Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. SEVERE Separation Anxiety

SEVERE Separation Anxiety

Behavioral Issues
  • Anubis's MommyA

    I have a 2 year old Basenji. He has SEVERE separation anxiety. Ive tried Calming Tablets that are all natural. They don't work. Ive tried using Bark Off to distract him when he makes noise. He ignores it. I tried Pheromone collars and just about everything short of sedating him when I leave. I have to crate him when I leave because if I do not he gets upset when alone and will tear up everything (he's already destroyed my bathroom,my carpet near my doorways and chewed a hole in my computer chair). When crated he will howl super loud like a coyote. He digs at the crate and bangs around and makes all sort of noise. He's hurt his paws twice already. The pads of his paws had dried blood when I came home. I have a blanket in the crate and chewies to maybe give him something to do. He ignores them and or shreds the blanket.

    My apartment landlord and upstairs neighbor are tired of it and have threatened me with having to give my dog up. I dont want to but don't know how to calm him when I leave. I had to modify his crate so he couldn't escape. He figured out how to escape already.

    He gets exercise daily. I walk him for an hr in the morning before it gets hot, a few times during the day for potty breaks and at night when its cool he gets walked for an hr or so. He also gets trips to the dog park and gets played with and chased around the apartment which he loves. I have a work at home job and he's only crated for an hr or 2 every other day if that whenever I go shopping or out with my boyfriend. So please dont think he is crated ALL day because he is not. I cannot get another dog because pet deposits are $450 PER dog. Please help so I don't lose my baby.

    Owned by Anubis and Casey (the Pitbull mix)!

    0
  • KipawaK

    Here are a couple of links to previous posts regarding separation anxiety. I hope they help.

    http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=9329&highlight=separation+anxiety

    http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=6707&highlight=separation+anxiety

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • Anubis's MommyA

    Thank you Kipawa! Ill look at them right now! :) I want to fix everything with him sooo badly. He's my baby and I love him so much and don't want to lose him.

    Owned by Anubis and Casey (the Pitbull mix)!

    0
  • lvossL

    It really sounds like you need to consult a veterinary behaviorist. You need someone who can not only develop a behavior modification plan but also evaluate whether Anubis may also need medication to help make the modification plan effective.

    0
  • C

    I will concur with Lisa. See a CAAB or a veterinary behaviorist so that your dog can be evaluated and possibly put on medication.

    SepAnx is simple to treat, but by no means easy. The sad fact is that many dog owners do not have the time or financial means to handle it because step one is to stop reinforcing his fear. That means that during treatment, the dog cannot be left alone. This means that when you go out, you'll need someone to stay with him.

    Please at least consult a good local trainer who can give you a training plan to get started on and who can evaluate whether or not drugs are warranted.

    -Andrea Stone

    Saorsa Basenjis

    You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. –Wayne Gretzky

    0

Suggested Topics

  • BethB

    Separation Anxiety

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    elbrantE
    @beth Try behavior training before you add another dog. This is going to take a bit of repitition over the better half of a morning, and a few days of follow up training -- but it works. Do whatever preperation you normally do to leave. Tell your dog that you will be "right back" (insert whatever command word/phrase you want to use). Then exit and lock your door. Walk around the corner of the building, then return. Praise your dog as you greet them. Wash, rinse, repeat, gradually increasing the amount of time you are gone. Start at a few moments, then trips to the store, etc. This reassures them that you will come back,. but you are actually teaching your pup the routine ques. It alerts the dog that you are preparing to leave (without them). Slightly different for when they get to go with you. Your dog will learn the difference ("Hey, if she picks up the leash, I get to go, too!"). I (personally) use bribes as a tell-tale. I give my pup a kong filled treat, or a frozen neck bone (her favorite) to chew on if she's staying at home. If I call her and pick up the leash, she's coming with. But she's ok, even on the rare occasion that I'm gone for 6 hours!
  • M

    Thundershirt for anxiety

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    8k Views
    K
    When Lela was a pup, at the end of the day she could work herself into a real frenzy, running around the house, not able to stop. A real B500 and then some. Nothing worked to stop or quiet her. Then, one time, I intuitively picked her up, and squeezed her tight in my arms against my body: she instantly went limp, offer a few movements with her paws and jaws and then would collaps into a fine, long coma. I have done it many times, and it worked like a charm. So, pressure seems to help - that's what a thunder shirt would do, I guess.
  • N

    Separation Anxiety?

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    5k Views
    Shaye's MomS
    Your situation sounds like mine was, when we had only Shaye. She had a serious case of separation anxiety and the minute we tried leaving, she would pee, wherever she was, along with screaming. Everyone told us to get her another b, and when we got Gemma, it was magic. So long as Gemma is with her, she is fine. Maybe Aries just feels more secure with Katie than with Petey. Is Petey less calm than Katie?
  • bcraigB

    Separation anxiety

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    Glad to hear that he is doing better….
  • wizardW

    Anxiety help

    Behavioral Issues
    36
    0 Votes
    36 Posts
    9k Views
    renaultf1R
    @sharronhurlbut: Re car rides, this is going to sound odd, but it does work for me and my 2 dogs. Even if you have walked your dogs before a car trip, I find the excitement of the "get into the car" and going makes there guts act up. So, here is what we do. We take the dogs a lot on vacation when we go by car. We walk the dogs in the am, feed and water. Get them into the car. Drive about 2 miles and stop and let them out to walk. Both always pee and poo when we stop. Once back in the car, they settle and are quiet. About a hr or so into the ride, they start to get "ACTIVE" again…we stop at a rest area, they go, and then they sleep the rest of the way. Could be the excitement of leaving home, the motion of the car or whatever, but these stops, even tho you want to get going...make the trip much easier on all involved. Give it a try. All you can lose is a bit of time... Sharron…I've had friends use that method as well...so I think you (and them) are on to something. Wizard...It is a tough road, separation anxiety. I never had much success with the DAP - spray or plug-in...and I used both for about half a year. I finally gave up on it. Although, my vet and the pet store I bought it at said they knew of people that had had success with it. Good for you for working with a behaviorist...they definitely will have better ideas about things to try. The second beastie was the golden ticket for Ruby though...and seriously, I've found that 2 b's are so much easier than one. So much so that I'm thinking of adding another either this year or next...and for that I might need my head examined.
  • LovingLolaL

    Separation Anxiety Advice

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    3k Views
    WBLW
    There is a light at the end, but with some dogs it can be farther away. I had a boxer a few yrs ago that had it really bad, and after lots of crate training and patients she was able to stay in her crate. She would make such horrible noises she sounded like a fog horn. And she'd pee in her crate or poop in and then step all in. IMO, I don't thing Lola needs medication. It can be quite frustrating, but biggest thing is lots of patients to train her that you will be back and it is okay to hang out by herself. Also, since she is not destructive but is pooping when you leave, make sure she gets a good walk or play session where you know she has gone potty. I'd take out the treats, that gives something to put in that must come out. You can give simple treats or things that need worked on like a kong stuffed with soemthing tastey and frozen so it'll take work for her to eat it all. Here are some links with articles on seperation anxiety. http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/anxiety.html http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html