[Lunareclipse]

Porter is a great doggie. He only has a few problems, severe seperation anxiety, to the point where I can't close the bathroom door when I need to go or he will flip out, and his other problem is he grooms Luna obsesivly, to the point where she has no hair in some of the places he grooms. I have a good idea of what to do for seperation anxiety, but if someone could break it down Barney Style for me, that would be great. What do I do with his overgrooming Luna?

[lange]

Aww.. Poor (and lucky!) Porter
Would you consider using a bitter spray on Luna? Is it certain spots he tends to go over board on?

Is the separation anxiety only with you? I've never dealt w/severe SA so I don't know if I have anything good.. Kuma would scratch at the door when I would go to the bathroom. I would loudly tell her no or my hubby would do the correction. Eventually she would just lay there and wait for me. Anything destructive we correct. If it's whining or crying we do a lot of ignoring. ((if it's whining or crying for something else we do correct)) Otherwise, this has worked for her but she isn't a severe case.

Hopefully it's just the adjustment period & not an ingrain insecurity for him.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by lange

Aww.. Poor (and lucky!) Porter
Would you consider using a bitter spray on Luna? Is it certain spots he tends to go over board on?

Is the separation anxiety only with you? I've never dealt w/severe SA so I don't know if I have anything good.. Kuma would scratch at the door when I would go to the bathroom. I would loudly tell her no or my hubby would do the correction. Eventually she would just lay there and wait for me. Anything destructive we correct. If it's whining or crying we do a lot of ignoring. ((if it's whining or crying for something else we do correct)) Otherwise, this has worked for her but she isn't a severe case.

Hopefully it's just the adjustment period & not an ingrain insecurity for him.

My husband can stand next to him while I go use the bathroom and Porter still tries to claw his way in the bathroom. He doesn't like it when I am out of his sight at all. Me and Ryan went to the store and we were gone for a little less than an hour and Porter had chewed through his crate and chewed up a whole trashbag full of stuffies. The floor was shin deep in white stuffing. Leaving the house for 1 minute does not work. I can't even get the door closed before he is flipping out.

I did use Bitter Apple on Luna. She licked it and made a horrible face and then foamed at the mouth for the next hour. But it didn't deter Porter in the least. I covered the spot on Luna's neck with a bandana and so far it has worked. I don't know what to do about her ears though.

[angiesample]

I only have experience with severe separation anxiety when it comes to crate training so im not sure what to suggest here. My dog is very much a mommas girl and does freak out if shes not with me when i go to the bathroom or take a shower so i just let her come in with me.. but shes only 25 lbs. Depending on the size of ur bathroom u might not be able to turn around with a Pyrenees in there with u

Maybe try using a mat or something and have him lay down and stay there while ur in the bathroom.

As far as the licking i know u tried the bitter spray stuff but what about vinegar? My dog wont go anywhere near something that smells like vinegar... just a few ideas.

[jewells68]

I had a Rotty who had anxiety when ever I left his sight. I turned it into a game. I would walk into the bathroom/bedroom whatever was the easiest and shut the door but instantly opened again and said peek a boo. In the beginning he whined and tried to scratch crazily as soon as the door swung shut. After about a dozen times he began to expect the door would reopen and would wait to see what happened. I would open with a peek a boo each time... the door practically in constant motion. After about 5 minutes I praised him and gave him a cookie. I repeated the game 2 or 3 times a day. Each day the door stayed closed just a little bit longer before he would start to worry and make a fuss. By the end of the week I could potty without a second thought from him. By the end of the second week I could walk out to the end of the driveway and collect the mail and return at a pretty slow pace. I could also shower and blow dry my hair with only one peek a boo about halfway through. If he fussed he got a peek a boo if I completed my task without his fuss he got a cookie. After about a month I could leave the house and go grocery shopping or run a couple hrs worth of errands without and fuss from him. I did finally slowly remove the treats by rewarding him with one every other time, then every 3rd or 4th and then only when I was away for a extended time until they were removed all together. In the end he was happy and I was happy. He even began playing hide and seek with the kids. They would hide and he would seek them out.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by jewells68

I had a Rotty who had anxiety when ever I left his sight. I turned it into a game. I would walk into the bathroom/bedroom whatever was the easiest and shut the door but instantly opened again and said peek a boo. In the beginning he whined and tried to scratch crazily as soon as the door swung shut. After about a dozen times he began to expect the door would reopen and would wait to see what happened. I would open with a peek a boo each time... the door practically in constant motion. After about 5 minutes I praised him and gave him a cookie. I repeated the game 2 or 3 times a day. Each day the door stayed closed just a little bit longer before he would start to worry and make a fuss. By the end of the week I could potty without a second thought from him. By the end of the second week I could walk out to the end of the driveway and collect the mail and return at a pretty slow pace. I could also shower and blow dry my hair with only one peek a boo about halfway through. If he fussed he got a peek a boo if I completed my task without his fuss he got a cookie. After about a month I could leave the house and go grocery shopping or run a couple hrs worth of errands without and fuss from him. I did finally slowly remove the treats by rewarding him with one every other time, then every 3rd or 4th and then only when I was away for a extended time until they were removed all together. In the end he was happy and I was happy. He even began playing hide and seek with the kids. They would hide and he would seek them out.

Gee, that sounds like a good idea to try. If I have that problem with my new soon to be here rescue dog--Will have to try this! Thanks for posting that info.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by jewells68

I had a Rotty who had anxiety when ever I left his sight. I turned it into a game. I would walk into the bathroom/bedroom whatever was the easiest and shut the door but instantly opened again and said peek a boo. In the beginning he whined and tried to scratch crazily as soon as the door swung shut. After about a dozen times he began to expect the door would reopen and would wait to see what happened. I would open with a peek a boo each time... the door practically in constant motion. After about 5 minutes I praised him and gave him a cookie. I repeated the game 2 or 3 times a day. Each day the door stayed closed just a little bit longer before he would start to worry and make a fuss. By the end of the week I could potty without a second thought from him. By the end of the second week I could walk out to the end of the driveway and collect the mail and return at a pretty slow pace. I could also shower and blow dry my hair with only one peek a boo about halfway through. If he fussed he got a peek a boo if I completed my task without his fuss he got a cookie. After about a month I could leave the house and go grocery shopping or run a couple hrs worth of errands without and fuss from him. I did finally slowly remove the treats by rewarding him with one every other time, then every 3rd or 4th and then only when I was away for a extended time until they were removed all together. In the end he was happy and I was happy. He even began playing hide and seek with the kids. They would hide and he would seek them out.

I so have to try this. I might even open the door and throw out a treat occasionally.

and no, there is not room in my bathroom for a pyrenees, or any of my dogs for that matter.