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fourpointers@yahoo.com
Niagara, Wisconsin
Posts:10
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| 12/05/2007 8:34 AM |
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I have a 4 year old male GSP who has broken out of every kennel that we have bought or had made, even steel. He is able to break the welds on the cage with his teeth and get out. We then gave him the run of the garage and he has chewed off 7 door knobs to date. He has severe seperation anxiety when being locked up for any period of time. Any suggestions?
fourpointers@yahoo.com
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Trey
SW Iowa
MH
Posts:516
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| 12/05/2007 1:30 PM |
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| Is this dog nuetered? If not that is the first thing I would do, even if it doesn't stop the behavior, you don't want any more like that. You vet can prescribe drugs to tranq. him while he is crated. I personally wouldn't have kept him this long, that sounds harsh, but I have boarded dogs of other breeds with the problem, it is hard to deal with,and I would hate to see it get passed around in the breed any more. |
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Cathy
Middleville, Michigan
Posts:10
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| 12/06/2007 1:47 PM |
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Suggestion: Get him a buddy. He needs another dog to keep him company while you are gone. My shorthair Molly was much the same as your guy, but when we added Bridget to the mix, Molly's anxiety level reduced by half at least.
Cathy |
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mikeyair
valley city north dakota
JH
Posts:34
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| 12/10/2007 7:32 AM |
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| my gsp has some o the same issues she hasent been able to break any welds but she will destroy anything she can when let alone so i started leaving her with my lab and that helped a lot it didnt cure it 100 percent but it did make a big diferance. that and now that shes got her pups she tends to do beter in the crate with them but they will al be gone in the next 2 weeks. but having a buddy did help out alot in our situation |
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roxi, gsp
mkiey choc lab
mavrick, gsp
nixie, gsp
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fourpointers@yahoo.com
Niagara, Wisconsin
Posts:10
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| 12/10/2007 7:37 AM |
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the thing is, he has 3 other buddies who are also kenneled when we have to leave the house (all in the same room). I tried leaving him in the house with one other dog and they ended up tearing my recliner apart. What's next? |
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
MH
Posts:1618
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| 12/10/2007 9:07 AM |
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| Maybe your vet can give you something to help relax him when you leave. Sounds like super bad separation anxiety. Does he have other troubles like aggresion? I have a friend who had a male that was bad and he started getting aggresive even with her. He wouldn't listen anymore, and they even had to start putting him out just to cut his nails. Sadly the last straw was when he almost bit the vet's face. She ended up putting him down. It is sad to see it come to something like that when surely there is something to help with it. Good luck and keep us posted. |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)  
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Diamond
Southwestern Ontario
MH
Posts:349
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| 12/11/2007 1:33 PM |
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a big misconception with separation anxiety is the fact that the dog is "lonely"....in a small way that is true but if you look at it a little differently we might be able to understand the dogs thoughts a lot easier...and actually deal with the underlying cause.
Many dogs that have "separation anxiety" believe that they are the pack leader, responsible for the safety of the pack. Just imagine being locked in a 12x12 area and watching your little kids playing, you begin to worry that they might run off and hurt themselves so you look for a way out, can't find one...panic starts to build and then they do leave! You can't see them any more, you listen you can't hear them....panic panic panic!! You are going to get out of that place if it kills you!! Because you are the one responsible for keeping your family (in a dogs world "pack") safe.
Being pack leader is a minute by minute work out for us it isn't easy but it is the best thing for our dogs. A few basic routine things to remember are
1. You as pack leader are in total control of the food, when it's fed, who eats first etc. As head of the pack no one eats before or without YOUR permission. When first stating your position as leader it is a good idea to have something small to eat (in front of your dog) like a cracker, small cookie etc. every time you feed meals eat your food first then make them sit and wait until you say they can have their food. Also get your scent on their food (roll up your sleeves!), since food comes only after the pack leader eats his fill that scent needs to be there....don’t worry you don’t have to spend 15min fondling the kibble before you give it to them  just dragging your hand through once or twice will do fine. After being firm in your position for a while you won’t have to role play with the cracker...just making them wait until you say should be enough....you’ll really know you have it down when they don’t look at the food when they are waiting, only you. I also I recommend giving dogs their meals after they have earned it. Dogs in the wild have to work for their food and exercise is a great way we can incorporate that to our “domesticated” dogs. So whether it is a hunt in the woods, a training session, or a on the leash-heeling-walk with you the pack leader, just so long as you are in control of the exercise it will be work for your dog (what it is not is letting the dog out for a while to run in the field or back yard by himself...or with you following).
2. Dog comes to pack leader not pack leader to subordinate....yes I know there are those few times we have to go and get our dogs (they don’t all like getting baths!) But a lot of time its too easy to go to our dogs when “we need some love” or when they “just won’t shut up” or what about “oh they are just too cute!!” *laughs* I know all about that I am a human too and I love dogs! But it is because I love dogs that I sometimes have to restrain myself for their good and not mine. So general rule ignore the paw, eyes or other methods of hypnotism , stay consistent to boundaries (if you don’t have some get some). Then when the dog is not bothering you for attention call him or her to you and have a small treat, or have your hand warmed up to give a good tummy rub.
3. Exercise...a tired dog is a happy and obedient dog. This doesn’t have to be as “controlled” as the working kind of exercise all the time but I think it works best if both the mind and the body have a health dose of tuckerdness  Sports like sledding, bikejoring, skijoring, hunting, agility etc are all great interactive things that require the dog to focus. But hey I know that all work and no play makes rover a dull boy so that’s what the hay field and mice are for....well as least in my case ha ha. Let’s face it most of the things dogs enjoy most in life is work anyhow *laughs*
4. “The 5 min rule”....This is really important to remember whenever you are separated from your dog and reunited. Being pack leader isn’t just a “Hello my name is: Pack Leader” sticker we put on and don’t ever take off, it’s an action we communicate 24/7 to our dogs. When ever we are separated and then reunited with our dogs we need to remind them over again who is pack leader. When we come home from work and the dog is jumping all over us he’s asking by action “are you still pack leader?” “Who’s going to be boss now?” normally our reply is “you are now” when we fall all over them and respond with hugs, cuddles, petting, coos and baby talk (or maybe just as popular “shut up!!” “Get off!” “NO!” “Out of the way!” )....sorry guys we have to give it up pack leaders don’t do this....I know it make us feel good but let’s try to practice some of the restraint stuff I mentioned earlier. Walk high, walk proud, and walk right past them....after 5min(or when ever they settle down and stop pushing for attention...what ever comes first) call them to you and give a small treat, praise or a little loving....but when you are done....it’s done. I like to define this by if you are apart for over 5min then you have to apply the 5min rule when you return. Eventually they will come to learn the routine..and don’t worry if they don’t come running when you get home it’s not because they don’t love you ..... it’s because they do.
Oh my gosh I think I am typed enough I didn’t mean for this to turn out to be so long!! There is just so much information and I wanted to be as clear as I could be, I love sharing information that I have discovered and sometimes I can get carried away....hmm maybe I should just write a book *laughs*
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Legallyblonde
Otsego MI
MH
Posts:244
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| 12/11/2007 2:05 PM |
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My Weim has had serious separation anxiety issues. While I think the pack leader thing can be an issue in some dogs, I also believe in some dogs it really is a mental disorder, just as humans can have anxiety issues. I worked on my Weim for the first 2 years, trying so so many different things. Luckily, when we got our GSP Oskar, once she got used to him, 6 months later, it really helped keep her calm. Medication was going to be our last resort, I didn't want to have to do it if I didn't have to. We have used Ace in the past to tranq her, but that's only a band-aid, and she'd pretty much fight through it. I know a friend of mine's dog developed separation anxiety late in life, and she ended up having to put her on prozac, which has actually put her back into balance and back to her old self.
I think she also is claustrophobic, which can go hand in hand with anxiety, put her into any crate and immediate panic sets in. Panting excessively, shaking, and she has even injured herself to get out of the crates. I can't crate her at all, it's not worth it to me when she started breaking teeth, and she's been ok in the house since she attached herself to Oskar. If I'd have known they existed when this all began, I would have taken her to a behaviorist. You've just gotta try different things and whatever you can afford; whatever works best for you!
Oh and she is fixed, and I wouldn't give her up for anything, problems and all! When I take an animal into my life, I take on and am responsible for any problems that might come with them, I would never dump that off on someone else. Case in point, my Weim and her problems, oh and my 'free' ACD who needed a $4000 leg surgery. Plus I develop attachment and affection for my 'kids' pretty quick, it'd be pretty hard to tear them away from me ; ) |
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UWPCH CA GSJCH USUVCH Boogerman Loverboy Oskar TDI CGC
SHR UWP CH Abbe Lane's Prince of Darkness TAN NA-I RBIMBS |
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tarheel5
Posts:8
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| 12/11/2007 6:32 PM |
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These are some excellant suggestions. My question is I have just went through two years of this with our choc. lab that tore everything apart and really changed our family dynamics during this time. As stated it is like having a specail needs child. We pick up our new GSP puppy on Jan 10th from a outstanding breeder in KS but my wife has some reservations as to how we can prevent the dog or the family from going through this again. Is there any signs as a puppy or any testing that can be done to prevent this from taking place? A proud soon to be GSP pupy owner in western Michigan. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 12/11/2007 6:59 PM |
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Can you tell about the type of exercise this dog gets?How he reacts on walks?How he responds to people,other dogs, other animals and obedience commands?
I would say this dog either has severe issues or has little to none obedience. A dog, like a child, needs structure and needs to be taught how to behave.Along with the proper outlet for energy.
This is an extremely unhappy dog who is being made more unstable every day.Something needs to be done. It pains me to think this has gone so far.
Francine |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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markj
Posts:17
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| 12/12/2007 9:33 AM |
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Have you tried leaving a toy or something with your scent on it in the kennel? Also magnum makes a very strong kennel, try one with a top on it, chain the door shut. Put him in, stand outside softly talking to him. When he stops paying attention to you move a short distance away until you can get out of site but still observe his actions. Some dogs like humans cant be confined or they get all panicky. They need to understand it is a "safe place" not a cinfinement. I start mine very young on "kennel up" they all go to their kennel and wait for me to close the door. It is all in training. |
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