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Post by mistydog on Aug 30, 2014 18:19:15 GMT
Hi
We've had Misty for over 2 years now but we've recently moved house. Since the move he has has terrible separation anxiety. She is usually crated when we are out and this hasn't been a problem before we moved.
Since the move, she is desperately trying to get out the crate, she has destroyed her bed and we have tried DAP spray and Serene-um calming tablets which aren't working.
We are looking for any advice and whether we should consider getting another greyhound as a companion for her when we aren't in.
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Post by pat on Aug 30, 2014 18:50:31 GMT
pm me your address and I will send you leaflets that may help, it is all down to moving and the unsurety of what is happening and all the different sounds ect
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Post by mistydog on Aug 30, 2014 20:31:46 GMT
Thanks Pat
I've sent you a PM
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Post by jennie on Sept 10, 2014 7:27:44 GMT
Hi there,
We have had Pat for 6 weeks now and generally it's going brilliantly. The only thing we're finding tough is his barking when left alone.
We have followed the guidelines on the leaflets/forum building up slowly and he is now loving his crate choosing to lie in there most of the time, even at times away from us if we're in a less comfortable place for him to lie in like in the kitchen. He is now away from us and silent all night in there too and is happy to go in the crate with door shut but with us in the house only occasionally needing a 'chh' sound or 'no' to stop any whining or barking. We built up to 13mins out of the house silently and 20 mins with just a few minutes barking however have now had to start leaving him for 2/3hrs and will need to go up to 5/6hrs next week due to my school work starting. Due to the routine changing a bit, he is not managing these long sessions apart well, barking after about 10mins when his Kong treats run out (other long term bones he loses interest) and then pretty much constantly the whole time. If we leave his small water bucket cable tied in the crate he'll rip it off and yesterday dragged the blanket ontop of the crate into there with him (not ripping anything up though) managing to open the crate in the process just before my husband got home luckily! He still barked when out though. We are experimenting with radio, recording of ourselves, clothes that smell of us and adaptil dog appeasing hormone spray and shorter training practises coming back before he barks or in a silent gap not making any fuss of him before or after but saying good boy if totally relaxed.
So my main query is, now we're running out of time, is it possible we've done enough training so that he'll get used to the longer sessions if we continue them? Is the increase to 5/6hrs next week worth a try to see if he'll 'cry himself out' as it were, or if he'll get used to it after more and more practise or does this never work? I know ideally one should keep taking a step back each time to shorter leaving sessions but we've run out of time on that one with my school peripatetic teaching starting next week 3 days a week so I'm out 4-6hrs out at a time.
Thanks in advance for any advice and thoughts!
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Post by rachael on Sept 11, 2014 19:59:51 GMT
Have you thought about not closing the crate?To be honest I think 5/6 hours is a bit too long to be in a crate. Neither of my greys like being locked in enclosed spaces, I have always thought that it reminded them of kennels.
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Post by jennie on Sept 12, 2014 9:27:44 GMT
Thanks Rachel, yes we considered that but worry that he'd have the opportunity to display more signs of distress that way and his crate is in the lounge where the front Windows/sofas etc are. When he did escape he carried on barking but also paced up and down at the same time. He is also quite happy locked in his crate for hours if we are there! If only we could put up a hologram of ourselves....
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Post by gazza56 on Sept 13, 2014 7:02:20 GMT
our two are left alone during the day for approx 6 hours we find that a 20 minute walk 1st thing in the morning ( about 6 oclock) does the trick all they want to do is what they do best(sleep) their tanks are empty so no accidents.Yes it can be a pain getting up in the dark in the winter but at the end of the day they are our babys and they come first.anyhow just an idea that might work
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Post by jennie on Sept 13, 2014 12:40:02 GMT
Thank you. Yes making sure I give him a big walk (including a good run!)before leaving him every time. I think he probably just needs time and practise..unfortunately we've run out of that!!
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Post by jennie on Sept 13, 2014 12:40:42 GMT
Ps vet recommended clomicalm to aid training, anyone come across it?
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