independence

Morning everybody!
Denise our "dog whisper" haha or common sense as I call it came over yesterday to sit down with us. I decided to keep a log/blog type entry each day or close to it on our progress.

First let me say that dexter is NOT a bad dog! I know some people may read this and when they hear separation anxiety they think a bad dog or a dog chewing on everything in the house. That is not the case with our dog. But I can tell and feel his anxiety and I want him to keep comfortable and happy while we're gone.

Does your dog have prewarning signs too of separation anxiety? (Every dog is different and has their own personality, its best to get a professional to help. This is not relevant for every dog)

1. Does your dog follow you everywhere? I mean EVERYWHERE.
2. Does your dog seek attention alot? Nudging, whining, barking, staring.
3. Does your dog drool when you're gone?
4. Does your dog try to break out of their crate?

We think it's adoreable that dexter follows us around and he constantly is looking at you placing his head on you and lately he's been finding ways to try and get you to pet him when hes on the upper part of the couch looking out the window. This is ATTENTION SEAKING behaviour....my dog is an attention hog haha.

So first we are ignorning this behaviour all together. We're not going to make eye contact until he gives up and walks away. A few minutes later we're going to say good boy and praise him. We want dexter to become a little more independent. He's already started to wonder around the house without us but he's still very clingy.

The hardest part of the upcoming weeks is going to be the no more big hellos and goodbyes.
Dogs tend to associate the door with a party. Everytime that door opens or closes its a party!

This means everytime brandon and I come home we have to ignore dexter until he calms down once he calms down we'll set a self timer for 5 mins. After 5 mins we'll pet and praise dexter. This teaches them that when you get home you take care of yourself first. If you praise them right after they calm down they'll learn to trick you by being quiet so you'll let them out of their crate right away. This would be teaching them to be quiet, not calm. You want them to learn calm.

The hardest part of this will be getting guest who come over to ingnore him until he's calm.

Denise is also sending us sit and stay exercises. So this way we can also get him to sit and stay when guests come over.

Lastly we're practicing gradual departures starting tomorrow when his new crate gets here.
We spoke with denise and she says it is not bad to put him in the crate while we're at work. Dogs do not have a sense of time whether its 1 hr or 10. The crate does not cause his anxiety, it us leaving that causes it. So I ordered this awesome heavy duty crate thats coming tomorrow. its going in the living room and will be open all the time when we are there to get him comfortable with it. The other crate will be just for sleeping in the bedroom.

We also got him a smaller thunder shirt that fits perfect and looks SO FRICKEN CUTE! We got him wearing it all the time for now. next week we'll take it on and off every couple of hours so he wont associate it with the crate or us leaving.
It's good to put this on at least an hour before you leave. or if your dog doesnt like thunder and it looks iffy that day put it on him/her ALL day not just when the storm starts.

BRE, since i'm not currently on facebook, I was talking to denise about dogs and fireworks. If you want to share this with gretchen. She said that it is best to ignore your dog when they freak out over fireworks. By giving in babying you're teaching them that its ok to be scared. You want to act calm so that they will learn to mimmock your reactions. They eventually learn...shes not coming to my rescue...she's calm....nothings happenings..everythings ok. Its hard to ignore becuase they're our little babies but it will nip his fear of loud noises in the butt fast!

Rugby thundershirt dexter!

And an oldie but goodie <3

In my life, I love you more.