Separation Anxiety?

[Quincy's Slave]

So someone who I consider knowledgeable about dogs told me that Danes are prone to separation anxiety. I haven't found much reference to that in anything I've read. Hubby and I both work from home, which is a blessing and a curse and we are a bit concerned about how much time Oliver will be with us and then what happens when we want to go out without him. We're still working on the crate training, getting a bit better but we've had some issues still.

Any experience with Danes and S.A?

[Quincy's Slave]

Have you tried a thundershirt on him? I realize if that fails you will just have more laundry....

Please keep us updated on how everything goes. I'm sorry you guys are going through this, but I have no doubt that you will beat it.

We haven't tried the thundershirt but I've been wondering if it would help. Also with Halloween coming up there are going to be lots of fireworks and fire crackers in our neighborhood so it might help him then too if he gets upset.

[oubball14]

from someone who's dealt with this, make sure you find a way to relax for you as well...I think I had more anxiety by the end of it all than he did. The anxiety I felt going home was unbelievable...now he has his own room while I'm gone and I'm not attached to anything in there...so if he tears it up it's ok. Lol. ALso look for some rescue remedy and give before he starts to get stressed. Thundershirt is worth a try, if it doesn't work you can return it for a full refund.

[fets]

Have you tried a thundershirt on him? I realize if that fails you will just have more laundry....

Please keep us updated on how everything goes. I'm sorry you guys are going through this, but I have no doubt that you will beat it.

[Quincy's Slave]

Thank you, I'll have to see if I can find that article. Oliver gets his 2nd shots this afternoon and we start puppy kindergarten on Saturday so I hope he will get better once we get to play with other dogs! We're also going to hopefully get him into day care as early as next week!

[KarenO]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I had a dog with severe SA/crate anxiety and until we were able to trust her enough to give her free roam, I bathed her any time I left the house. Even doing the backing off the driveway and going back in the house a zillion times to frozen Kongs to an abundance of exercise before leaving, confidence building agility and obedience classes and altering her feeding schedule, I tired it all.

There is a really interesting article in last months Whole Dog Journal about Separation Anxiety. It actually made me cry remembering what I went through. My situation was a while ago and dog training and information becomes more abundant year after year. My girl is no longer with me, but I'll never forget what I went through. She was a large breed dog and I was so afraid of the destruction she could cause. It took about a year, but we made it through.

I would get in touch with a trainer that specializes in SA as soon as possible. Giving yourself a break with doggy daycare is a good idea as well.

I wish you the best. I know first hand how mentally trying it can be. Keep us posted on his progress.

[Tucker's Mom]

I'm sorry I don't recall asking for your opinion.

Then apparently you shouldn't post on a forum! Now can we get back to the OP's original question!

[TMedic37]

First of all I don't throw my dog in the back yard, I let him out and he plays while I have things to do for an hour or two at the most. I don't sit here and talk bad about yall locking your dog in cages all the time like they are in an animal shelter or something. Atleast my dog is happy and not sitting there all miserable like hes in jail. Anyhow yall can go on with you sad little lifes and keep playing in your little fantasy world since you have nothing better to do with your life.

.... says the person who keeps coming back to post....

[TheGreatDane]

First of all I don't throw my dog in the back yard, I let him out and he plays while I have things to do for an hour or two at the most. I don't sit here and talk bad about yall locking your dog in cages all the time like they are in an animal shelter or something. Atleast my dog is happy and not sitting there all miserable like hes in jail. Anyhow yall can go on with you sad little lifes and keep playing in your little fantasy world since you have nothing better to do with your life.

[TMedic37]

I'm thinking more along the lines of a know it all who can't stand it when someone suggests/says that what they are doing isn't perfection.

I mean, how dare we even hint at the fact that throwing a puppy out back alone be a bad idea .. pish posh

Certainly not the first and won't be the last either....

You know, things were just going smoothly in here for a while there.... I guess we were due.

[BigLittleSmall]

Troll?

I'm thinking more along the lines of a know it all who can't stand it when someone suggests/says that what they are doing isn't perfection.

I mean, how dare we even hint at the fact that throwing a puppy out back alone be a bad idea .. pish posh

[fets]

Troll?

Now back to Quincy's Slave's problem....

I would try making sure he poops a good amount before putting him in the crate. Like maybe next time you go for a walk and he poops a few times, then try putting him in the crate for 15-30 minutes when you get back. Take him out once he stops crying. It might be worth a shot?

Another good SA book is, 'Don't Leave Me.' I've only read part of it, because the 'Game of Thrones' book set came in and I kinda got distracted.

[Amly]

It isn't just getting over or under a fence. There are so many things that could go wrong. Plants that are hazardous or toxic....a stick that could get lodged somewhere...puppies get into and chew on everything and just like having a baby or a toddler...everything is a potential hazard. But if just throwing them outside because of accidents is the direction that you're going...then potty training has been pretty much thrown out withe the puppy. I think that this cycle is what contributes to so many "backyard dogs" and while people are very passionate about great danes on this forum...they are absolutely not a backyard breed. I learned early on that anytime you post something you open yourself to criticism advice or just flat out opinionated comments. I don't agree with any dogs being outside dogs...and they usually start out as inside puppies.

[oubball14]

I haven't read through all of the posts yet, but have you tried a babygate to keep the puppy in a bathroom or somewhere that if he has an accident he can do it on one side of the room and still get away from it? Or maybe an ex-pen that you can slowly make smaller until it's the size of his crate to ease him into it? I don't think leaving him outside is the answer either...mine like being out there just as much as any other dog, but if it is truely separation anxiety then he will go just as crazy out there, you just don't have the poop on the crate to prove it. He will try to get out and may succeed, or some stupid idiot may throw something over the fence to him. Don't get me wrong, I got a magnetic screen door so mine can go in and out all day when I'm home. Keebler loves sunning on the deck while I'm getting ready for work in the morning...but I would NEVER leave him out there while I'm gone...he too suffers from severe SA and I know he would try to get out. Plus I have trust issues and have had too many friends whose dogs have ingested pills, etc that have been thrown over their fence. You can control your inside environment easier than you can control the outside, IMO.

[BigLittleSmall]

untill I ask for anyones opinion Im not going to give a shit just as much as the last time.

You won't last long here then .. because no one here gives a if you like our advice or not when we feel like a dog isn't being looked after properly .. it's the internet and the DOL way .. get used to it. *shrugs*