I don't ever show it. I never push him away. Ever. In fact I spend more time with him than I ever have. He sleeps in my room now. It took six months to convince him he was allowed upstairs and he can only be up there when I am or he gets upset but we managed it despite the dementia.
I live in a semi detached house and my neighbour is very sensitive to noise, and um, raspberries, but that's another story. In short she is not a reasonable human bean.
Sometimes, when we leave the dog he forgets how long we have been gone and calls for us (I assume). His barks last a few minutes. I know this. I have recorded him. So has the neighbour and sent the recordings to my LL who has admitted he has no grounds for eviction but is watching. He admitted the same thing when she photographed my raspberry bushes and complained about my daughter playing in the garden.
Her complaints are causing me anxiety. I daren't leave the dog alone even to go to the corner shop. My kids daren't watch their TV in their rooms. We can't have people around. All of this is ruining the last few months I have with my dog.
It's to a point now where I am too anxious to leave the dog at home for a few hours in case he barks for a few minutes. I sometimes wish he was dead. I wanted to enjoy the last few months of his life instead I am spending Christmas and New year alone because I daren't join my family.
I don't need advice. I am a qualified dog behaviourist. My dog does not have separation anxiety and cannot be helped with training. He does not bark incessantly and I cannot find a suitable property to move to.
I just wanted to share my thoughts because I am alone, lonely and at the end of my patience.