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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Barking dog

8 replies

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa · 17/12/2021 23:57

Please help because I really feel like I'm at breaking point.

I've got a six month old dog who just barks constantly when I move away from him. If I go upstairs, he barks. Go to the toilet, he barks. I have no freedom and can't even think about going out and leaving him at home. He will also bark if I go out and leave him with any other family member or my partner.

I've had a behaviourist but didn't feel she understood the situation as I would like. I've tried treats, leaving him with special toys, repeatedly going and coming back, leaving snuffle mats/kongs/lickimats.

Will I spent the next 14 years like this?! I just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 18/12/2021 06:32

You need to literally leave him for one second and come back, and work up from there.

Have you tried desensitisation? So repeatedly get up and sit down until he's not bothered, then move on to going to the door of a room and back etc.

Ours had separation anxiety as a puppy and it was horrendous but we worked with him and he's happy enough for an hour or two now as an adult.

Does he bark constantly when you leave or is it just a few protest barks and then he's silent?

Original poster
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa · 18/12/2021 07:45

@icedcoffees

You need to literally leave him for one second and come back, and work up from there.

Have you tried desensitisation? So repeatedly get up and sit down until he's not bothered, then move on to going to the door of a room and back etc.

Ours had separation anxiety as a puppy and it was horrendous but we worked with him and he's happy enough for an hour or two now as an adult.

Does he bark constantly when you leave or is it just a few protest barks and then he's silent?

Thank you for your reply. I'm so reassured that you've managed that! He barks constantly when left as I can see him on the camera. Yes we've tried lots of picking up keys etc, walking to the door. Just seems overwhelming!
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 18/12/2021 07:47

It is so hard - I couldn't even go and have a shower when mine was young as he would get so upset he made himself sick Sad

I would maybe speak to a behaviourist (not a trainer) to see if they can help you as well.

tangyandsalty · 18/12/2021 07:53

Mine used to bark because she wanted food all the time (this was as a very small puppy). Every time I got up to go in the kitchen she would follow me and bark at me!

I started by just getting up off the sofa and sitting back down as soon as she got up ready to follow me and start barking. Then I progressed to walking to the kitchen door (and just sitting back down soon as she moved) then I went into the kitchen and straight back into the lounge...then moved on to opening a cupboard and closing it again...and so on.

I think I basically bored her out of it! Maybe a similar approach would work (I progressed to being able to go in the kitchen and make a cup of tea without being followed and barked at in just a couple of hours)

ReallyMary · 18/12/2021 09:06

Get more professional help. Get a referral from your vet to a qualified behaviourist. Or go back to the one you have already seen and explain the situaion.

This is obviously causing you a lot of issues as you post about it a lot - professional qualified help in rl is the way to go.

SA behavioural plans have changed a lot from the pretending to go out and come back regime (which actually increased anxiety in many dogs) Do get professional help it will make a difference.

Original poster
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa · 18/12/2021 11:37

@ReallyMary

Get more professional help. Get a referral from your vet to a qualified behaviourist. Or go back to the one you have already seen and explain the situaion.

This is obviously causing you a lot of issues as you post about it a lot - professional qualified help in rl is the way to go.

SA behavioural plans have changed a lot from the pretending to go out and come back regime (which actually increased anxiety in many dogs) Do get professional help it will make a difference.

I've had a behaviourist help but maybe I should seek someone different...and I've not posted about this before.

Thank you for your advice though.

OP posts:
TerrierOrTerror · 18/12/2021 13:57

We had this. Our starting point was literally standing up then sitting back down again immediately as TerrorPup started to get anxious at this point. Eventually added a couple of steps, then got to the stairgate. Did some sessions going to the gate and opening then closing. Then stepping through and immediately back in. Then a few steps the other side etc. We are now up to around 5 minutes outside the house. You need to go really slowly and also make sure between each steps you go back to your original position and wait a while eg we walk to the stairgate, go back to sofa, then repeat in around 30 seconds. Just standing at the stairgate going in and out is more likely to cause anxiety.

Wolfiefan · 18/12/2021 14:00

Start by letting him follow you everywhere.
Look up dog training advice and support. They have great advice on separation anxiety.

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