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I think my springer is suffering with day and nightime anxiety

5 replies

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 02/10/2013 07:43

I'm looking for some advice on what to do. I have a four year old springer who we have had since a pup.

Since Sunday night he is showing lots of distress and anxiety symptoms when we are not there. The only thing that changed Sunday night is that I washed and shrank the living room curtains.

In the week, the only day he is left on his own is Thursday. The rest of the time myself/DH/my DDad are here.

He has one big walk each morning, and if we can we try to take him out at night too.

When he is left on his own in the day, he is trashing rooms and shredding things. At night he is banging around, moving furniture and getting stuck in awkward places. My DH has to keep taking him into the spare room, but even then he isn't settling brilliantly. And subsequently mine and DH's sleep is suffering.

We can't afford a dog walker/doggy day care, otherwise he would be in there. I'm also pg with DC#2 and suffering with SPD, so I'm limited to where I can take him myself. It's falling to my DH to do all of the walking at the moment.

I'm going to get some new toys today, try and take him out again for more exercise. What else can we do to help him? I'm worried that the best thing to do would be to rehome him with someone who can give him more than we can Sad

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions I would be very grateful

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beachyhead · 02/10/2013 07:51

I can't imagine it's the curtains, unless there is a very different smell that he is reacting to. As he is 4 yo, something else must have changed, so I would advise a visit to the vet to get him physically checked out. You say when he is 'left on his own in the day', but that someone is there every day but Thursday. Has the amount of time he is left changed radically?

Long term, assuming your situation remains the same, if he is only alone one day a week, and if you can stretch to a dog walker or a let-out visitor near by, it should be do-able (assuming this particular stretch of anxiety is fixed).

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ForTheLoveOfSocks · 02/10/2013 11:05

We have had this pattern for quiet a while, so I don't think it's that. When he is on his own it's no more than two to three hours at a time.

I've been and bought some new toys and a plug in thingy to help calm him down. I think if he doesn't change in the next couple of days then a trip to the vets will be the next port of call

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beachyhead · 02/10/2013 12:44

Best of luck - it's horrible seeing them in distress....

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SnakeyMcBadass · 02/10/2013 13:50

If the curtains have shrunk, could car headlights now be shining around the room? My spaniel goes potty at shadows etc, so has to sleep in a perfectly dark room

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ForTheLoveOfSocks · 02/10/2013 18:29

Thanks beachy. That plug in thingy seems to have calmed him down a bit. When my parents visited earlier he wasn't as bouncy IYSWIM?

Our living room is at the back snakey, but we have put new ones up today so hopefully if it was the curtains then it should be better tonight.

He is worse than a bloody baby sometimes Grin

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