Seperation Anxiety

[Matrixdancer]

My fiance & I just moved and we have developed a new problem. Bonnie is a Rott/Border Collie we adopted from a rescue league over a year ago. She has had some obedience and was very comfortable in her Kennel. She would only bark in her kennel if she knew we had been home for a while and we had still not let her out. It would be 1 bark then a long pause, kinda like she was saying "Hello? I'm still here."

Since our move, she does not want to go to her kennel and barks constantly when in it. Instead of one command of "Go Kennel" and her going straight to it, it now takes one of re-directing her when she tries to head into a different room..

She had strong seperation anxiety issues when we first got her, could the move have brought them back? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

[Leader]

My 11.5 year old boxer developed separation anxiety after I got a second dog and started leaving her alone so I stopped speaking to her 1/2hr before and after leaving her and left the TV or radio on. It works just great!

Good luck

[TrishB]

Seperation anxiety is one of those conditions that you'll always have to contend with on some level. Although they may have adjusted to it, any changes can 'spark' the behaviour again. :(

Bridget, my Aussie Cattle Dog rescue, had horrible seperation anxiety. Crating was not an option - she injured herself (broke teeth, sliced open her pads). With time and a TON of patience, she got over it. She was a little over a year old when I got her.

She's now almost 12, deaf and very well adjusted. However, changes to her routine, which would be simple for another dog, are difficult for her. It sounds horrible to say, but her going deaf over Christmas has been a wierd blessing. She no longer reacts to sounds that would set her off (thunderstorms were always a trial).

I would go back to the original routine you established with her before you began to let her out of her crate. She'll recognize the old routine and settle back in. Once she's 'back into the groove' of things, you can begin to give her freedom back to her.

Routine is the one thing that tends to always help these guys adjusted. Go back to basics, and you'll find she'll come around. Best of luck! :D