We have two black labradors which although family dogs they are only interested in my husband. Jess is 13 months old today, she is the most beautiful dog, hopefully l can attach a pic, and mostly obedient, l believe she is an american lab. Shes quite highly strung and very lively. Unfortunately she poses us with our biggest problem. She has a separation problem with my husband. He can't go to make a cuppa, the loo or out the door and she starts crying. Sometimes just whining down her nose, but usually louder crying. After leaving her in a boarding kennel for two nights while we had to go somewhere, she ended up traumatised and had to be treated at the vet for it. She had burst the blood vessels in her eyes too. Now we feel she can't be left and are tied in with the family. We have a van so just the two if us can take the dogs in that. We have two grown up special needs kids but we can't go out with them as theres no room in the car. Max is our lovely boy. He is an english lab who us very laid back.. He too is very obedient but is quite a character who is easy to please. We have no problems with him, he is 10 months old.
Re: Hi from Mid Wales uk Hi Mollydolly and welcome to the forum It sounds like you have two beautiful dogs but I'm sure that managing Jess's anxieties is a pretty big challenge. You obviously do your level best to take great care of her. I take my hat off to you. Have you had an opportunity to consult a qualified dog behaviourist about Jess?
Re: Hi from Mid Wales uk Hi and welcome to the forum! I don't any experience with these kinds of issues, but I do agree with Rachel on this one - a good behaviourist would be my first thought too. Is your husband gone during the day for work? How does she cope then?
Re: Hi from Mid Wales uk Welcome to the forum. Sorry Cant really help as not got any experience with attachment issues with dogs, but in my work with children, I come across this a lot. With one lad he had to carry around something that smelt like his mum to manage to get through the day - could you perhaps try that with Jess? Ternaya and Harley (21 weeks old)
Re: Hi from Mid Wales uk Hi there, I've got a yellow 15 month old boy who is our first dog so I can't help with the problem you are experiencing but you sound like you are managing it well,although it's not ideal for you x
Re: Hi from Mid Wales uk Hi MollyDolly. Welcome to the forum. I agree with Rachael too - sounds like a job for an expert I'm afraid. My exlerience mostly comes from listening to others on the forum and some from my own dog training classes ( our trainer bas experience in dog behavioural issues) I guess it would be a slow process to do something like click and treat training building up to short periods of absence from your OH without whining but might be the way forward. Have you heard of Thundershirts? This might be an option for you to try to reduce anxiety and tbere is also Adaptil. I think this is such a big job that you will need some kind of one to one help to support you with a plan of action. By the sounds of it it would be worth a bit of financial outlay to get your life back. I hope you can make some progress on this. Jac
