Help!

[Texasgal]

My husband has been unemployed for a over a year. He has finally found employment and will be returning to the work force in a few weeks. The problem is our 2 Boston Terriers.

Since "daddy" has been home all this time, the dogs have become very close to him, he takes them everywhere with him, if he has to run errands, etc. Lately, I have noticed that when he does leave, without them, they are just miserable, hiding under the bed, whining near the window...etc.

I am afraid of separation anxiety, how do we curb this? I know it sounds silly, but I truly don't want my dogs to unhappy or upset.

Any thoughts on this?

[kslib]

1. Try this web page

It has all the helpful tips I would have shared with you, plus more! It will really help that you can start the "training/transition" period since he won't start work for a few weeks.

Oh, and congrats to your husband!!!

:hi:

[Texasgal]

2. Thank you for the kind words

Do you have the website address? :)

[kslib]

7. Oh duh!

Here it is! (it's been a long day...)

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html

[Texasgal]

11. Thank you so much!

I'm looking into that as we speak. :)

[livetohike]

3. Congrats to your husband!

One thing to try and it can be done in one day. Leave the house for 5 minutes at a time. Just drive down the street or wherever. Then come home. Do this a number of times. The dogs will learn that you will come back.

Don't make a big deal when you leave or arrive home.

Leave a radio or TV on so the dogs have some background noise (or whatever your husband might have had on while at home).

Good luck! I hope the transition is easy.

[Texasgal]

4. Ohhhh... That's a great idea!

Thank you so much, I think we will try that!

[SW FL Dem]

14. Great idea! Dogs don't have a good sense of time

My rescue cairn terrier had separation anxiety at first. I would just put her in her spot (a dog bed in a closed bathroom) and remain quiet for a few minutes, gradually increasing the time. Each time I left I gave her a treat (a few pieces of her dry food) and told her she was a good girl for going to bed. Libby freaks out over thunder so if it looked like we had one coming while I was going to be gone, I put a few drops of Rescue Remedy on her treats, which seemed to take the edge off. Now when I am leaving the house, all I have to say is "Libby go to your bed" and she races in there expecting a treat. I just reduce her meals by the amount of the treats she gets each day to keep her weight in check. Even if we have a huge thunderstorm, she deals with me being gone. She may occasionally pee, but she doesn't damage the room or her bed. The best part is she is comfortable in her bed. Sometimes, I find her curled up in it even when we are home.

Congrats to your hubby, if you prepare the dogs, I am sure they can deal with the change.

[RebelOne]

5. I always give my dog a treat in the morning before I leave.

She can't wait for me to go out the door so that she can get her treat.

[Lorien]

6. I have a friend who does that;

It's like a promise of "I WILL return"! She never gives the dogs the same treats at any other time. It seems to work with her two.

There's also a calming spray like Feliway for dogs, though I don't know the name of the product. You might also look into clicker training; there's a book out there called "calming signals" that employs clicker training to help resolve emotional and behavioral problems it dogs. It's gotten good reviews.

Good luck! :hi:

[kslib]

8. That's a great product!

at least for my kitties!

The dog version is called DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) Comfort Zone plug-in.

[Texasgal]

10. I'll have to look into that too!

Thank you for all of your help!

[luzdeluna]

12. I use D.A.P. for my Henry and my clients

It's great for any stressful situation and it has no side effects what so ever.

Also, there are calming suppliments you can start them on. And most important of all...extra exercise. Lot's of running and play before you leave them.

Whenever you need a dog to change a behaviour make sure he is tired and happy first.

LDL

[Texasgal]

9. Hmmm... that sounds good too!

They have gotten used to treats since they have been home with Daddy so spoiled!

[Eurobabe]

13. My mom's cats get ticked at her whenever she gets a

temp assignment. Seriously. They have grown used to having her around all day, she is semi-retired.

Whenever she is gone from 8-5, she comes home and finds a shredded roll of toilet paper, or someone's gack on the carpet. Then they stick to her like a cheap suit for the rest of the evening. Oh the personalities!

Most likely your guys will adjust, but yes, they are just like little children and they miss us terribly whenever we are not around to interact with them. I used to not have a problem going away and getting a pet sitter, but the more time I spend with my two furkids, the guiltier I feel for leaving them, and now I try to get a house-sitter when I am away for a few days or more. They have me trained!!