Separation anxiety in new rescue

[Charliemum1]

We have had our ddog for about six weeks now and she has settled well with very few issues. BUT she gets very upset when she is left. We had her in a crate in our bedroom for the first couple of nights and she settled immediately and slept right through so it isn’t a crate issue and apparently she was fine when crated at her foster home. Now at night she sleeps in her basket in our bedroom.

However, when she is put in her crate downstairs and left she gets herself in a state, rips up her bedding and bites and gnaws the bars. If we hadn’t reinforced the crate with cable ties it would have collapsed!

Anybody out there with some ideas of how we can settle her, it breaks my heart to see her so upset 😢😢 but she has to learn to be left.

She is absolutely gorgeous and we love her to bits

I've a 9 month old puppy,I've never used a cage and nor would I...it's like a prison for a dog.mine has the kitchen to herself with lots of toys and chews to distract her when we go out...everyone must find their own way with their pup.its like parenting,we all do it differently...but nothing on earth would convince me to use a cage

If you're on FB join the group Dog Training Advice and Support. They have a file on separation anxiety. Unfortunately the advice is that a dog with true SA can't be left for any longer than they are comfortable with. That may be not at all to start with. Each time they are left to panic it reinforces that being left is scary.
Doggy daycare?
Work from home?
Take time off?
Neighbour or friend watch the dog?

We use a crate fine look at crate training dogs are den animals. We have a blanket and towel over the top and side of it so it’s more of a den. As a puppy it was a safe place for him to go and he often got into voluntarily during the day when tired to escape from our DC. We leave the door open he sometimes sleeps there if fire too hot or he wants his own space. When I go to work I only work part time he goes in the crate (we also have a fabulous dog walker) which all helps. At 6 he is a lovely contented boy who rarely barks.

Goodness knows what our neighbours do they have two dogs who bark and whine incessantly when left the noise in our house is deafening upsetting and annoying and they frequently all go out at night for extended periods. They do have crates but goodness knows what they do.

The dog sleeps in a crate quite happily. It doesn't sound like it is the crate. It's being left that's the issue.

She is approximately 2 1/2 years old and was crate trained at her foster home for several months with no issues and as I said before she was happy enough in the crate when we were close by.

I’ll have a look at the Facebook group for advice 😎

I am at home most of the time, I’m retired and take her with me when I can but I can’t be with her every minute of the day (dentist, food shopping etc lol)

You may have to be in the short term. It's hard though.
Also maybe film her when you are out. See what's happening.
If it isn't as severe as SA adaptil can help, covering the crate, leaving something that smells of you and a radio on can all help.

Hi OP,congratulations on your new rescue dog.
When I first got a rescue dog with issues I was advised to buy a book called "UNDERSTANDING THE RESCUE DOG"im pretty sure it was written by a carol white.this book was an enormous help and I'd definitely recommend you buy it.
Also try speaking with a local dog trainer,ask them to come to your house so they can see the routine and tell you what they think is wrong.
In relation to leaving the e.g. here are some tips which do help;
1)as much as possible give your dog a routine and stick to it.it makes them feel safe.
2)before leaving make sure they have had a good forty minutes off lead exercise.
3)twenty minutes before leaving disassociate with him.no cuddles,treats,etc.ignore him(sounds cruel but it lessens the feeling of being alone when you do go,if it went from cuddles to alone it's much harder).
3)ensure he has drinking water fresh
4)put on the radio or tv and a light if you are returning after dark
5)give him a treat and a game like the Kong's which you can fill with lovely tasty paste or treats which he has to work at to get out,keeping him occupied
6)just go.no big bye byes.
7)start with going for a couple of minutes,yes doing all this for a two minute leave is hard work but it will pay dividends,then coming home.when you get n,(this is hard)ignore his excited greetings.the very second,yes,instantly,he stops his frenzied 'thank God your home',yells,go and say hello calmly.this will make your coming home not such a big deal after all.
8)build up the amount of time you leave him slowly.
If you do all the above every single time,and it really must be every time.he will gradually learn that its not such a big deal you going as you always come home.
Please remember you should never leave a dog alone for more than four hours at a time.that is the RSPCA guidelines.
I appreciate that this is a huge commitment but if you stick to it,every time,you will have a much happier dog.
Good luck🐕💜💜

Thanks for all your kind comments 😍😍 she is usually only left for about half an hour max. I have had a dog trainer/behaviourist round and she gave me most of the above advice - I give her a kong which she doesn’t touch until I return. I’m trying to leave her a couple of times a day, sometimes only for a few minutes,go out the front door and straight back in through the back. Strangely she is happy to stay downstairs if I am upstairs.

I’ve covered the crate and she just pulls the cover through the bars and chews it 😳😳

She is such a sweetheart, I’m hoping once she realises this is her furever home she’ll relax. Btw I do have a camera set up.

I was wondering whether to leave her out of the crate but in the utility room but my dog trainer lady thinks I should persevere with the crate.

I’ll get that book and adaptil plug ins tomorrow.

Wolfie is right in that genuine SA can't be dealt with by continuing to leave the dog whilst they're distressed. I'd also recommend joining the FB group Dog Training Advice and Support. You can search the group for previous questions about SA and there's also an excellent article on SA in their 'Files' section which has excellent advice as well as loads of really helpful links to other resources.

If you absolutely must leave her and can't organise someone to be with her then I really wouldn't persevere with the crate. If she's trying to break her way out of it she could potentially hurt herself in the process and it's not going to be helping the situation if she's unhappy in there.

So sorry to hear you lost your ddog it’s hearbreaking, I know.

I will try your suggestions as I think you are right, she picks up on cues all the time and learns really quickly.

She is such a great dog in so many ways, can’t believe she’s only been with us six weeks!