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Original poster

Companion Dog for a Basset?

22 replies

DopeyDawg · 14/08/2015 10:35

We have had a rescue Basset for 7m.
She's luffly.

BUT she has HUGE separation anxiety.
She was with another (11 year old) Basset that we offered to take too but they said she was too old to be re-homed.

I'd like to get her a companion.
I don't think I can manage another Basset as they are big and heavy and she now pulls too.
I could manage another smaller dog.
I've had Spaniels before and love cockers but they need more exercise than I can offer.
The reason I chose the Basset is that they need a few short walks a day rather than the miles and miles a Spaniel needs.

Any ideas, please?

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VivaLeBeaver · 14/08/2015 10:46

Whippet?

Floralnomad · 14/08/2015 10:50

Do consider that another dog may not deal with the separation anxiety and you could well end up with two dogs making noise / being distressed rather than one .

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 14/08/2015 10:55

Floral - yes, I had thought of that, that's why another 'howler' Basset would not be good. Or a bouncy singing Spaniel.

She's not left for long, 30m at most, but she gets stressed even if I go out the front door and in the back. She also howls if I go to the shop for 10 mins and leave her with H. The frantic 'greeting' when I get back is exactly the same as if I'd been out for 3 hours (I had to, once, in an emergency).

I just hoped, niavely perhaps, that another warm doggy body would provide comfort for her, as she was used to another dog.

But you might be right Shock

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Mimigolightly · 14/08/2015 10:55

Why don't you approach Basset Hound Welfare. They will be able to find you another Basset that needs a good home.

imabusybee · 14/08/2015 11:01

A retired greyhound?

VivaLeBeaver · 14/08/2015 11:04

I think greyhounds can be prone to SA, maybe whippets as well actually.

Ive got a cavachon who's the most laid back, happy dog going.

Don't get a poodle or a poodle x as they're generally meant to be prone to SA.

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 14/08/2015 11:12

What I'd need is a small(ish) dog who doesn't need long walks, is docile with (older) children and not prone to SA.

What breeds/mixes might fit this gap, pls?

(Mimi) I will look into that but 2 Bassets howling might be too much...
They are a very 'talkative' breed and she 'chats away' all the time, which is lovely, but they are VERY prone to SA so I expect another Basset would be too?

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pigsDOfly · 14/08/2015 12:38

Lovely to get another dog if that would be good for you and your basset but I'd be inclined to try to deal with the SA first.

As Floral says you could well end up with two howling dogs and you still won't have dealt with the existing problem, which probably won't go away on its own.

insanityscatching · 14/08/2015 13:05

Eric's a shih tzu poodle cross and has no separation anxiety but that might be because we started off small when he was a tiny pup. He's also pretty bomb proof and he loves other dogs so something similar could be an option. He will walk for hours but would also be happy with two or three strolls around the block particularly when hot or raining.

TrionicLettuce · 14/08/2015 13:49

I think the issue here is that it's being apart from you that is distressing her. Another dog may well not be a satisfactory substitute and it will be difficult to train the new one to be happy being left if your current dog has such severe SA.

Have you had a behaviourist out to work on her SA? I really would try and improve it as much as possible before adding another dog to the mix as whilst it might work to help her deal with you not being there it could also go the other way and you end up with another dog with SA.

Gillh89 · 15/08/2015 21:39

Not all bassets will have SA, I have a 2 year old and he is absolutely fine. However like you I am thinking about getting a companion for him. He gets on amazingly well with my sisters cocker spaniel and staffy, but they are pretty laid back dogs so seem to get on with most breeds. I have heard from people that have 2 hounds and also other breeds, that the hounds seem to have a special connection

I would say thoigh

Gillh89 · 15/08/2015 21:41

I would say though that I think your hound is just missing the company, and I would think she would be happy with any breed, as it's a friend for her

pinkje · 16/08/2015 09:09

You could get a show cocker spaniel, they are a bit less energetic than the working cockers and I find an hour's walk a day is usually enough (as well as constant access to a large-ish garden to play).

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 17/08/2015 21:29

I agree, Trionic that it would be good to sort the SA with me first if poss.
She will howl and refuse food and water if left with another family member for 15mins whilst I go to the Co-op. Hmm

I cant afford a Behaviouralist so I might need to start reading.

Any one know of any good books re this, please?

I would also like to get her company too, but would like to reduce the SA if poss as I don't want her to teach the new dog to be a howler too...

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thoroughlymodernfanny · 17/08/2015 21:48

My Bassett had huge sa- I worked it out slowly, very slowly until she improved. Over a year ( yes that long) she stopped howling and we were able to leave her for three hours alone.

I've now got a second dog. They ADORE each other. There's a real bind. But the additional dog takes her cues from the Basset- despite being older. So I believe if she(2nd dog) had joined us when the Basset had sa then I would be lumbered with two miserable barking howling dogs.

thoroughlymodernfanny · 17/08/2015 21:49

Bond not bind!

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 17/08/2015 22:24

thoroughly - what did you DO to help with the SA, please?

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thoroughlymodernfanny · 18/08/2015 07:40

I just used general online advice methods, but it took a huge amount of time.

Getting her used to being in the kitchen alone while we were there, had to be built up in minutes. As soon as she started to get anxious we went in and reassured her and this was done a few times through each day building up to being alone for half an hour in the kitchen while we were in the house . We had to desensitise her to the cues of us leaving- bags, keys etcetera. That took sooo long.

When she had got over the anxiety she had learned habitual barking was the norm , and we had to train her to bark on command, and sort that aspect out.

We had a video monitor when we left her to help us asses her behaviours which may sound excessive but really helped. It was a very long road, but she's two and a half now and perfectly behaved. No anxiety, calmest quietest ball of stench you'll ever meetGrin

lilacblossomtime · 18/08/2015 07:58

I agree with dealing with the SA and maybe working on the pulling, before getting another dog. Then you can still get another dog as a companion which you dog will probably enjoy more if she is calmer. If you rescued your dog from a rescue place they may help you with behaviour, if not a behaviourist may still be worth looking at if there is some way of spreading the cost, you may only need one or two sessions so they can give you advice on what to do, but it is very helpful to get specific advice for your dog.

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 18/08/2015 09:47

thanks, thoroughly

She was a man's dog before but is wary of H and most men in street.
She is great with other dogs, will ignore people (though is skittish if anyone walks too close) but she will bark and bark at anyone who stops to speak or puts their hand down to her (even very gently). It's tricky as she's a super dog and lots of folk want to say hello, which upsets her.
Is there a 'yellow' collar that means 'don't approach my dog'?

She is stuck to me like glue and it IS wearing.
She's a lovely dog, and it's early days, but still...
We wont re-home her, she is ours for life now, but I'd like to find a way of her being less anxious and me being less 'tied'.

She has got wind of the 'going out' routine.
I put the radio on, she refuses to come into the kitchen (which is where she is left.) Maybe I'll just keep it on when I'm in, all the time, for a bit.
Perhaps I'll jangle keys and NOT go out too. Is this the sort of thing?

I guess I have to start from scratch, a minute at a time in another room.
I may need to get a baby gate?

Love the ball of stench. Mine rolls in whatever bit of shit she can find - seagull is preferred but a cowpat is very heaven. She managed one yes terday when I was distracted and the STINK was appalling. Is it a hound thing? I took her in the river (she was NOT impressed) Grin

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thoroughlymodernfanny · 18/08/2015 12:20

We had a baby gate. At first we put the gate up and shut it whilst in The room with her. Slowly built up to leaving and shutting it and being where she can see us, and so on.

We often picked up keys, put on jackets, took bags to the car and back etc and then stayed home, to desensitise her to those cues.

It's definitely a hound thing. The other dog sniffs but doesn't roll in shit. Basset can't get enough shit tbh.
I'm staggered you got her in a riverShock mine will not even deign to walk through a puddle. It's shower or nothing for her.

Original poster
DopeyDawg · 18/08/2015 12:43

Ah, bad news about the Basset shit thing.
Another endearing feature I knew not of when I took her on Confused

She didn't much WANT to go in the river, tbf.
She doesn't do puddles either...
but she had a harness on and I went in up to my knees (thank god they are stumpy - Bassets, not my knees) and kind of dragged her in with me. She wasn't thrilled but there was no way I could have let her in the house - she was dripping the most monster cowpat - all around her neck head and back and stomach - and she reeked. She is tricolour with quite a lot of white but she was entirely brown (with sheepish grin, the cowbag...).

I will take advice re keys/jackets/doors/ babygate. Thanks.
She is on my feet, snoring like a good'un right now.
Lucky for her she is so loveable...

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