Sounds like you are making good progress with Misha.. Your plan is very good. Continue what you are doing, it all sounds right.
I think you are right about interrupting him. The music is a good idea. I don't usually play music but something like that could help to distract him.I think of those verbal corrections as interruptions more than anything. Definitely useful in some circumstances and you know your boy best.
Hope you'll keep us posted on your progress! Shared walls can be challenging in both directions—not only do you not want your dog disturbing the neighbours, you don't want your neighbours disturbing your dog once he's finally settled!
Does TV or music help at all? We used to leave our iPad streaming classical music for Gracie when we left, to act as white noise. Peggy gets the Food Network.
Not all of them, though the ones I have met I've mentioned we are working on it. But it's a good idea. I'm always very nervous talking to people I don't know yet.Have you had conversations or left a heads up note with your neighbors?
They will most likely be really kind about it and you will feel less stressed when it happens.
Like, "Hey Neighbor, sorry in advance.. We're working through separation anxiety with Misha and it's a work in progress. If you see us out and about feel free to ask for free pets. Thanks X"
Great tips! Thank youI've been through this with 2 dogs. It's great that you are really trying to find what works for Misha.
My little guy lived in a home until he was around 6, and was fine with being alone in the home, but when I tried to move him to an apartment, he experienced a lot of anxiety. I tried so many different methods, and when I worked with a local trainer through a class, she advised that I keep him in his enclosure. Things only got worse. I didn't know he was howling, barking, and crying when I left for work for work at 6:45 in the morning until my neighbors had complained multiple times (I wasn't told about their complaints initially). By that time, it was too late. I had to send him to live with my parents. I definitely agree with continuing to communicate with your neighbors and letting them know how hard you are working on this.
One thing that I never tried with him (wish I had) was giving him run of the apartment and also trying OTC calming supplements. When I got Miracle, I was ready to try anything different to finally have a dog in the apartment. She also howled being in an enclosure, too, and did best when I gave her run the apartment. I tried gating her in one room, but she jumped the gate. Initially, I had to leave all the doors in the apartment open so she could look for me. I recorded her and watched her behavior, and observed that she would play with her toys for about 30 minutes and then rest in her favorite chair. I also used a white noise machine in the living room and kept the radio playing in the bedroom. I got her to the point where she could do well with a routine; she still struggled if I had to come home and then leave for whatever reason.
Keep us updated on how Misha does with his training.
This is a really good perspective. I think a lot of us have little shadows who could be confused when fulfilling their "job" is suddenly made impossible by a pesky closed door. I don't make a big deal of it, but I do softly say something like, "You be a good girl."She seemed to need the 'promise' that I would be back quickly and she was not to follow me (which is her default behaviour).
Thank you I will read this!My long and convoluted and occasionally overwrought attempt to get Annie past separation anxiety after moving back into an apartment ais documented here:
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Changes! Adapting back to apartment life
My 9 mo spoo and I are moving back from my mom's house, where we have lived for 5 months, into my apartment. I am at the apartment with her this weekend, moving back full time next week. And I am starting back to work part time, moving to full time in a month or two. Based on the last day, I...www.poodleforum.com
I found keeping her under threshold and being very very patient was pretty critical. The tinier I made the steps, the faster the progress.
Contrary to the normal advice I found adding a cue, instead of trying to sneak out was much better. She seemed to need the 'promise' that I would be back quickly and she was not to follow me (which is her default behaviour). I also had to let her free roam and still worry about her in a crate for longer than an hour or so.
A similar technique worked for my late Papillon. But my almost 4-month-old mini-poodle Topper is a different animal. He cries, yips, jumps and barks when I put him in his ex-pen or if I leave the gated area. I knew he was a people-pup when I got him (per his puppy aptitude test) but wasn't prepared for his level of objection. I am not-so-secretly hoping that he will outgrow this as he gains self-confidence and learns to trust that I always will come back. We have had him for six weeks.This is a really good perspective. I think a lot of us have little shadows who could be confused when fulfilling their "job" is suddenly made impossible by a pesky closed door. I don't make a big deal of it, but I do softly say something like, "You be a good girl."
This is something I've always done casually and organically, not really sure if it made a difference, but then I noticed Peggy would just stand at the door, confused, when my husband would abruptly leave or lock her out of the bathroom. She actually started trying to race through whatever doorway he was approaching, to beat the closing door. So I got him onboard with saying a calm goodbye and the change in her was immediate. She was like, "Okay, I'm free to focus on something else now."