[fawkese1]

I am just looking for tips on how to deal with my dog's anxiety. He is a 1yo mix that I rescued tow months ago. He has improved by leaps and bounds but I am still looking for any info, especially from anyone who has had a rescue dog before. He is very very attached to me. The only thing that really distracts him from me is another dog, and that usually doesn't last too long. We have been working on independence training and other things but, again, any tips would be appreciated. Thanks



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[Dingoofus]

If you are leaving him for a bit, put some of your clothes or something with your scent on it in it's bed. Usually helps them a bit.

 

[Criosphynx]

I am just looking for tips on how to deal with my dog's anxiety. He is a 1yo mix that I rescued tow months ago. He has improved by leaps and bounds but I am still looking for any info, especially from anyone who has had a rescue dog before. He is very very attached to me. The only thing that really distracts him from me is another dog, and that usually doesn't last too long. We have been working on independence training and other things but, again, any tips would be appreciated. Thanks

train train train... let him win at games like tug and try to set him up always to succeed. His confidence will grow as time goes on. You may want to praise anything that looks like independence...like looking away from you are walking away a step or two.

Routine routine... try to pick one and stick with it, you may want to start feeding his meals in his crate and start crate games.

My rescues tend to take up to 6 months to get 100% settled. So hang in there.



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[fawkese1]

thanks, i have been working on it. I have also been working on leaving him for very short periods, like 30 sec to 1 min. in different rooms, all the reading on sep. anx. has also said to be as low-key as possible whenever coming and going, it's so hard not to get excited when I see him after work, but I know that it helps him. I am also trying to enlist friends to take him for short outings so that he can trust more people than just myself. I have one friend in particular that he has really taken to and he gets very excited when he visits. I know that it takes time, I just like to make sure that I am on the right track.



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[Artanis]

My 3 year old mutt (rescue) had separation anxiety

She was terrible. I couldn't even leave the house for 30 seconds without her freaking out! I tried all the traditional methods of conquering her fear of being left alone and NOTHING helped .... until I got a 2nd dog. Now she is peaceful and calm when I leave. Dogs are pack animals and can be very upset when left alone. I found that adding to our pack was the only way to fix it.

That being said, not all dogs are the same so there may be other options for you. Keep at it and good luck!