We have a 1 year old rescue. Came to us 6 months ago (he’s not a “lockdown dog” in the sense that we didn’t know what we were getting into or wanted a dog due to boredom) however he did have some issues due to his past. A few times he growled / snapped at DP, we honestly couldn’t find a reason, all difference scenarios. Put it down to him only being with us a month, settling in etc. He had been more attached to me, so DP did everything to bond like walks, food etc. All the good stuff and been fine since.
He sleeps in our room (under our bed) just because of his separation anxiety, he howls and barks etc. We are working on SA (and have built up from him crying when I went to the toilet, to him being comfy to sleep in another room during the day, not constantly following me around and being left alone for a short amount of time when we are outside the house. We didn’t want to rush it as it’s so tricky. We wanted him to not sleep in the bedroom anyway but the only reason we do is the howling / barking keeps us (and the neighbours) awake and not wanting to leave him distressed.
The last few days he’s growled at DP a few times, once he was on our bed with me, so we assumed resource guarding me. Bed and sofa is now off limits. However tonight his tail was sticking out from under the bed when we were getting ready to sleep, I brushed his tail with my foot (no pressure on the tail at all I didn’t stand on it) and he growled at me. He’s never growled at me before. We’ve removed him from the bedroom all together now. He’s currently whining outside the bedroom door but I know the barking will start soon.
We are seeing a behaviourist next week, so hoping to get some much needed help from her, but are we doing the right thing just leaving him outside the bedroom even though he’s howling and barking? I feel like I’ve read website after website and books and books and I’m so muddled and confused about what I’m doing anymore there is so much conflicting advise, I feel like I’m failing him and us. If I go out and tell him to be quiet he’ll be very excited and try to get back in the room. If I ignore he’ll be barking all night. I’m wanting to put in the hard work but I just feel like I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I feel stupid for even getting a dog as I’m useless.