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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Jennifer Shryock is a certified dog behavior consultant, who specializes in helping families keep things safe and fun between children and the family dog/s. She has a duo bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Kutztown University. She combined her passion for working with families, children and dogs into a career in dog behavior, and founded Family Paws in 2002. She developed Dogs & Storks™, an original and complete program for new and expecting parents (and grandparents) who have a family dog.
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3/25/2006
My Jack Russell Terrier has severe separation anxiety from me. If I just walk down to the mailbox she whines and cries and throws a fit. If I take off jogging and she sees me leave up the hill she whines and whines according to the rest of the family (my husband and kids) she does this and paces and looks out the window for me till she sees me returning. I take her to work (I work at a vet hospital) and place her in one of the kennels there in the boarding area, I can stand just a few feet from her and she whines and cries cause she can see me but can't get to me. She is a rescue dog if that helps you to determine why she does this. I have had her for 5yrs. She likes other members of the family but I AM HER FAVORITE. I want to know how to break her of this behavior; to teach her that it is ok and that I will be back. (amyableamy, Washington)
It sounds like your dog has a bit of an insecure attachment that is causing her stress. I have several questions for you to consider:
- How is this behavior working for her?
- What are YOU doing that reinforces this behavior?
Do you pet her when she is fussing, whining or panicky? Do you make a big deal about leaving or returning? Are you going to her when she whines and whimpers? Often we are not even aware of what we are doing that makes the behavior work for our dogs. The fact that this behavior is just for you indicates that it works with you.
One of the things that helps dogs with separation is to not give them attention for their whining and fussing. Attention means
eye contact, facing them, talking to them etc. When she is quiet then you interact with her. When leaving and returning to home or from another room, make this calm and do not greet her immediately. If she whines just ignore it and wait for her to stop and then have her sit and go and pet her and interact.
Spend some time observing the other family members and how they interact with her. They may be showing more independence and confidence by not "needing" her or focusing on her. Does this make sense?
Here are some suggestions.
- Ignore her when returning home. Make this a calm and quiet time and not a big deal. If it is a party and big attention time then she will sit waiting for the "big moment" to happen. In her mind that door could open "at any minute" and she will remain poised and hyper ready for the big reunion and celebration of your return. So, ignore her and wait for her to settle down and then call her to you for greeting.
- Do not make a big deal about leaving! Use a room, area or some place where she cannot watch you and get worked up as you leave. I suggest making this a mental stimulating time by allowing her to work on a stuffed food dispensing toy with peanut butter or something.. Measure her food amount for the day and offer parts of it during times you are leaving.
- Practice obedience as this is a great way to demonstrate confident and secure leadership. The more she sees you as confident the less she will feel the need to "control" your whereabouts.
I hope some of this is helpful.
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