James Browling

Hi all,
i have a 9 month old dog that i adopted when he was 2 months. I work at my flat so we keep each other company for the most of the day. i take him outside 3 times a day for has long as i can but the problem is when he is left alone. i've had some complaints from neighbors that he barks and whines especially at night if i go out for dinner or such. he also poos or pees sometimes and that never happens when i'm at home. i think he's very anxious when he's alone and i don't know what to do about this.

he means the world to me so if u can please help.

alfi

Do you crate him?? I don't really have much personal exp about it but crating seems to work quite well with separation anxiety.

I have to deal with it too...not so hard as yours tho...and when I started crating my Liza seems quite better!

Criosphynx

what do you give him to do when you leave?

Animal Lover

Try giving him a large non-chocking bone when your away. Something that will take him awhile to get through. Or buy a kong and fill it with peanut butter than freeze it, give it to him when you leave and he should be busy for a few hours. Also agree on the crating. Bella loves her bed and you don't hear a peep out of her once she goes in to her "bed"

James Browling

i don't crate him, i only close some rooms of the house with chewing hazards. i leave his bead with him, his toys and sometimes a chewing bone and yes that sometimes helps, but that only covers the problem. : (

fawkese1

i don't understand what you mean here? if it is helping how is it covering the problem?

maybe if you give him something he really enjoys chewing like a bone or a stuffed kong, then he will associate you being gone with getting good things... and not just sometimes, but everytime.... i'd recommend that you start working with him on finding a crate to be a wonderful place to hang out also, it had taken me 8 months to get my dog to that point, but it has helped tremendously with his issues of being left alone.

shihtzusandwich

I agree with Fawk..You want them to be 'happy' that you are going because they know they are going to get magical treats. Try a Kong stuffed with some of his favorite treats. I will take all sorts of canned dog food, liver bits, chicken broth, etc, and stuff it in the kong then freeze it and give it to my babes when I leave..They have gotten to the point where if I ask them to come into the kitchen (Thats where I leave them blocked off by a baby gate) they happily come in and wait for their treats..No crying, or barking when I leave (I know this because I have a webcam on them while I'm at work) they just pretty much sleep peacefully in their beds until I come home. Its like Fawk said, you know they are not going to be THRILLED when you leave, but you also don't want him to flip out..So this way he learns to look forward to a treat when you are leaving..