Seperation anxiety

[TheMightyQuinn]

My Basenji Qinn hates to be left alone. We built him a room of his own (a 10x10 room) and he does pretty good when left there. We had trained him to use a potty pad so when left all day while we are at work he can still go with out going on the actual floor. Quinn is now 11 months and we got him at 9 weeks. So he is now kind of used to it. 2 days a week we take him to a friend with 2 dogs for the whole day. He loves this and he is completely wore out at night and everybody gets a good night sleep. He plays so hard with her dogs. My problem is the ride in the car. He freaks out dring the ride and tries to beat me to get out of the car. So I guess what I am trying to say is just take your time and be tough about it. YOu are the pack leader.

[MaxBooBooBear]

And as the pack leader, I would only suggest that you be a consistent, kind, caring leader of your pack But I have to admit, I had a trainer (of police dogs) tell me one time that on a scale of one to 10 as a pack leader, I was a 0!!!! That was many, many years ago, and I think I'm a better leader now–but my kindness and caring does outweigh my toughness any day.....

[angelameireis]

Kenzie use to do the samething when I would leave her alone. What I did was get a smaller crate. Most dogs don't poop or pee where they lay. It took her a couple week and then she got it. She hates when I leave her alone. I use to not be able to leave her out during the day, but now that she is 3 years old. She is alot better. She loves chewing cords. She has chewed my computer cord and camera cord. Other than that she hasn't chewed anything else.

[JazzysMom]

Keoki spent the whole night in his crate….and in fact is STILL there.

I didn't lock the crate, but I did push the door shut. Normally, he'd be standing up, pushing it open, and exiting rapidly. The past few nights however, he has lain down and gone to sleep. By the time I've gotten up in the mornings {just before 6AM}, he's been out of his crate sitting by the ex-pen door patiently waiting for me to let him out.

This morning he was still in the crate, w/the door closed. I opened the door to the crate and left the room expecting him to follow me, but he's still there and it's been almost 30 minutes!!
I"m pretty excited and cautiously optimistic!

The only thing I'm concerned about now is, one day this week Bryan is going to take him for the day to be collected. I'm afraid the trip in the car in a crate will traumatize him just enough to make us take a few steps back in this whole process.
Oh well, at least I know it can be done!

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

Keoki spent the whole night in his crate….and in fact is STILL there.

I didn't lock the crate, but I did push the door shut. Normally, he'd be standing up, pushing it open, and exiting rapidly. The past few nights however, he has lain down and gone to sleep. By the time I've gotten up in the mornings {just before 6AM}, he's been out of his crate sitting by the ex-pen door patiently waiting for me to let him out.

This morning he was still in the crate, w/the door closed. I opened the door to the crate and left the room expecting him to follow me, but he's still there and it's been almost 30 minutes!!
I"m pretty excited and cautiously optimistic!

The only thing I'm concerned about now is, one day this week Bryan is going to take him for the day to be collected. I'm afraid the trip in the car in a crate will traumatize him just enough to make us take a few steps back in this whole process.
Oh well, at least I know it can be done!

That is GREAT! Congrats on the progress. So, did you guys follow through with the ignoring him for a couple weeks? Do you think that had to do with the behavioral progress, or do you think it had more to do with gradual desensitization to the crate?

[JazzysMom]

@Quercus:

That is GREAT! Congrats on the progress. So, did you guys follow through with the ignoring him for a couple weeks? Do you think that had to do with the behavioral progress, or do you think it had more to do with gradual desensitization to the crate?

Yes, we did. And yes, it nearly killed my children.

Because of the speed at which this is all happening, I think it has more to do with the behavioral progress.

He's still being somewhat ignored… I mean, in order to get anything {treats, a toy, etc} We must offer it, and he must first make eye contact w/us, we smile say "YES!!!" or "Good Boy!!!" something along those lines . The idea is that his focus is on us, not what he wants; and that he sees that he gets what he wants because it pleases us, not because it pleases him.

We've also been working with Keoki AND Jazzy on their attitudes -- They lose the treat, toy, blanket, me, the kids, whatever if they even growl at each other.
I haven't been snuggling Jazzy much at all -- that's when she gets meanest w/the other dogs, whenever she's near me. So when she does her "Mom, please pick me up stare" I ignore her. I pay attention to her when I want her, not when she wants me. I think it won't be long before she's back to being my snuggle buddy {Keoki never was a real cuddler}, and I think she won't be as snotty about me.
Sometimes they'll both be laying on a blanket together and he will just suddenly snark and attack,chasing her off the blanket. Now,I know there's been a lot of silent communcation prior to the snark,but I've missed it. Anyway, that happens and he's off the blanket until I decide he can use it again.

It's been hard, but I tell you there's a lot less even growly undertones. He leaves her completely alone while she's eating, whereas he used to hover over her every moment. When he does snap on the blanket, HE looks at me, gets up and leaves it, LOL.

Things aren't perfect here, but there have been some real changes made.

Oh, and remember he is also on anti-anxiety medications for the time being.

[dash]

Jazzysmom, great to hear of the improvement.

Interesting about the not cuddling Jazzy as much. I have noticed Dash as started getting snarky with Sissy lately when whe comes up to snuggle. She doesn't seem to get it and ignores him but he does not like to share mommy's precious lap.

[JazzysMom]

@dash:

Jazzysmom, great to hear of the improvement.

Interesting about the not cuddling Jazzy as much. I have noticed Dash as started getting snarky with Sissy lately when whe comes up to snuggle. She doesn't seem to get it and ignores him but he does not like to share mommy's precious lap.

Jazzy will often actually leap off my lap and go after whichever dog dared to come near. She tenses as soon as one of the other dogs enters the room, or gets up off the blanket on the floor. If I say anything to her, her growling really elevates. I do dump her, but then she goes after them anyway. So, she doesn't get held at all, for now.

Now, for Keoki that has become a game {but not one we want to encourage}, and he will often stand six feet away and start doing that "come and get me" jumping around. Then they're off and w/in a few seconds they are playing. But it doesn't start that way w/Jazz.

[Quercus]

That sounds really good! Good work! I had forgotten about the anxiety meds, I hope that they take the edge off enough that he can change his behavior.

We have some issues here with "people guarding" as well. I usually put the offender in "crate time" if they get too, well..offensive…but I don't think I am consistant enough with it to really eliminate the problem. I will be interested to hear how it is when (if?) you allow Jazzy to snuggle again. I think you are on the right track, by not allowing the behavior to happen. I hate the thought of not cuddling with the dogs though That is one of the main joys of having Basenjis, I think...but the snarking does take the joy away...

Anyhow, congrats again on your success...and thanks for sharing your journey here. I think we can all learn a lot from vicarously going thru other folks' training solutions.

[tanza]

Yes, I agree with people guarding.. if mine do that, they are "dumped" on the floor… it is NOT acceptable behavior... gggg But like Andrea, I don't think that the behavior will really change.... but they get the message if they land on the floor!

[Quercus]

@tanza:

Yes, I agree with people guarding.. if mine do that, they are "dumped" on the floor… it is NOT acceptable behavior... gggg But like Andrea, I don't think that the behavior will really change.... but they get the message if they land on the floor!

Unfortunately, like Jazzysmom mentioned, I have found with my worst guarders, as soon as they perceive they are about to get dumped, or worse, grabbed, the guarding increases and they will launch and attack the other dog. So I have stopped doing that; depending on the individual, dumping works fine for some of my less serious guarders (Bella and Luna). If the dog is sitting on/near me, I will place my hand inbetween the dogs, and quietly say 'no, Ariel, no…quiet'....if she stops, I keep cuddling, if she doesn't I place her in her crate, and we do a dog rotation If she isn't sitting near a person, but is guarding something else, that is an immediate 'into the crate'. This has worked pretty well with both Ivy and Ariel...I can say 'no...quiet' and they usually calm down.

I dunno...I am still trying to find a suitable fix for this problem that is easier than having to hop up every thirty seconds