Help with an anxious new Dood!

[Lisa Peebles]

This past weekend my husband and I went to see a Goldendoodle that needed a new home.  We realized when we met almost 1 year old Charlie that we were in for a lit if work and money.  In the past year his owners did zero training and zero vetting.  When he got too big and was peeing their floor they put him outside and left him outside.  He had not been brushed or bathed. He is covered in terrible mats on his belly and all over really.  Never has had a groom.  I am going to beg my vet to do shots tomorrow so we can can get him a groom ASAP.  Basic training, vet, groom, love, no problem.  Our problem is EXTREME separation anxiety.  He is great with our first Dood and with us.  Super energetic, super loving.  However, hates his crate.  Nearly destroyed it a matter of two hours.  The time before that managed to unlatch the bottom and squeez out.  He looses it when we leave.  My poor Wilson threw up when i got home probable from the stress of being left with him.  My husband and i both work full time and usually take Wilson to Doggie camp twice per week.  I don't even know where to start with Charlie on this.  ANY advice is so appreciated!! Charlie is a sweet boy who is so worth the effort.  We are overwhelmed and exhausted :( 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Lisa,

Thank you for adopting Charlie and trying to help him. We have a group here for owners of dogs with fear, anxiety and other related issues. Lots of discussions and suggestions for dogs with separation anxiety, crate anxiety, etc:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/mentalhealth

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, I am so sorry Charlie and you are going through all this, but thankful that you adopted him and want to get through this with him. Right now, Charlie is figuring out why he is in a new home, learning the lay of the land, and just overwhelmed. Things may change as his true personality emerges, but that will take a few more weeks. Just imagine if everything you knew and loved was taken from you and you had to start over. Join the group Karen is talking about. There are things you can do to desensitize your dog to your leaving and maybe a crate is not for Charlie at all. A trainer would be a huge help and down the road, if it continues, the vet can prescribe medicine that can help. I hope over time it gets better, but right now, he is not himself.  Good luck!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Lisa, how wonderful of you and your husband to take on this poor boy. I don't have any advise unfortunately, but please know there is so much support and information on this site that you will certainly find something that will help him. Good luck. He is one lucky doodle to have you to care for him.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't have experience with this either but the group and it's members will have advice I hope. You are goodhearted to have adopted Charlie.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

First of all, it is wonderful of you to adopt Charlie and give this guy a second chance at a good life.  I don't deal with separation anxiety in my dogs, but I've read a lot because I do have other issues with my younger guy, and here are some things that may help.

• Your attitude is key here.  If Charlie senses that you are tense or fearful, it will make his problems worse.  He needs to see you as confident leaders.  As difficult as it is, feeling sorry for him will not help. 
• I would start obedience training as soon as possible (I'd use reward based training at this point)....that should help to teach Charlie independence.  Focusing on things that require some distance like sit and down stays where you walk away will help. 
• Try not to cater to his insecurity in the house.  Try to discourage him from becoming a "velcro" dog..this only will make it harder for him when you leave.  Try using the crate while you are right there in the room.  Put him in the crate, give him a treat, and then just ignore him.  Start with a few minutes and then keep making it longer.  If he's quiet and settles in the crate, praise him like crazy when you let him out.  If Charlie follows you around the house, discourage the behavior.  Take him by his collar to his bed, and tell him to lie down and stay.  Lots of praise and reward when he does.
• Don't let Charlie "cuddle up" with you on furniture or your bed...that will make things worse.....he will become even more needy.
• 15 minutes before leaving, give Charlie a Kong stuffed with kibble or treats.  It's most effective if he's hungry at the time. Completely ignore him for 15 minutes before leaving and after returning.....that means you don't even look at him.
• If the condition persists, you may want to talk to your Vet about medication at least for the short term to help Charlie through this.

Good luck, and again I give you lots of credit for doing this.  Please keep us posted.

[Buster and Kathy]

Some folks on DK don't care for Cesar, but this video really helped me to understand the psychology of crating a dog. Just this week, I had to go back to the basics when Buster reached the Flight Instinct Period of development and was apprehensive about going to bed for the night.  I am sitting with him for a little longer and he is readjusting very well to his bedtime routine.  Yay!

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/nat-geo-wild/shows-1/dog-...

Someone posted this link the other day and wow! did it help me when we hit the wall last week.  I am so thankful for the support provided on DK.

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/DevelopmentalStages.html

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I have no advice for this, just wanted to say that you are wonderful for taking him out of that situatiuon and with time things will get easier. I hope Wilson can adjust too-keep us posted!

[Lisa Peebles]

Charlie update! All shots up to date and all clear except for an ear infection!  We are also waiting for the "baby heartworm" results.  He was ok on the adult heartworm test. :). Thanks for all the advice so far!  Purchased the advantil collar yesterday and going to try the kong to help too.  In the meantime so he doesn't hurt himself though, we are taking him to daycare this week.  Our problem now is motion sickness.  He threw up 3 times in my husbands car on the way to daycare today. :(. He drooled so much it looked like a sprinkler system had gone off in our backseat!  We are waiting to hear back from our vet on this.  Twice a day in the car to and from daycare... But if we leave him at home right now he could hurt himself.  I really hope the vet can help us with the car sickness.  Thanks for all the encouragement!  Charlie is a sweet Velcro doggy.  He has already learned sit and down!

[Diana Erhart]

Your vet should be able to help with the car sickness.  My daughter's dog gets motion sickness, though not quite as bad as your Charlie, and her vet gave her something to help with it.  Also, try to make sure Charlie doesn't eat for an hour or two before going in the car and try to keep the car very cool for him.  My Charlie got carsick once (on a long distance move) and those things helped.  Also, his anxiousness could be exacerbating the carsickness.  My Charlie is also a very anxious doodle and simply cannot be crated.  We would put him in a separate room with a baby gate (not sure how big your guy is, mine is a mini) until we were comfortable that he wouldn't destroy the house.  Now he gets free reign of the house and does fine.  The anxiety group can be alot of help, I know they were to me.  You are very special for giving this guy a good home.  I believe that once he settles in and knows you are his forever home things will start to get better.  Good luck!