Not sure if anyone remembers, but thought I would post an update anyway for those who might be going through some separation anxiety with their pups.
Louis is an 11 month old Bouvier, and had separation anxiety from the moment I got him. If I left him for 2 hours, he barked and howled for 2 hours. 4 hours? The same. I don't think I ever left him longer than that.
I tried desensitizing him, Adaptil spray and collar, progressively building his tolerance to being alone, etc. Nothing worked, and after 6 months of training this every day, I still couldn't leave the floor of the house he was on.
I am pleased to report that he is totally and completely over this. Just today I left him, uncrated (I still always crate him), and watched him on the webcam. He didn't bother to lift his head as I was leaving, and remained sleeping the entire time I was gone! Whoooooo!
I have to give props for "fixing" him to my petsitter :hail: I left him with her for 2 weeks while we were away, and when I came back he was about 90% improved. The next 10% came in the weeks following my return. Basically, as I think I've posted before, he got a crazy amount of exercise playing with other dogs, and she was relentless in using the crate for short periods several times a day (she does with all her dogs because she has many of them, does a lot of dog sports, teaches dog training, etc and just has high needs for crates). Now, to be fair, she said he didn't really give her much trouble. Cried for under 30 minutes whenever she left him.
So for those of you dealing with SA, it can be completely overcome. So happy.
Louis is an 11 month old Bouvier, and had separation anxiety from the moment I got him. If I left him for 2 hours, he barked and howled for 2 hours. 4 hours? The same. I don't think I ever left him longer than that.
I tried desensitizing him, Adaptil spray and collar, progressively building his tolerance to being alone, etc. Nothing worked, and after 6 months of training this every day, I still couldn't leave the floor of the house he was on.
I am pleased to report that he is totally and completely over this. Just today I left him, uncrated (I still always crate him), and watched him on the webcam. He didn't bother to lift his head as I was leaving, and remained sleeping the entire time I was gone! Whoooooo!
I have to give props for "fixing" him to my petsitter :hail: I left him with her for 2 weeks while we were away, and when I came back he was about 90% improved. The next 10% came in the weeks following my return. Basically, as I think I've posted before, he got a crazy amount of exercise playing with other dogs, and she was relentless in using the crate for short periods several times a day (she does with all her dogs because she has many of them, does a lot of dog sports, teaches dog training, etc and just has high needs for crates). Now, to be fair, she said he didn't really give her much trouble. Cried for under 30 minutes whenever she left him.
So for those of you dealing with SA, it can be completely overcome. So happy.