elliesmom

Hi all, thank you for your responses. Today we started over again with the alone training with her being free, starting with me just walking to the door. Our vet appointment is in a week, where I will ask her about those medications and about the vet behaviorist. There is no way I can give Ellie up, she is my best friend and my baby. I am open to getting another hound, I just have to wait until at least August when I can move into a place that will accept that. Im lucky to have a place where she can go at the moment while Im at work, and can send her to daycare once she is clear of her hookworms until I can get her a companion. I want to try everything though before getting another dog. Neylasmom, I am in the St.Louis, MO area.

Thanks for your response! I have an appointment set up to talk to her vet about her anxiety. I'm hoping some medication may her establish a routine. I will also ask about a veterinary behaviorist consultation. As for the behaviorist/trainers, the first person I consulted claimed to be a behaviorist but was pretty unhelpful. She pretty much said she needs companionship and some dogs can't be alone, and that's about it. I was skeptical. The second was a trainer who deals with behavior problems, who suggested that it could be a learned behavior for her to howl. She suggested I work on body blocks and training her to wait, stay, etc. because it could be related to impulse control. I've since taught her those things, but she still cries and howls. She also suggested I crate her and if she starts to cry while I'm home I correct her with a verbal reprimand and praise her while she's quiet. She doesn't typically cry while she's crated and I'm home anymore, she only did that during the first week or two I had her.

I have a Nest camera to watch her. I highly recommend it. It also has the 2 way audio.

Hi, Thank you for your reply! I have followed the steps from I'll be home soon. Unfortunately, Ellie does not become upset until after she has been alone for 10-15 minutes, and the pamplet doesn't say what to do if that's the case. She doesn't care if I grab my keys, or put my coat on at all. It only has the paragraph at the end that says extend the time which I've been trying to do

Hi all, I adopted my sweet girl Ellie in late November of last year (2018). Since she’s been with me she's had trouble being alone. I’ve tried everything I can think of and that has been suggested to me. Here is a list: Consistent alone training; 30 seconds, 5 min, 2 min, etc, working up the time Calming chews Exercise (long walks, 1hr + brisk walk or until she didn’t want to walk anymore) Adaptil collar Special toy for absences Kong with peanut butter (only when she’s alone) A mirror and window near her crate Rescue remedy Melatonin A mannequin that I pretend is real to keep her company Leaving tv on, npr, country music, classical music, “dog separation anxiety calming music” A recording of my voice (only worked the first time I tried it) Techniques from “I’ll be home soon” Leaving her loose (she runs and paces) Babygating her to the kitchen/ bedroom area; she tried to break the gate down No dramatic goodbyes or hellos Obedience training with body blocks (wait, sit, stay, shake, down, spin etc) Crating while home Leaving my worn clothing w/ her Working with two behaviorists I’ve been very fortunate to have a great adoption group that has put me in contact with someone who is able to watch her during the day while I’m at work while we continue to work through this, but I feel like we have stopped making progress with the alone training. The weird part of the whole thing is that she appears to be fine for 10-15 minutes after I have left. She does not exhibit any symptoms of anxiety before or after I leave until that point. Then she will start what I call whistling and escalate to crying, then howling (you can hear it on the street), and then becoming more frantic (biting at the crate, trying to bust down the baby gate, running through the house, etc.) She does not seem particularly anxious about anything else. She also hangs out in her crate during the day and sleeps in there with the door open at night. I will also add she does not get particularly excited when I return, she just lays there quietly. My landlords will not allow me to get another dog, so that is not an option until at least August. I also live above them and one of them stays home all day. She is also in the middle of treatment for hookworms :-( so daycare is not an option right now either My current plan is to work on leaving her muzzled and loose with a ton of treats and puzzle toys throughout the house to keep her busy. Today it went alright, but she still periodically cried loudly by the door and then on her bed after she was done messing with the treats. I'm a bit homebound since she can't be left alone. I plan my grocery trips around the weather when she can be left in the car for short periods of time. Please if anyone has any methods or ideas for me to try, let me know. Thank you!