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~Curley~
Beginner August 2014

Dog Owners help with separation anxiety

~Curley~, 6 December, 2013 at 18:50 Posted on Off Topic Posts 0 2

We have had our lovely little Cockerpoo Ben for 2 years now. Obviously to start with he had accidents in the house, we crate trained him and he appeared to have got the hang of it. We gave him free rain of the living room and kitchen when we were out and at night time. About 6 months after he was trained he started urinating in the living room (which is carpeted) he always did it in the same place. We always let him out first thing and last thing (and many times in between) and hes very good at going to the back door when he wants to go out. We tried walking him before bed (just round the block) but he still did it. Because the living room is carpeted we decided that we would have move him into the kitchen only as this is tiled flooring. All was well for a while but he has started urinating in there now - always in the same place. I know that it is because we are leaving him as he only does it when we go out or go to bed. I have let him out in the morning before put him in the kitchen to walk the little one to school, forgot something and gone back in the kitchen to find him with his leg cocked ready to pee!!! We do leave him while we are at work, about 5 hours but he was okay with this before. I dont think its a time thing as he does it even if we nip out for 30mins.

I honestly dont know what to do. I love him to pieces but its frustrating and its really getting OH back up as it makes the house smell (people say it doesnt but we are abit paranoid about it).

Any advice, anything that im doing wrong? Really want to get him to stop

2 replies

Latest activity by MrsM*LZ, 6 December, 2013 at 19:48
  • venart
    Beginner June 2013
    venart ·
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    Sorry, I'm not sure what to suggest. Wispa has horrible separation anxiety, but she doesn't wee or mess in the house, she just whines/cries/howls. If your dog is not otherwise distressed when left alone, I'd be more likely to label this as anger, not anxiety, but I'm not sure. Does he have enough toys or chews to keep himself occupied?

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  • DrBuffles
    Beginner August 2014
    DrBuffles ·
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    Chip is sometimes ok and sometimes will drag everything out of his cage and pee on the blanket. He is still young but can hold his bladder so I know its on purpose.

    I watched a really good program a few weeks back about dogs and separation anxiety. I'm pretty sure it was channel 4. They studied about 50 dogs and it was only around 7 that showed absolutely no signs of distress when their owners went out. It was fascinating and looked at creating more positive routines with the dog to let him know you will be going out but more importantly you will be returning and he shouldn't worry. Some things were as simple as changing your routine when you leave the house as some trigger words will create the anxious feeling. For example one couple always gave their dog his 'teddy' and he associated that with them leaving and it upset him.

    It can be changed it just takes patience from what I gathered.

    It was heartbreaking to see some of the dogs getting so upset. OH and I have discussed setting up a camera so we can see what Chip gets up to but I think i'd find it too upsetting to watch.

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  • M
    Beginner October 2013
    MrsM*LZ ·
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    We did a similar thing to you by crate training when Toby was a puppy and jugs before he was 1 we decided to put the crate away and he seemed fine for a while. Scroll forward a few months and he started scratching the door and tearing the carpet up. After a few days of coming to home to this we decided to get the crate back out and he seems much happier. We can come in quietly and he hasn't heard us and is still curled up!

    Dogs are all different but Toby knows when we go out he gets a chew/kong/bone etc to occupy him for a while before nodding off. We have also found leaving the radio/tv on seems to settle him better too.

    i hope you find a solution soon.

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