Seperation anxiety problems

Kazahleenah

Hi...
I am new here, but not new to dogs. I have a 2 year old Great Pyrenese that suffers from seperation anxiety. When I leave him... even for 5 seconds... he will do ANYTHING to get out of the house. This includes, but is not limited to: Destroying 3 heavy duty dog crates, breaking windows and doors.

I have tried the "step outside the door for a moment", but it didn't help... he goes crazy till I return, and they say not to return while he is freaking out. I'm at my witts end and could use some ideas.

Thanks in advance!!
Kaza

Mikey

Welcome!

First

1) How long have you had the dog?
2) How much exercise does he get?
3) How do you greet him when you come home?
4) How do you say goodbye?
5) Is he being left at all-or are you homebound with the behavior?
6) Is he crate trained?

Kazahleenah

1) How long have you had the dog? I have had him since he was 4 1/2 months old. He will be 2 next month.

2) How much exercise does he get? Quite a bit (even more so when he escapes). He has a yard that he plays in with Jade as well as walks every day.

3) How do you greet him when you come home? Ohhhhh. I know this will be a no-no, but I greet him happily and with pets and hugs.

4) How do you say goodbye? Good-bye is not a big affair.. I pat him on the head and say something like be good!

5) Is he being left at all-or are you homebound with the behavior? I do work, but he goes with me to the day job. My night job (3-4 hours a few days a week) he is home. He is also home when I shop etc.


6) Is he crate trained? ..."sort of?" He was crate trained until he discovered he could mutiliate them and get out. Now, he destroys any crate he's left in.

AmazingMutts

Here's an article that might be helpful to ya.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs – How To Treat It

Kazahleenah

Thank you Amazing Mutts.,.... I haven't read it "yet", but ANY input is welcome at this point

Criosphynx

if he will let you leave for 5 seconds...leave for 4 and then reward him when you return. repeat repeat repeat.

build up the amount of time, a second at a time if you have too. If you don't push him over his limit, you can progress to many minutes very quickly.

Kazahleenah

tried that Crio.... the absolute SECOND I leave the house, BAM! and I do mean the second.

Criosphynx

LOL...

I think I didn't communicate my point right...


find whatever level he will not react to, and then practive UNDER that level and reward that until hes comfortable, then up the ante...

if you have to go out the door to leave...go to the door and DON'T leave...as many times as you have too before opening the door and not leaving....then stepping outside, then right back in...etc etc etc...

Dogs are keying in on the cues that lead up to the leaving, not just the actual leaving...they may start stressing when you grab your keys, your jacket, etc... so you must make those things no longer mean that you are leaving...OR you must countercondition him with rewards to not be stressed by those things.

Mikey

I wonder-Crio let me know-along the lines your thinking.

If he won't let you leave for a second-what about when you go to the washroom? OR when you ignore him? Is he calm?
If so-build on that! Go to the washroom reward for being a good calm dog. Or go to the door like your going to leave, open it and reward for being calm (close door and stay) (THis is if he can't tolerate a second)

Sound doable?

Kazahleenah

Yes, he doesn't care where I am so long as I'm in the house. He does usually (not always) lay in whatever room I am in, except when I am cleaning etc and move from room to room often. He doesn't even act like he views that as me leaving. Now, when I grab my coat... that's another story! I'll start working there and see if it helps. Can't hurt at this point. Thanks again for the advice!! Never had a dog do this before. When I get home from work I'll try it and let you all know what happens.