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Chewing
Topic Started: 5 Nov 2014, 03:25 PM (498 Views)
bellas mum
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GSD Lover
Help elsa is settling in well. But she has started to chew the back door when left alone, this is only when left alone during the day. I have had to crate her this afternoon before the door is completely ruined. Over night she is fine and bella is with her behind the baby gate
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Patlucky
Would like to stay in bed like the other Pat does

We have a rescue who is lovely Bonnie.(9 weeks now)
Bonnie had a separation anxiety problem.
I take it you might leave the house by the back door.?

After two days she had broken a couple of items.
Plus she started on the living room door carpet.
We then did not leave her alone(not always easy)
At Least you can put Elsa in a crate.

We then started by shutting doors and going in and out.
Not letting her through them.
I did this loads of times everyday.
A little longer each time and did NOT speak to her when entering.
So she knew we were coming back.
It is not easy and takes times.
The last two weeks we have been leaving her with no trouble.
Elsa just needs to trust you.
Once she does know you are coming back she will be fine.
:gsd paw: :gsd paw:

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gtrmacs
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C'n'me, always together

Ozzy (bridge dog now) was a SA dog at first - I had to put steel plates on the bottom of the front door :thumbs up:

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pangolin
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Destructive behaviour by doorways (or other 'exits', e.g. windows) can often be a symptom of separation anxiety. It may help if you can record her when left alone to see how she reacts - a webcam on a laptop could be used with some software to record ("Debut Video Capture" is what I use), or alternatively there are apps you can use to connect from computer webcam to phone to watch things 'live'.
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/separation-anxiety-dogs
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niccola99
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Niccola
Had to deal with this problem with a few dogs

First try smearing the door with washing up liquid
If that doesn't work use Olbas Oil that you use when you have a cold. Just a few drops, the smell is so powerful that they stay away from it. (or a smearing of Vick) they don't lick it at all!
As it sounds like a separation issue you could try leaving an item of clothing you've just worn on their bed.
I used to put a scarf/shawl on as soon as I got up and take it off and put it on her bed as I was leaving.

Good luck xx
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bellas mum
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Thanks for the reply s. Separation angziety is what I thought. But why only during the day?? I can understand last week she was a sweety so good because she wasn't sure what was going on left her loads no probs till I took bella to the groomers and left elsa behind. But they are perminantly together now. Once I have rubbed the door down and put new wood in I will try the olbus oil. We only use the back door to go to the garden or take them on a walk (. It's the dogs door) as they never use the front one
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pangolin
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Dogs often have a bit of a 'grace period' of good behaviour when first in a new home. A mix of the upheaval, not feeling settled enough to show their 'true colours' as such and sometimes being all a bit too overwhelmed with it all, can mean you don't really see their true behaviour until a few weeks, or sometimes months, down the line.

It may be that something outside is triggering her off - I record mine now and then to see how they're doing with being left, as Kiki developed separation anxiety as a side effect of her hypothyroidism. I do catch a few periods of barking, but generally nowadays it's because of an actual trigger. It might, for example, be the postman, courier or leaflet dropper putting something through the door (I can tell if it is, as Casper joins in!). It might be a dog barking as it walks past (I know that one, because the video shows them barking at the window, not the hallway door), or the binmen dragging the dustbin off the driveway..there are several triggers that can make them kick off for a minute or so, without it being to do with separation anxiety. However, when she was at her worst, there were quite a few days she'd just be barking at nothing, pacing, scratching at the door etc. - so a video can really help to find out how she's coping.

Kiki's separation anxiety can be time - and day! - specific. She's fine when left in the week, but has struggled more with evenings. We don't like to leave them in the evening if we've been at work most of the day, but even if one of us has been around, something about us leaving in the evening sets her off more than in the morning (probably partly because we do it much less frequently). And weekends, as well - even if we get up at the same time we'd leave for work, she knows if it's a Saturday or Sunday! Maybe she was used to being left in the evenings, but not in the day?
Edited by pangolin, 5 Nov 2014, 07:59 PM.
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bellas mum
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For now elsa is crated when we are out which she doesn't seem to worry her, she is also not waking so early
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catsx11
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"...it's a dog's life!"
.
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