Our Black 14 month Labrador has no issues of my leaving the house, but, when my husband and I go to the shops or even part direction on a walk she becomes very agitated, yelping very loudly, barks and pulls frantically to reach me. Today, I tried to leave for a few minutes, went back to re-assure her, then walked away. I did this a few times but she still re-acted. Is this the correct method to cure an anxiety issue?
Hi there,Welcome to the Forum. Is she barking and stressed when she is in the house alone,I'm not sure from your post? If are describing a situation where you are leaving the house and she is distressed and you said you went back after a few minutes you are doing the right thing but you might need to reduce the time to tiny intervals and work up from there.... I've had a look through the main site and found this article that may help http://www.thelabradorsite.com/?s=Separation+anxiety Dexter is 'our' dog but he is really 'my' dog in that I do all his training,care and feeding so at one stage we had a bit of the behaviour you describe on walks if we separated or if I joined my husband and Dexter later on a walk.If he played up as I was walking away my Husband used to use a 'look' or ' touch' cue ,both could be done as they were moving so it interrupted Dexter being a bit antsy. He got something tasty and rewarding for looking at my husband or touching his hand instead of pulling back to me. Pulling/ lunging / barking as I approached was dealt with by heavily rewarding 'sit' we spent quite a lot of time on this to be honest as Dexter was quite bad .....also if he pulled / lunged or barked as I approached I Stood still until he stopped ,when he was calm I'm moved towards him again .... Hope,this helps a bit x
Hi, Pepper does not bark or shows any signs of being stressed when she is left alone in the house. Our issues are only when we our out together and we separate. It is really bad when I walk away. My husband tries to get her attention and treat but she totally ignores him. I am the one who has always got up in the night to tend to her since a Pup, feeds her and probably the main trainer. Looking at the article you pasted, I was thinking that this was probably what I will need to try. Thanks for you help. x
My first Lab girl was like that, not as extreme. She was fine alone in the house no matter who left, when they left or who they left with. But out on a walk, which were off leash, if the OH and I started together we had to stay together. One place we would cross country ski I would go up a hill just so I could turn around and come back down it and he would continue on heading back to the car. Jet didn't yelp but she'd run back and forth between us, we'd get out of sight of each other and she would still be racing back and forth from him to me and back. She would always end up staying with me but she did it for years. We can only think there's some kind of pack mentality that demands the pack stay together. ONe of us going into a shop and then coming out was more easily handled. She'd be on leash in this situation. Again, she didn't yelp or cry but was clearly anxious and then the returning person was liable to be knocked off their feet by her exuberant welcome back. This was easy, she had a solid SIT and she was asked to do it. But we found no remedy for her anxiety, which was short lived so we just lived with it. And yup, it was more so when I left than when he left.
O boy, an instructor at a training class said was a 'pack' thing. It is so embarrassing when at shops. I can even hear her from inside the shop a long way away. I'm hoping can cure it. Started yesterday with husband taking her for a walk to her favourite field but I only went to the end of the driveway. As soon as she realised she started to pull towards me but no yelping. I told her to sit (she also has solid sit) then went to her, treated her, said 'see you soon' and walked away again. Did this a few times then told OH to get her attention and treat constantly. Did again twice today but this time, instead of me treating, told OH to do so. Was better, she continued with him although glanced back at me. Intend extending how long I walk with them to the field before I turn back. I'm hoping that having a run on the field will become more important. Then to try streets with me taking a different direction before attempting shops. By the sound of your experience, think is going to take a long time if at all.
