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Post by sysmom on May 23, 2006 11:48:02 GMT -5
Hi there -
Yesterday we decided to have lunch out and we were out for approx 2.5 to 3 hours. We left Sy in his crate, as usual, and when we got back he was happy to see us - as usual.
Shortly after we returned, our neighbour knocked on our door to let us know that Sy had been barking "so much" and that she couldnt get to relax, watch tv, etc, etc. She is a sweet elderly lady and I do feel for her. She has told us off and on over the last few weeks that she has heard Sy bark for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, stop, then start again. I am a believer of having good neighbours so here is what we did today.
1. we moved his crate to the basement and decided to leave it open. his bed, toys & kong are with him. oh, and we have gerbels there as well. 2. He will have free roam of the basement but with a muzzle. We will close the door to the main floor to limit his "run" plus we dont want him running to the top floor as he is just learning to walk downstairs.
We will not give up on Sy as it has only been about a month. We will do what we can and read what others are saying.
Have any of you had the same experience? What worked? what didnt?
Thanks.
Lisa
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meganm
Junior Grey Lover
Puppy Love
Posts: 292
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Post by meganm on May 23, 2006 14:08:12 GMT -5
Gibson used to whine and bark like the the dickens when he was crated at home! as soon as I let him out of the crate, he was a perfect angel Same for my boy Fire Good luck with the uncrating! he's probably just telling you it is time!
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Post by joseywales on May 23, 2006 14:35:29 GMT -5
Hi Lisa,
Josey has separation anxiety (or at least many of the symptoms), too. We didn't know what was happening for a while, because we didn't ever hear him bark. He only barked when we weren't home. In January, he chewed his crate until he broke his teeth, and when we went to the vet and described what had happened, he suggested he might have separation anxiety. After we had his teeth fixed, we decided to leave him out of the crate, and things seemed to be better until we got a note from our neighbour telling us he had been barking nonstop while we were away, basically since we got him. We took him to a behavioural vet, and got some recommendations for him. One was to keep a very strict schedule, so he can predict when he will be fed, walked, play with his toys by himself, etc. Another was to give him special toys only when we're away. We also use kong bones stuffed with food to keep him busy while we're gone. We got a citronella collar that sprays him when he barks. It didn't really solve the problem, except that he now uses a more high-pitched whine that doesn't set off the collar. After another note from the neighbour a couple of weeks ago, we got him some DAP (dog appeasing pheremone). Apparently, it gives off the pheremone associated with female dogs who are lactacting, and makes them feel comforted. I'm hesitant to say whether I really think it's working, since he's been sick with this gastro-intestinal thing since we got the DAP. My understanding is that with dogs with fairly severe separation anxiety, it's a long process. If Sy has only been barking for 15-20 minutes while you're out, it doesn't sound like the problem is too severe. He'll probably adjust quickly. It's good that you recognized that it was time for him to be out of his crate. Josey was trying to tell us, and we didn't get it. It cost him some stress and pain and us a lot of money in doggy root canals. When we get together, I can show you the info the vet gave us about separation anxiety. You can email me off of this forum at bell_alana@hotmail.com and we can set something up.
Alana
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Post by stylishhound on May 23, 2006 16:31:44 GMT -5
Hi Lisa. My dobie suffered terribly from sep. anxiety and I do feel for what you're going through. I've had nasty notes left in my door (and not from a sweet elderly lady!) that my dog barked non-stop and that I was upsetting everyone on the floor (I'm in an apt. building). I also did the strict routine, put Taylor in the bedroom, radio turned on, and making sure my coming/going is no big deal pretty much ignoring her just before/after I return. She was so stressed out before that she seemed like she was hyperventilating. With the routine and being a smart dog, she knows I'm always coming home and is a very well adjusted dog (now!). It just takes time. She was a rescue from the humane society and that's a common thing for them to have. There's likely information in Greyhounds for Dummies on Sep. Anx. as well as lots of good information on the net. Try Bill as well...he may have suggestions to help you and Sy through it. Sorry I'm not much help but you're not alone. Good luck Perhaps he needs a greyhound friend to keep him company? My girlfriend can't leave her one greyhound alone otherwise this is what he does...when she leaves both home, he's fine....some just can't be alone.
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Post by jiffer on May 23, 2006 20:22:32 GMT -5
In my experience, having them in a common room is a better idea. If you are moving him to the basement, he may be okay but he may get worse. Muzzling him is a good idea. Don't be surprised if he's still acting out a bit, especially if he's not used to living in the basement.
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Post by sysmom on May 24, 2006 22:06:16 GMT -5
Thank you all for your feedback and comments.
From yesterday and today, we left Sy in the basement and all seems to going well so far. Nothing is torn, nothing is broken, both gerbels are accounted for and most importantly no issues with "going" in the basement. I guess he likes the free roam better that sitting in a crate. He still wears his muzzle when he's alone in the basement though.
We knocked on the neighbours door to ask how its been the last 2 days. She said she heard him for a very short period of time yesterday but didnt hear a lick today!! ;D
I guess she was just so happy that later she knocked on our door and dropped off a bottle of wine.
Thank goodness this worked and that this forum is a place where we can all share ideas & strategies. This is definitely a load off our shoulders. Thanks everyone.
Lisa
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Post by stylishhound on May 26, 2006 19:17:31 GMT -5
Hi Lisa - glad to hear things have improved! My thoughts are to keep the basement a *happy* place and never seen as a bad place to go and Sy will enjoy it and the new found freedom that comes along with it.
Things are looking up!!!
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Post by jiffer on May 30, 2006 21:06:39 GMT -5
That sounds wonderful! Way to go, Sy! I went through the same thing with most of my kids, at some point.. they just don't want the crate anymore. It's wonderful to hear he's doing so well!
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Post by ontariogreys on Jun 6, 2006 5:48:40 GMT -5
Sounds like Sy may have been suffering from crate anxiety rather than seperation anxiety, I had one foster that was like that, glad you found something that works for him.
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Post by sysmom on Jun 14, 2006 22:35:03 GMT -5
UPDATE : We'll its been a while now and he's graduated to free roam of the house when we're gone, although with a muzzle. He just plunks down by the front door, where his bed is and he knows when we pull up to the driveway. No issues with destroying things, grabbing food off the kitcher counter tops, going inside the house (this was never an issue with him though). Thank goodness things have worked out....and the neighbour is happy again.
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Post by jiffer on Jun 20, 2006 13:08:49 GMT -5
Wonderful to hear! What a good boy, Sy!
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