need dog help - how to get it to stop freaking out when people leave?

[evident]

my MIL is visiting for the weekend. she visits very frequently and has a dog. it's mostly well behaved but when she steps out the dog completely freaks out. I'm in the basement right now and they just left... the dog doesn't know i'm home so it thinks its home by itself, i can hear it crying and shrieking... what's the best way to handle dog separation anxiety?

 

[Muse]

You might try making the dog like people leaving. For example, have your guests be in an area where they can make their exit, then lure the dog elsewhere, give it a treat. People leave, dog has been treated. The first times dog may freak out when dog discovers guests are gone. Eventually, dog will associate the treat with people leaving, problem solved.

Edit: Oh, I see it's a peculiar situation, not your dog, dog not in its usual habitat. Well, you can try similar dog training strategies, conditioning. Dogs respond to conditioning. Use your imagination.

 

[MongGrel]

I was going to say go up and toss him a hot dog or something myself, but it seems you don't want the dog to know you are there.

I avoid my MIL myself for awhile now.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Unless you are taking a nap and not moving around or anything the dog knows somebody is home. Maybe it thinks you are the MIL and is freaking out cause why would she leave me down here while she is upstairs?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

 

[evident]

Unless you are taking a nap and not moving around or anything the dog knows somebody is home. Maybe it thinks you are the MIL and is freaking out cause why would she leave me down here while she is upstairs?

trying to work out downstairs in the gym. even when wife and i are home he is freaks out. I don't want him to know i'm home. he also does this when i'm outside mowing the lawn or sees us in the area. he's not trained enough to stay outside w/o a leash while we're outside unfortunately.

MIL is retired so she's always home in the environment. I can hear him pacing around. went upstairs to console him but as soon as i disappear he's up to it again.

and yeah. MIL stays with us for extended periods of time, but it's not the full time house for hte dog. she'll stay for long weekends, but in the winter she may be staying for a month at a time or longer.

 

[MongGrel]

You evil witch.

 

[I Saw OJ]

The best thing we did for our dogs was get them crate trained, easier when they are puppies obviously but still doable for a mature dog.

The crate isn't a place of punishment for the dogs, but their own personal little safe area. We leave the crate doors open and the dogs come and go as they please and often go there to chill out when things in the house get too hectic.

 

[evident]

The best thing we did for our dogs was get them crate trained, easier when they are puppies obviously but still doable for a mature dog.

The crate isn't a place of punishment for the dogs, but their own personal little safe area. We leave the crate doors open and the dogs come and go as they please and often go there to chill out when things in the house get too hectic.

This is what i've been reading as well. I think we may have to do this going forward... The dog is no more than 2 years old i think.

 

[bradly1101]

Dogs are waaaay too needy to be left alone.

 

[angminas]

Dogs are pack animals. Having just one is not cool.

 

[tynopik]

your model is defective

return it and get a new one

 

[JulesMaximus]

Get another dog. They need companionship.

 

[HeXen]

My dog had that. We just ignored it plus can't hear him freak out once we're out the door anyway.

 

[tynopik]

My dog had that. We just ignored it plus can't hear him freak out once we're out the door anyway.

that's great until they start tearing up stuff

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

my MIL is visiting for the weekend. she visits very frequently and has a dog. it's mostly well behaved but when she steps out the dog completely freaks out. I'm in the basement right now and they just left... the dog doesn't know i'm home so it thinks its home by itself, i can hear it crying and shrieking... what's the best way to handle dog separation anxiety?

Buy a cage. Tell her that if she leaves the room, place the dog in the cage. Simple. If she doesn't do it, you will do it.

I can't stand people that don't know how to train their pets.

 

[OverVolt]

Stop giving the dog so much sympathy and good byes when you leave. Just leave.

The more you draw it out, the worse of a lonely complex you are giving the dog. Don't make leaving such a big deal.

 

[angminas]

My dog had that. We just ignored it plus can't hear him freak out once we're out the door anyway.

Wow. That's pretty heartless.

 

[TheGardener]

The correct answer is divorce. You get rid of the MIL and the dog. Two for one.

 

[evident]

Buy a cage. Tell her that if she leaves the room, place the dog in the cage. Simple. If she doesn't do it, you will do it.

I can't stand people that don't know how to train their pets.

would that really calm the dog down though? or would it just associate the cage/crate with his owner being away?

 

[zinfamous]

The correct answer is divorce. You get rid of the MIL and the dog. Two for one.

This.

or just hang out with the dog. This is temporary, no?

 

[HeXen]

Wow. That's pretty heartless.

lol, no, like what am I supposed to do about it? I can't send him to a shrink or put him on drugs or anything. Putting a dog in a cage all day is what's heartless imo, he'll grow out of it as he ages. Besides he has a play buddy, plenty of bones and toys..he's fine but I'm not shoving him in a cage all day to just pacify myself. I can't imagine sitting in a cage for some 8+hrs.

 

[tynopik]

I can't send him to a shrink or put him on drugs or anything.

actually you can

vets can prescribe all sorts of anti-anxiety meds for dogs

 

[gorcorps]

Wow. That's pretty heartless.

Spoken like somebody who's never had to deal with separation anxiety. They can learn over time that being alone is okay, it just takes time. Some people keep the radio or TV on or something to give some background noise for the dog, but they just need to learn that they'll be alone and people will come back.

What's the alternative? Never leave the house because the dog whines whenever they're alone? Please... YOU'RE the boss, not the dog. They don't make the rules.

 

[angminas]

Spoken like somebody who's never had to deal with separation anxiety.

Wrong.

What's the alternative?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dog+separation+anxiety