Hi

We've had Harry four just over four weeks, rescued him from the pound. Not sure of his training so starting from scratch....he's about 1 or 2 and things were fine at night until this weekend.

We'd been out, my daughter was at home but had gone to bed....we got in about 1.15am so decided to let the dogs out out for a wee.....we then put them back to bed, Harry started barking and whinney, we left it for about 10mins but he didnt settled until my husband went in there and found he'd done a poo, hubby cleaned it up and left him.  He then carried on barking on and off until 3am when he finally stopped....thought that was the end of it!!!!??

Then last night, routine was, around 10pm out for wee and poo (Harry didnt do poo) bought them in, Pippa settle in her bed but Harry started barking as soon as we got to our room.  We left him for a while but he still carried on, so hubby got up, went in and Harry had done a poo.  He then calmed him down in his bed and left.  But he started barking again, so after a while I went in calmed him down and laid down with him. Pippa was unsettled by all this too but she went to sleep.  As I lay there Harry got into his bed inside the crate so I move myself just outside the gate (we have it in doorway) Harry came out but then went back into his bed.  I waited awhile then I moved further, he came out, saw me then went back to bed.  I waited 5minutes no more and crept from under the blanket but left it there with a pillow so it looked like I was still there and I went back to bed....and we slept unitl 6.45 this morning.

I woke up, let them out both had wee, came back in then left them there and went back into bedroom. Harry then started to bark and whine. I know he wants to be with us and thats why he's barking, so we leave him but he just carries on and on....drives us mad...bark bark bark....and growling too!!!!
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We have another dog, Pippa, whos nearly five, they get on fine and they sleep in the utility room together during the day when we're out.  They both bark when I leave now, Pippa used to be fine but since having Harry she barks too. Ive listened and they stop after a while, when I return they bark but I ignore them until they're quiet before I let them out.

During the day,  Harry will follow me about, he and Pippa play, then he'll catnap but only if he's near me or my husband if he's home. My husband let him fall asleep on his lap.

Pippa was rescued but she was crated, now she's older she's not but that was only this year.  Ive tried getting Harry to go in the crate were Ive put his bed but he wont stay there when I walk out the room.

I am so frustrated that I am considering re-homing him!!!

Ive notice he's very submissive.....low to the ground around our feet when we're trying to train him....is this the problem? He's obviously had a bad start thats why I dont want to give up on him....any help:)

Hi Noel,
I really feel for you as I know someone who has gone through a similar case of separation anxiety.
Although it is extremely annoying and frustrating, we have to remember that Harry is very anxious and fearful when he does this. I read a book called "Aint Misbehaving" by David Appleby from the Association Of Pet Behavioural Councillors and it had some brilliant ideas.
My friends dog when he looked at the situation, used to follow him about at all times, everywhere he went, sit on his lap etc etc. In fact the maximum length of time the dog could be parted from him visually before it whined was about half an hour.
He had to work on decensitising the dog to things such as when he left the house, when he was in a separate room.
Some of the suggestions were hard to take because he felt he was being mean to the dog where in fact, he was gradually building up the dogs self confidence.
For example he had to not respond to attention seeking behaviour at all times. Touch, voice and eye contact was only given when the dog was relaxed. If the dog came up for continuous attention, he was to just ignore it, and not to physically or vocally reject it. He ( my friend) decided when and where attention sessions were given.
Because the dogs anxiety kicked in at 20 mins abscence he had to work on increasing this time by basically teaching the dog that it was great being on its own and away from him. This is a gradual process. The dog was not allowed to sit on his lap anymore whilst watching telly for example. He had to put the dogs bed at a distance to allow the dog to see that it can relax at distance, then gradually increase the distance. When the dog lay relaxed, he could then give affection. He had to then try leaving the room a few steps at a time. If the dog stayed relaxed, he had to go back and give it attention.
When you read David Applebys book he talks also about relaxation cues to trigger relaxation during your absence. These include things like the radio, television or items as simple as a blanket that are always present when you and your dog are together and the dog is relaxed but you are not interacting. These items such as a blanket are then introduced when you are absent, say in another room with dog behind gate, then when dog is behind closed door, and finally when the dog is left (you've gone out). You then have to remove these items when you return and the dog has access to you. Interestingly things like the radio and telly that the dog associates with relaxation when your present, should be kept on in your absence and when you return, I guess so the dog doesn't associate you leaving with the radio being turned on.
Some other things he suggests is working on leaving the house and coming home. Dogs are very quick to learn that when you put your coat on and pick up your car keys, it means they are going to be left. He suggests performing these things at times when you are not leaving, but just going to wash up or watch telly to desensitise the dog from these departure cues. Attention should be withdrawn half an hour before departure, relaxation items put in place (radio, chews, item of clothing with your scent on), then leave swiftly without speaking. On return, if the dog shows excited excessive greeting behaviour it should be ignored to avoid reinforcing its anxiety.
There are things such as a DAP plug in diffuser and or collar that can sometimes help.
As far as my friends dog is concerned, he certainly saw a difference for the better in his dog. It became a much more relaxed and confident little mutt.
Every case of separation anxiety is different. The stuff Ive written is to do with my friends dog and what Ive read. I would seriously contact a dog behaviouralist. Some are covered under pet insurance. Try The Association Of Pet Behavioural Councillors.
I hope all goes well and good luck.

oh I forgot to add, never punish your dog for its behaviour as this reinforces/increases their anxiety.

your dog is very insecure by the sounds of it so you will have to go back to basics, leave him for just a minute and go out then return. keep repeating this by just a couple of mins at a time during the next few days. no eye contact or attention when you leave or come home. this can be a slow process but will work in time. the other advise given is also what i would do, only give the dog attention on your terms etc.
i would consider going to some training classes as well, so you can build up a good relationship with the dog so he's knows who's boss and doesn't have to stress when your not around. this will also build up his self confidence because of mixing with other dogs and people.
once your dog is more confident he shouldn't mind spending more time alone and then you can move on to ignoring the barking. i know it can be stressful for you and the dog but every time you go to him he learns that barking gets your attention even if you don't speak when you see him.
As for the pooing this can be due to stress. i used to have two boxers and when we lost one my other boy would poo on the kitchen floor if we went out, i followed the ignore rule and left him as i said above for a minute at a time, just walking up the road and back then no attention on my return. after a week or so and lengthening the time he finally got used to it and started to goto sleep.
A good walk can help to, if a dog is tired then they usually get less stressed. leave a toy to chew on the floor as well.
you can sort this out but you need to be consistant and calm, never telling the dog off.
best of luck i'm sure you can sort this out.   

Hi

Thanks so much for the replies...found them really helpful:)

I have good news though, the constant barking has stopped, just one or two barks...this is what we've done:-

Decided to have radio on in their room, really quiet, gave Harry a fleece with our smells on it, put his bed inside the soft crate and put news paper on the window (light coming in under the blind) plus gave him some of my Rescue Remedy..had some too!!!

We have the same routine before they go to sleep . We put radio on and fleece in Harry's bed. Take them outside, Harry only wee. Bring them in, tell Pippa 'go to bed' and put Harry in his bed. Then leave the room, no talking or eye contact at all. Go to our bedroom, on the ground floor too...if they bark, I leave it for awhile, if anymore barking I shout out, from my bed 'go to bed'...and so far that all I need to do, they both sleep all night.

In the morning, when I get up, Harry has done a poo but I'll sort that out another time....I ignore it!!

Im taking Harry to dog class from this Saturday, spoke to behaviouralist, said he has 'Separation Anxiety' most common with rescue dogs. Harry also thinks he's 'packleader' so Im now walk him on a semi choke chain (collar with small chain) which I trained Pippa with...he now walks behind or at the side of me. My husband, daughter and I are also ignoring him totally, no talking, touching or eye contact, until he's quiet or laying down.  Im also letting Pippa do her 'doggy discipline'...she's not agressive just puts him in his place:)

When we go out they go into their room sometime before we going out, similar routine, radio on, outside, then no talking etc, then leave room.  If they do bark tell them 'go to bed'.  Pippa is trained to do this and Ive started training Harry...he's getting it!!

Pippa and Harry always have their toys and nylon bones in their room and they are walked every day...they play together really well..so Im pleased that will can now keep Harry....he just needs some training, just like me!!

Im giving the 'leaving him' for minute ago and hope that he will become a more secure dog....he's very clever and learns very quickly:)

Thanks again...its such a help the advise that given:)

Debbie

really glad things are going in the right direction. you can't really blame him for thinking he's being left for ever after being in a home but now you have a good routine everything will settle down and the training classes will do the world of good for confidence.