tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post5802060171838414179..comments2023-06-01T04:36:34.983-06:00Comments on Hot Diggity: Clicking With Your DogBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624011564814042688noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-82353285610083477002011-02-01T00:28:53.881-07:002011-02-01T00:28:53.881-07:00Very informative, love your post, keep up the grea...Very informative, love your post, keep up the great work!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14304248711596371475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-46037411989623204332010-03-12T08:57:18.874-07:002010-03-12T08:57:18.874-07:00i'd love to hear about his progress! hopefully...i'd love to hear about his progress! hopefully it will never come to the point of needing a medication. time helps so many things. our oldest dog rowdy was about a year old when we got him, and honestly acted more like a wild animal than anything else when we brought him home. he would pace constantly, didn't like to be hugged, wasn't house-trained, and was suuuuper crazy. but after about 6 months to a year, some huge change had taken place and he honestly turned out to be one of the most wonderful dogs! it's amazing to watch that kind of transformation.Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624011564814042688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-44842933330027522012010-03-11T12:59:39.554-07:002010-03-11T12:59:39.554-07:00thanks, that's really helpful! i'm going t...thanks, that's really helpful! i'm going to try to work something out with my boss where i can work from home more often, so i'll try to start leaving him for shorter periods of time. yesterday i worked from home and left for a couple of hours to go to a coffee shop and he seemed fine when i got back. <br /><br />i also tried an experiment: i put him in his crate and turned it so he could see me while i worked on my computer, and he hated it (whining loudly, turning around, scratching the door). i didn't make any signs of leaving, i just sat there. it was strange because i thought he would calm down if he knew i was there, but maybe he was already in panic mode.<br /><br />luckily he loves food and is happy anytime he's eating treats. he loves his kong, and i was thinking about getting some chews that last a long time. i wish i could afford doggie daycare! i also read about this cool thing they have in portland called wagmasters, where they'll pick up your dog during the week and take them out to run with a pack of dogs. unfortunately it costs $30 a day, which adds up fast.<br /><br />i'll try out the things you said, and keep you posted. thanks for the help!Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-59692795324728584902010-03-11T11:33:22.719-07:002010-03-11T11:33:22.719-07:00erica - separation anxiety is no quick fix, unfort...erica - separation anxiety is no quick fix, unfortunately. given that he's likely been passed around a bit in his life, that amplifies things.<br /><br />two things that can and should help are exercise and interactive toys. i would try my best to wear him out before crating him, and also leaving him with something like a kong toy or starmark toy, etc with some food or peanut butter in it. that will give him something to occupy his mind while you are gone and he'll have to spend some time working on removing the treats. <br /><br />you could try to leave him out of the crate, but if he is that anxious, there is a good chance he could do some damage to your house while you are gone. might be something to experiment with if you are only stepping out for a few minutes.<br /><br />it's important not to make a big deal of things when you leave. it can be hard to do, especially when they give you puppy dog eyes and look so forlorn. however, if you pet him or coddle him when he is in that state of mind, it only communicates that what he is doing is good and desirable. so, it's good to just be confident and swift about it. same with your return - if he is frenzied and going crazy when he sees you, just take him out of the crate and wait til he has calmed down to celebrate. this way, it reinforces a calm dog and not a chaotic one.<br /><br />i think there is hope for him, since you've only had him a few weeks. he will eventually catch on that you are never leaving forever, and his crate can be like a safe, fun place for him. i would figure out what he loves the most - what kind of food he likes, etc, and maybe reserve that very special food only for when you leave him. that way, he associates something very positive with your absence.<br /><br />it's something to just keep working at. what's tough is that it takes so much time to tackle separation anxiety. the best thing would be to start with small increments of time leaving him and then build that up over time, but i realize that's pretty difficult when you have a job and kind of HAVE to be gone for six hours at a time. regardless, if you have time in the morning to do a training session, after work, at lunch, on the weekends - whenever. take advantage of those times to reassure him that sometimes you are are not gone for all that long.<br /><br />i hope this is not too long-winded, but those are some things i would start with! it's sooo neat that you rescued - i am such a supporter of that! alfie is so lucky! (and cute - love his pics on facebook :))<br /><br />please let me know if some of that doesn't make sense or if you have more questions!Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624011564814042688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-56545276184710154202010-03-11T11:10:26.957-07:002010-03-11T11:10:26.957-07:00oh, i should also mention that i've had him fo...oh, i should also mention that i've had him for 10 daysEricahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-28557691728044508042010-03-11T11:09:00.960-07:002010-03-11T11:09:00.960-07:00i should also mention that he's fine being lef...i should also mention that he's fine being left alone in the car.Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-58073202456702937202010-03-11T11:08:31.656-07:002010-03-11T11:08:31.656-07:00i'm thinking maybe i should just quite putting...i'm thinking maybe i should just quite putting him in the crate. could that be causing some of his anxiety?Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-70124263702949846772010-03-11T11:02:29.288-07:002010-03-11T11:02:29.288-07:00well we got him from the humane society. he's ...well we got him from the humane society. he's a year and a half old, and i think a rat terrier/basenji mix. he has some health issues: he's on medication for seizures and he also has some neurological issues that are unrelated to the seizures. he walks a little funny and has sort of a lazy eye. but he's really sweet, energetic, playful and cuddly. he's amazing on walks and hikes and seems to learn really quickly.<br /><br />the biggest problem i'm having right now is separation anxiety. the person who had him in foster care at the humane society for a couple months said he's crate trained and she left him alone during the day. but i've been trying to leave him alone for about 6 hours monday-thursday and his anxiety seems to be getting worse. he's pooped in the crate twice and seems to be freaking out, yelping and rubbing his head. he's fine at night though, in his crate. so i'm not sure what to do. the vet gave a prescription for valium, but i feel bad about doing that!Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-19893273207994584492010-03-09T17:41:07.962-07:002010-03-09T17:41:07.962-07:00aw, that makes me happy, erica! i saw some pics of...aw, that makes me happy, erica! i saw some pics of him on facebook i think...what's his story?Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624011564814042688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168749317519555147.post-47074218106103333422010-03-08T15:44:11.680-07:002010-03-08T15:44:11.680-07:00yay! i'm going to try the clicker with my new ...yay! i'm going to try the clicker with my new dog, so i'll be following this!Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05884296008516160919noreply@blogger.com