Usually, when someone has a problem with their dog, it’s a mix of several inter-related issues. This isn’t the case with Danny.
Danny, just six months old, is near perfect in my opinion!
The lady wants to do her very best by him and there is one area that worries her.
Danny’s not happy left at home all alone.
Not only does she not want to see her lovely dog unhappy, it also restricts her own freedom. On the three days she goes out to work. Danny is with a dog sitter having a lovely time.
She lives alone with Danny so he’s either with her at home or alone. Dogs that live with more than one person will be used to people walking out while not left all alone.
Starting from scratch, the main areas we look at are:
Choosing the best place.
This should be somewhere he loves to be – and only in a crate if he loves it and goes in voluntarily. I would suggest away from the front of the house.
Ensuring the best environment.
It’s essential when left alone that he feels safe. He’s reactive to the doorbell or knock. She will desensitise to that should someone arrive while he’s alone.
Suitable background music or sounds. She listens to Radio 2, so can leave that on as it is already associated with her presence and feeling safe. Possibly a Pet Remedy or Adaptyl anti-anxiety plugin.
Also a visual cue to confirm he’s alone. In Danny’s case she will put the dog bed in the kitchen. It will only be in the kitchen when she’s out. There should be no creeping out for him to wake up, alone and scared.
Some people like to leave chews or toys or food. It will depend upon the case. With Danny I would encourage him to relax and sleep, not to be busy.
The leaving procedure itself.
This requires breaking things down into tiny steps. They need a routine. With my own dogs I shut them in the kitchen, lock the back door, pull out the dog bed, pick up my keys and say ‘back soon – guard the house’. As if!
So we set up the bespoke routine for Danny and then, one at a time will add things to it. Walking out through the dog gate/shoes, coat, keys/walking out of the back door and returning/increasing time outside.
At this stage a camera is very useful. She can watch on her phone and make sure she doesn’t stay away for longer than he’s happy with. Suddenly leaving him for too long would break the trust so carefully built up.
Leaving and returning
When she leaves the kitchen through the gate, she can make that a positive thing by dropping food. When she returns she should be matter-of-fact and boring. Just a calm hello.
The lady admits concern that she may begin to resent him a little if she can’t go out for a couple of hours if she wants to. In all that she does, Danny’s happiness is a number one priority.
