Separation Anxiety - mild case - positive reinforcement dog training

[Wooushh]

Great video however upon leaving the house you should pay no attention the the dog. Same thing once you get home.

[pamelamarxsen]

@Wooushh It really depends on the dog. I personally have found with the MANY dogs that I have trained that each dog is different. I would say that yes in a way you are right. However, I do not think you should "pay no attention to the dog". If the dog is calm, I would say yes give attention and calm petting or even speak in a calm voice. If the dog is crazy jumping and excited, then go about your business until he calms down and pay attention at that moment. So, it depends on the dog!

[MsZoraZ]

My dog doesn't display separation anxiety symptoms when I leave the house and while I am gone, but she goes absolutely NUTS when I come home, barking and howling and spinning in circles.

[josski32]

Pamela: whats a buster cube and treat ball and where do you get them? (I know what a kong is...)

[Nuutti2010]

Thank you Pamela for this video! Just yesterday I left my puppy alone for little less than three hours and sadly he did just the things Bandit does in this video: barking and howling after he had finished his kong. I'm going to start these exercises with him today as I am worried that things might get worse. I sure am glad I video taped him to know what he is up to while I'm gone. Thanks for the idea of video surveillance! :)

[pamelamarxsen]

@Nuutti2010 I really hope that these small changes will help your pup! It is so worth it to start now when you notice a small mild case of separation anxiety than to wait until it is a major thing. Also, you can get a CD called Through a Dogs Ear. It is a calming CD that has all classical music on it. I will play it when I leave for work or when I think there might be noises outside that could set him off, and it works. We have not had any sep anx episodes in over 10 months. :) Good LUCK!

[pamelamarxsen]

@Nuutti2010 I really hope that these small changes will help your pup! It is so worth it to start now when you notice a small mild case of separation anxiety than to wait until it is a major thing. Also, you can get a CD called Through a Dogs Ear. It is a calming CD that has all classical music on it. I will play it when I leave for work or when I think there might be noises outside that could set him off, and it works. Good LUCK!

[pamelamarxsen]

@Nuutti2010 Keep me posted and let me know if you have any questions! Pam

[Nuutti2010]

@pamelamarxsen Hi Pam! I just wanted to let you know that Arvi is doing very well with being home alone now thanks to your advice :) I went back to shorter periods of time and slowly increased the length again and gave him even more things to chew etc.

[MydogIucky]

This is soo cute! Can you check out mine? It's my puppy howling when I leave the car! Check it out!

[Mytime2beme]

I am headed to the store to buy a kong...great job.

[urbanelemental]

:( So I had some difficulty with this process this morning.

I normally crate him, and so in getting ready, I gave him the Kong in hopes to desensitize him from me getting ready... He wasn't having it. I put him in the crate with the Kong, and he's never done this, he started wining right away. :(

I wasn't planning on leaving him at home this wasn't too much of an issue. But I think I'm not doing it right. :(

[urbanelemental]

I've had a Kong, but haven't been using it. After watching this video, I know now that I should... When I gave it to him, he forgot I left. :P

[pamelamarxsen]

@urbanelemental Awesome!

[urbanelemental]

This is a great simple introductory way to curb separation anxiety. Just wanted to say thanks for making the video.

[pamelamarxsen]

@urbanelemental Thanks! I was lucky that my dog only had a mild case of Sep. Anx. I have been wanting to do a more in-depth video, but have not had the time. I have been working on a few DVD's. :)

[IncelTreatment]

Thanks for the video :)

[cleveneur]

I put an electric collar on my dog for 2 days and now

This makes 2 years since my dog no more barks for nothing,

He became a genial dog and I love him a lot

[pamelamarxsen]

@cleveneur well, I think that if someone put an E-Collar on me, then I would not longer bark either. I personally feel that if behaviors CAN be trained and CURED WITHOUT FORCE, PAIN, PUNISHMENT, Intimidation, etc. then WHY NOT use the POSITIVE NO PAIN METHOD. Just my OPINION! I have not found a behavior that can't be cured or trained with using only POSITIVE training. Like I said, it is my opinion. I would never inflict pain on a dog that I LOVE!

[NoSaltyPeanuts]

@pamelamarxsen Thanks for this video. I live in Europe and there is a dog in the pound that is really sweet but I was told that he will tear up my house if he's left alone in the house all day. I only work two or three times a week . He's be alone about 7 hours. I'm going to ask if they would be willing to let me work with him for about 4 days when I'm not work and see if I can get him calm using your methods. But I'm curious about what do you do about leaving food, water, messes, etc.

[jordach545]

@pamelamarxsen Dogs aren't people

[pamelamarxsen]

@jordach545 That is so true!

[nicolebodea]

@cleveneur Say you weren't teaching a behavior problem to a dog. Take training a trick for example such as sit up. Try it with positive reinforcement only,& then try it with a shock collar. When the dog loses its balance look at the results of a dog who even though makes a mistake still has fun with no punishment, and the results of a dog who is shocked if he loses it's balance. Will the shocked dog still find the game fun (training should ALWAYS equal play ask any expert) and trust you?

[solidsn2004]

I have a serious problem with my puppy with separation anxiety. Its a bichon frise 5 months old and really well trained apart from when we leave the house. I tried all the things you mention but she keeps barking and ignoring the kongs and toys. She also pees & poops in the living room on purpose because we leave her alone! We tried to close doors in the house and leave her in rooms but she sniffs and she realises we are inside the house so she doesnt mind!!! What can we do? We are desperate!!!

[pamelamarxsen]

@solidsn2004 Do you use clicker training when working on this issue? Dogs pee and poop because the need to, not because they want to get back at us for leaving. That is a huge myth. The key is to keep rewarding her for being apart from you when you are home. Not all the time, but sometimes. This will teach her that being alone is fine and she is ok when left alone, even if you are home. When you leave, take small steps. Maybe just leave to right on the outside of the door.

[solidsn2004]

@pamelamarxsen I dont use clicker but she is well trained for peeing in the right place. We take her for walk every day and use other exercises you mention regularly. She is doing a bit better already after a lot of hours of training but she still barks after a while. I guess we continue with the exercises until she learns not to bark at all but it looks so hard for her to understand. Thanks for the advice.

[pamelamarxsen]

@solidsn2004 Also remember that she is young. Make sure she gets a lot of exercise (Daily walks), mental stimulation (training, learning tricks, basics, sit, down, come, stay, etc...), make sure she is eating a healthy diet, and getting a lot of sleep. Puppies need sleep and naps.

[wongsoler]

Ok, I see what you mean. Kongsicle, huh? Cute. This is mental stimulating for me too. Hehehe..

[wongsoler]

thanks for sharing this. I am going to try it out on my shelter dog. I feel sad that she gets freaked out whenever she is alone. Thanks again for educating the rest of us!

[pamelamarxsen]

@wongsoler How is it going?  I hope that some of the tips have helped. Take care! Pam

[wongsoler]

@pamelamarxsen It has actually worked really well with my dog and I am slowly trying to partially wean her off from the peanut butter filled kong. GREAT ADVICE!

[pamelamarxsen]

@wongsoler I think you could change it up and give your pup different things, cream cheese, kibble mixed with a little cream cheese, but why stop. I like to put a little peanut butter or cream cheese then fill with kibble, and top with a little cream cheese or pb, then freeze it to make a kongsicle. :) I figure that it gives the dogs a job, a little mental stimulation to get it all out of there and that is good for them. Why quit... Sometimes I hide the kongs as well. Hope that helps. Pam

[kikopup]

Well done Pam! Awesome video! :)

[3LostDogs]

Great video! I'm glad you decided to release it. I think what's more impressive than a dog trainer with an always-perfect dog is a dog trainer with a dog who had some behavior problems, but managed to overcome them with proper training. Sort of a "practice what you preach" thing. :)

[pamelamarxsen]

Thanks! I agree, it is good to practice what we preach! I also always say that dogs are not robots. So, I just train and work through the problems just like I would anyone's dog! Thank you for giving me the courage to upload this video! Have a great day!

Pam

[bordergirlsmom]

Great video to address a problem that a lot of people dont recognize and can really afffect owners and doggies. Glad you were able to put some suggestions out there ;-), sure it will be helpful for lots of people!

[Adipatus]

nice!

[tehrenberg]

Nice work Pam, Bandit catches on so darn fast! I too am working on separation anxiety with my new puppy. Of course he misses his litter mates, and doesn't see the crate as a place of comfort quite yet but it is getting better with crate games and calming exercises.

[pamelamarxsen]

Tracy that is awesome that you are working on crate games and calming right away. So smart!! Your pup will be just amazing! I keep looking at the gold girl and want her, but I have to wait. Bandit is almost ready to do agility trials and I told myself I would not get a puppy until Bandit was trialing. However, it is so hard seeing that cute little pup without a home. I know that they will take good care of her until they find her a home. Fingers crossed she gets one soon!

[abirdslife]

Thankyou Pam this is good helpful information.

[pamelamarxsen]

You are a very nice person! Thank you!

[redcuprar13]

Another thing we also did, was to leave an item of our clothing that smelt of us on her bed and this helped her settle x (ie. t shirt)

[pamelamarxsen]

Yes, that is also a great idea! I have also used a crate with an item of ours as well as a Kong filled with something yummy. Thanks!

[redcuprar13]

So glad Bandit now does not suffer from separation anxiety. I know a lot of dog owners with dogs that do suffer badly from this and in some cases the owners cannot leave the house at all - they have to get a sitter to come in an stay - while they go out - my dog thankfully, has never suffered from any kind of separation anxiety, but one thing we were always consistent with was that when we leave the house, we never actually make a point of saying "goodbye" or "be back later" etc - we just go -

[pamelamarxsen]

I agree! Making a big deal of leaving is not a good idea. I have even toned it down since the video and just give the Kong, dilly dally around a bit, and then out I go. I never had a problem with my other dog Isabelle. She would just sleep right after our morning jog. Sometimes I think that the more exercise my little Bandit gets, the more hyped up he is. Thanks for the nice comment! It is hard putting things out for the world to see and for them to judge. I just hope it helps some dogs.

[newbear95]

Great video! Hope this will help a lot of dog owners.

[pamelamarxsen]

I hope so! That is why I put it out there. Thank you for being so nice!