My poor sad dog.

[TNDemo]

We adopted a beagle/basset mix (a bagel) about a month ago from a rescue. She is five years old and was put in a shelter around March/April. She was due to be put down the day the rescue took her. She is very sweet and they think probably was some little old lady's dog or something because she is so well mannered and housetrained. She was with the foster mom for about two months before we got her and had a couple of medical things done. I know the dog has got to have anxiety about being abandoned because of what she has been through but I wish I could find a way to relieve her anxiety when we leave. She doesn't chew or tear up anything and doesn't pee or poop in the house so it's just her comfort I am concerned about. Anytime any one of us leaves she whimpers for a bit, even if there are others in the house. Today I left for about ten minutes. When I came back I could hear her bawling and baying in the house. She evidently did not hear me pull up in the car and open the door and I saw her walking from room to room, making that awful dejected sound. Is this something she will get over with time? Will she eventually learn that we really are coming back and be able to cope with short absences? I know my cat must be irritated to death with her. Otherwise she is a great dog.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. I found this....hope it helps

Presently, the most accepted method for treating separation anxiety involves planned departures. This method involves gradually adjusting the dog to being alone by exposure to many short departures. Because the stress response occurs very shortly after the owner's departure (within 30 minutes), the dog should only be left alone for very short intervals at first (seconds to minutes) to ensure the owner returns before the onset of anxiety. Before the departure period can be increased, the owner must be certain that the dog is not stressed. The owner must closely watch the dog for signs of anxiety and ensure that the dog does not engage in an extended greeting. After the short departures have reached the 30 minute mark, the length of time the dog is left can be increased by larger increments. Once the dog can be left alone for 1.5 hours, it can usually be left all day. Departure and return should be made as quiet and uneventful as possible to avoid overstimulating the dog. The dog should not be given attention prior to departures nor given attention and praise upon returns. Excessive attention prior to departure and upon return seem to increase the anxiety during separation and it does NOT make it easier on the dog as most people suspect. Safety cues may also be used to associate with the short departures (Voith and Borchelt 1985). The T.V. or radio can be left on or an acceptable chew toy may be provided for the dog. However, it is very important that the safety cue is not an item that the dog already associates with anxiety. These cues help the dog relate to a previous safe period of isolation

[Don_G]

2. My Cat's The Same Way

Rescued, grateful and misses me and our morning breakfast when I have to be at work at 5 AM.

Establish a routine where he/she can expect to see you and try to adhere to it.

It dosen't have to be permanent, just something your pet can look foreward to for a whil.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. You might try crating her when you leave

dogs are den animals and the bigness of the house may make her more anxious.

[SOteric]

19. Seconded.

Get her a box, a carrying cubby, some little spot to call her own. Fill it with things just for her, her bones, her water dish. Never go in there. Let it be her territory. Train her to go there anytime she get's a mite overstimulated or anxious, - even when you're home.

[havocmom]

4. She will get better with time. Be patient and do lots of short outings so

she can learn faster that you always come back to her. If she was a little old lady's dog, the old lady may have gone to a nursing home or died. The dog likely fears a repeat.

Also, everyone I ever knew who had a basset said they bay when they leave. I know a couple who had to hire a sitter when they went to a movie cuz they lived in an apartment and didn't want the neighbors bothered! Hounds howl, that is just a hound thing.

But she will get over the separation anxiety over time. My daughter got a shelter cat who's owner had passed away. It has been a year now and the cat is feeling pretty secure finally. Slow process and occasional setbacks, but it will get better.

She sounds like a great, loving dog. Pictures? I love basset/mutts. Had a neighbor with a basset/lab cross. That dog was a hoot!

[TNDemo]

7. I do have pictures

but I have yet to figure out how to post them. Apparently you need a URL but I don't have anywhere to post them.

[havocmom]

8. a lot of us use photobucket to host pictures

but google for photo hosts and you can pick one. Will look forward t seeing your little fur pal.

By the way, thanks for being a savior to a deserving critter! You make the world a better place!
:toast:

[UTUSN]

12. If *I* Can Do It (figure how to post pics), ANYBODY Can

http://photobucket.com/


1. Scan the pic, Save to "My Pictures"
2. Open account at Photobucket and Login
3. Select "Browse" and pick the pic to upload
4. Highlight the URL and Copy
5. Paste it here.

(High(er than me) Techs, feel free to correct this.)

When our animal pals are sad, it's one of the saddest things of all.

[TNDemo]

13. Well, I tried.

It says from July 10-20 they are only taking new users from 2:00-4:00 AM/PM. Guess I will have to wait until that time. But thanks for the info. I will try it tomorrow.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. Try the image shack

www.imageshack.com
Duckie

[TNDemo]

20. Didn't work either.

Says the site is down and you can e-mail the webmaster.

[k in IA]

5. We adopted a basset hound (at first I thought it was a bagel because

he was so skinny and doesn't have the really long ears) after I hit him with my car when he ran across a busy street. No one claimed him, so we adopted him and had the 2 breaks in each of his right legs fixed. He was "potty-trained" already so he was someone's pet and he is the best dog in the world.

Crash had separation anxiety every time we left the house at first. He actually would rip stuff up and cry and bark. We talked to a vet who specialized in that thing and he said it would just take time for him to relax and feel that he wasn't being abandoned.

Crash got over it and hasn't riped anything up since the first couple of months.

He will still cry and bark when we leave if he thinks we are going someplace he wants to go, i.e. park, playground, etc - he knows all the words.

Crash is very "expressive" so maybe that is just natural in this breed.

edit to add: The Vet did recommend the crating but we never did it because he was getting over it anyway.

I think with time the dog will be fine.

[Wcross]

14. Bassett hounds are great dogs!

They look so sad and droopy! My neighbor down the road has three or four and they are neat little dogs.

[k in IA]

15. They are great but they aren't little. He is now up to 60 lbs which is

obese. The problem is keeping him away from my three little kid's food. He is a glutton but, frankly, that is what I am used to with dogs - if they can get to it, it is gone.

Trash dog also if he has access but if he does it is an accident.

They are a big dog with short legs. Definitely sound like a big dog with that bark.

[harper]

6. Poor thing

I'm not a big fan of crating dogs, but your baby sounds like she might be better off in a crate when she's alone. Or at least confined to a single room. She'll look at it like her nice comfy den, where she'll be safe when she's alone. If you establish a ritual where she gets a special treat each time you leave, she'll actually look forward to your absence.

I used to put my Westie in the spare bedroom when I was gone. I'd take him out on the leash to pee, then up we'd go to his room and I've give him a couple of those jerky treats or some snausages. He got to where he'd see me getting dressed up and he'd run up to the spare room on his own. I'd find him sitting in front of the treat jar.

I think dogs can get terribly anxious when left alone to roam throughout the whole house. Being confined in a smaller area isn't as frightening.

[RebelOne]

9. Well, actually, you need to get her a friend

who will be with her during the day when you aren't home. I feel so guilty when I have to leave my doggie alone all day when I go to work. Luckily, she doesn't cry or chew, but I know she is lonely. So I am thinking of getting her a dog of her own. She is a Rottweiler, but loves all dogs, so I am looking to adopt a small dog for her.

[TNDemo]

11. I'm here most of the time.

I have a home office so am gone very little.

[Kali]

10. very common trait with bassets

lots of good advice, try all, but bassets do this by nature.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. This is separation anxiety

My tiny Brussels Griffon has it, too. And I know that he belonged to a little old lady. He became homeless because she died. He had a biological sister who he had been with since birth and the tragedy for him was that she was placed separately. Even though he's a rare little dog, and would have been so easy to place, he was also threatened with euthanasia, twice. Nobody bothered. He was so happy when he found me because I had another dog, a cocker spaniel. He bonded with her immediately. He found another sister. But she died last year and that's when the separation anxiety started. He loved her so much. He totally flips out if I so much as step out the door. I adopted another dog last fall, but it's not the same for him. I was talking to one of the workers at PetsMart and he suggested that I speak with the trainer that they have there. He said his dog had the same problem and she worked wonders with him. I'm thinking I may try this.

[Auntie Bush]

21. There is medicine for separation anxiety.

My doggy granddaughter has that problem. She is suppose to start taking some medicine (can't remember the name) to relieve her stress when left alone. It's a Prozac/Paxel type medication. Google Dog seperation anxiety....there's plenty of information. Best of luck with your little doggie.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Actually, I should probably speak to my vet about this

We were just there yesterday, but he was fine because he was with me. But, you're right, I should probably research it first. The dog I lost had Cushing's Syndrome, which I researched to death. I differed with the vet on the choice of medicine to give her, but he let me try my choice. When she was diagnosed with cancer a few months later, both vets said that she stood a much better chance being on the medicine that I chose, rather than the other.

My cousin has a dog on some kind of Prozac-type medicine, also. Thanks so much for your advice and best wishes. My little guy is sleeping behind me in the chair as I write this, LOL! I also hope that the originator of this thread also sees your post.:hi:

[testing123]

18. How about a friend for your little one

I feel bad for her and she sounds like a good dog.

:cry:

[Rhiannon12866]

23. That's what I did for my little one

But it has to be the right dog. He gets along alright with this one, but still misses the sister that he lost a year ago. It is not the same.:(

Meneken and his sister, Sheena