anne Vaini ]
#106738 - 05/16/2006 10:52 PM |
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Reg: 05-15-2006
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While I appreciate everyone's comments--less so those who were incredibly rude and judgmental--I like Anne's idea of agility training, which I read about only yesterday. It sounds like something I may enjoy, too, and meet new people while learning how to do it.
My new house has a high school track nearby, so exhausting Sandy will be easier as I can let her run without a leash (I think). But I'm no spring chicken myself, so we'll see how that goes.
A holistic vet saved Sandy's life when she was so sick, after THREE conventional vets told me to euthanize her, so I refuse to believe we've come this far only to subject her to drugs. Ugh. I'll definitely try the exercise route first.
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