separation anxiety? (kinda long but could use help!)

[ChickenToes]

Our Bloodhound has separation anxiety. What works for us is to never leave the house while she's excited. We wait until she's very calm and about to go to sleep, and then she seems to accept that we're leaving without any fuss. If we leave while she's excited, that's when she chews on stuff. Usually my shoes.

 

[Duck Keeper]

That's a good thing to go by. What can also help in that situation {like how you said you wait for her to calm down} is to not get them excited or worried about you leaving in the first place!

Easier said than done sometimes, but what I'm saying is don't be all "Oh I'm so sorry we're leaving you" and hug the dog for thirty minutes before you go.

Calm and quiet is the way to go.

If you did half of the things listed here, you would probably notice marked improvement.

 

[Brindlebtch]

She may be more concerned about her sudden perceived change in status and quality of life by being left outside away from family overnight. This, of course, is a type of anxiety, but maybe not the standard separation type.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

This does not sound to me like SA, one night of destruction and a hyper dog in the morning does not equal SA in my experience. What it does sound like is she's a dog that really likes routine and that was broken by her suddenly being outside.

You say she is smart, as most GSD and GSD mixes are. Smart dogs are usually harder to train and deal with. A night of destruction means she was stressed and looking for a stress outlet, which is why she chewed your hammock. It gave her something to do with her time and energy.

Take all things from your porch and yard that she may chew. Try easing her into the ouside role by crating her outside as she had been in the house. It will be more familiar to her. Crate will keep her calm as she adjusts to being on her own outside.

As far as her being hyper, thats another sign of the stress she was under. Training her to be calm will help, if she knows basic obedience try using that to redirect her energy into something you can live with. Ask her to "down" for several minutes before you touch her, reinforce her calm demeanor and don't allow the excited freak out you've seen. If you show her to down until she relaxes you will just make her de-stress before you interact. If you give her attention during the time she is so excited you will be reinforcing that state of mind and she'll not learn to settle.

Teaching a long down-stay would be very helpful to you both.
Good luck.

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
That's EXACTLY how it's done!

 

[sunket77]

I started again two days ago by putting the crate out and keeping her locked in. She was doing great and then....a down pour! We have been in a drought the last year and the time I decide to put her out it of course pours! I am VERY glad to have the rain and of course it will never be convenient. I don't intend on leaving her out in the rain so of course she is back in until it stops. I would rather not have a very muddy dog to bathe!

 

[thebritt]

Can you put a large piece of plywood on top of the crate to keep out the rain? That's what I have, and it seems to work well. My dogs use crates as doghouses (no need for doors on them with ours), but the plywood helps keep the crate cool, as well as dry.

 

[sunket77]

thanks! I'll try that!