Corgi Forums

corgimom · 08-30-2006, 01:12 PM

I am not personally dealing with this with Cody since I am home full time, but are there any books you would recommend for those dealing with this, or do you recommend them to seek out a professional?

brynlea · 08-30-2006, 01:27 PM

Well, your dog may be just fine but realize that being at home all the time and THEN leaving a dog who has any tendency for separation anxiety and the results can be disasterous, because this type of dog has absolutely no tools for coping ("is she coming back, she doesn't usually leave me!!").

Here is an interesting website: http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/app...s/anxiety.html

Now, I do not agree with using drug therapy, I just don't think it works nor is it the "answer" to the problem. BUT, I do have to say that what I do when I have a dog I think may be getting TOO DEPENDENT on me is just what they outline in this article: I send the dog off on a "vacation" with a friend. It might sound like the sink or swim method of helping a dog get over this problem, but in some cases it's the only way the dog learns that life goes on after Momma walks out the door!

The other thing I will say: after many years of recommending various books to puppy buyers and finding they rarely had/took the time to read them, I finally came across one that addresses the important "stuff" (separation anxiety included) in a very concise and easy to follow format. The book is "THE ONLY DOG TRAINING BOOK YOU'LL EVER NEED" by Gerilyn Bielakiewicz. It goes home with all my puppies and I have gotten nothing but good feedback on it.

At the same time, some people are just not capable of reading about how to train a dog and then going out and doing it with any success. Doesn't mean they are failures, they just need direction! In this case, when an owner's efforts don't seem to be getting anywhere, I highly recommend consulting an expert - and not ANY expert, one with Corgi experience. Most breeders are very happy to refer folks to such trainers.

corgimom · 01:35 PM

I guess I should have stated what I said clearer.

I am a full time mom, but not home full time always with him - I run errands and attend sporting things etc. I have often left him in his crate and also our bathroom with the baby gate up for as long as 4 to 5 hours and he has never done anything destructive whatsoever - no tearing up woodwork or rugs or his bedding - he has never been a big chewer; and he is 9 months old.

He has also been boarded for overnight at a doggy day care center and he has done fine and he goes one day a week to doggy day care for socialization which he loves.

I was inquiring more for the ones that are dealing with this now; as I am not the one who started this thread.

brynlea · 08-30-2006, 01:40 PM

I understand, and perhaps I should have made it more clear that the reason I mentioned the "stay at home" part is because many times people who do stay at home alot and don't have a set schedule to leave their dogs are the ones who are more likely to have problems with this then say, someone who leaves the house and comes home regularly day in and day out.........wasn't trying to pick on anyone for sure - and dogs generally either have tendencies to have separation anxiety or they don't, it's not a slam to anyone who's dogs might have it, heck, I have one myself and don't consider myself a "bad owner", nor would I think that of anyone else in this case.

milles2 · 08-30-2006, 01:41 PM

I suspect Tuck chews out of boredom. So I kept his area small with the X pen and blocked off things I didn't want him to chew. I was amazed how keeping his area small really helped.

Now that he's 1 and 1/2 years old, he has stopped distructive chewing. It's only when a love seat rolls on top of his Kong (or was it the Kong rolled under the love seat????) that he goes back to chewing furniture. Silly love seat, wouldn't give him back his Kong! He hauled the love seat 6 inches on carpet trying to get the Kong while I ran to the store.

I digress.... but back in his hay day, Tuck chewed woodwork, the door frame, and even a spot in my wood floor. Yes, one day I was putting laundry away, he sat 5 feet from me, lying down and being quiet, and in about 5 minutes, he had chewed a spot in my wood floors.

So far Lulu (4 months) confines her chewing to Tucker's butt and toys.

Oh! And I would buy Tuck the treat dispensing balls hoping working for his treats would entertain him. I found 2 I particularly like. He finishes the treats then distroys the treat balls. At $8 a pop, we don't get them any more. I had a Buster Cube but even he hated the noise!

Jeni D · 08-30-2006, 04:12 PM

Well, he did not chew the door frame today, so hopefully this will not happen again. I try to not encourage separation anxiety--Walk out the door without making a big deal, try to ignore him when I first get home, leave the TV on, variety of toys, etc. Dudley has always been anxious when I leave, even if I'm just leaving the room, he will whine and pace.

Dudley is also a paper shredder when he thinks no one is looking, particularly kleenexes out of the garbage--ew gross!!

fido · 08-30-2006, 04:48 PM

Our wonderful male Corgi pup, Buddy, also took to chewing the cabinet door in the utility room. So I went to Home Dept and had them cut a piece of acrylic to cover the area. We attached it with spacers of wine cork and nuts and bolts. This has worked well so far...

Good Luck!

jprechel · 08-30-2006, 08:28 PM

Ace has scratched the paint off our kitchen door, chewed on the corners of our kitchen cabinets, chewed on a closet door, chewed on our wood blinds, and has chewed two holes in the drywall next to the kitchen door. The second hole was done just the other day. I was actually thinking about starting to fix the damage in the kitchen, but Ace wasn't done remodeling yet! My wife says "that's just what puppies do!" I just reach for my blood pressure medication.

We leave Ace without any fanfare gated in the kitchen. We just say "Bye Ace, We'll be back in a little while." We leave the radio on and give him a kong or bully stick, plus his array of other toys.

Michael Romanos · 08-30-2006, 08:39 PM

Tough love.

Chip's Mom · 08-31-2006, 12:30 AM

Well Maybelle chewed on different things because she was cutting her baby teeth much like my children did when they were small - everything in their mouth LOL. Chip every once in awhile will still chew on the footboard of the bed (my new Christmas bed) and I am sleeping right beside him - it just feels good on his teeth. I have given up on the rawhides because he swallowed a chunk of one once and scared me to death. I can't bring myself to buy bullysticks - I wish I could.

ChloeLouise · 08-31-2006, 09:00 AM

There are teeth marks on my spinning wheel!

My daughter cannot believe Chloe did not end up in stir-fry for that offense! -sigh- That is how MUCH I love my Corgi! (*heart icon*) It was my mistake for leaving it in the kitchen where Chloe was playing anyway...

Chip's Mom · 08-31-2006, 02:59 PM

I will grieve with you over the spinning wheel. I have always wanted one - I think they are the greatest thing.

tandemgal · 08-31-2006, 03:39 PM

I too am sorry for your spinning wheel! Hope the damage wasnt too bad...

Brynlea's web site on anxiety was interesting... I also saw a show on the Dog Whisper (and I dont always agree with him at all) that suggested a long walk b4 leaving the dog to tire him out while your gone.

I know the first few days Leah was at school Chloe seemed hyper in the mornings. I took her out for long walk and she was much more calm the rest of the day. Might be something to it...

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