Queen Bitch Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Ok, so Conar is getting up there in age ( he is 9 now) and especially in the heat can't keep up with my dad jogging anymore. ( Conar is a mutantly large Samoyed who weighs in at 91 pounds now.) He has started to show signs of seperation anxiety. Not normal sep/anx, but only when my dad is dressed in his jogging clothes. He does'nt do anything when my dad is going to work or to the store etc. Even if he takes Conar for a long walk beforehand, he still has issues. He has started mutilating himself by chewing on his leg/tail. He ONLY does it when my dad goes jogging. I only found out about it last night. I was up at the house and my dad was going to go jogging and had just told me about the issues. I had him go out the front door ( We always use the back)while I sat out in the backyard with Conar. After a while, we went inside and he was fine. ( He will still mutilate if my dad's partner is there and carry on if someone is there). I know that altering routines while dealing with sep/anx is the reccomended thing and told my dad to start wearing the jogging clothes around the house periodically so that Conar didn't just associate them with jogging anymore to desensitze him. And told him to leave the house for just a minute or so and then come right back and start building it up for him. Do you guys have any other advice or links? Quote
bk_blue Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 What you have recommended sounds good. I don't have anything else to add except that I hope it works out well for your big old polar bear :) Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 you suggested the best thing i can t hink of, altering the way htey do things... best of luck your Conar ;) Quote
imported_Kat Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Desensitisation is certainly an idea. Also is it possible just to leave Conar in one part of the house with a chewy bone or something so that he doesn't actually see your Dad go out? following on from this tell your dad not to pay too much attention to Conar and to leave with a quick pat to reassure him but with no fuss that is over the top. Good luck! :wink: Quote
ML Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 If worst comes to worst and he won't stop chewing on himself, you could put an e-collar on him until your dad gets back. My dog had surgery a couple weeks ago and keeps licking at the incision. The vet gave me an e-collar to put on her while we can't watch her. They get used to it really fast. Quote
imported_Kat Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 ML do you mean 'e' as in Elizabethan or electronic collar? :-? Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 as Poppy got older we had to shorten her walks would it be possible for dads partener to take Conar for a short walk just before dad leaves for his jog in the opposit direction Quote
Queen Bitch Posted June 14, 2004 Author Posted June 14, 2004 Kat napisał(a):Desensitisation is certainly an idea. Also is it possible just to leave Conar in one part of the house with a chewy bone or something so that he doesn't actually see your Dad go out? following on from this tell your dad not to pay too much attention to Conar and to leave with a quick pat to reassure him but with no fuss that is over the top. Good luck! :wink: This is the same dog that will abandon a really meaty bone for his people. He is definately a rare case. :wink: The first time I met him, I brought him a big meaty bone to suck up to him. WHen I was leaving , I just casually called out " Bye Conar" and he totally abandoned his bone to come say goodbye. I told my dad to not make a big fuss upon leaving or departing and to alter his routine. Having my dad's partner take Conar for a walk in the opposite directions SOUNDS like a good idea, but their schedules don't always mix. I'll bring it up though. I'll also bring up the Elizabethan collar. Quote
courtnek Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 It kinda sounds to me like Conar is feeling his "special" time with dad is slipping away. This was a daily thing for them. Poor thing doesnt realize he just cant keep up any more, or maybe he does, and that's what frustrating him into biting himself. I feel bad for him, poor pup! Maybe dad could establish a "new"routine with Conar, where he wears the jogging suit, but only walks him? Then after the walk, distract him and sneak out so he could run? Arent you supposed to walk after a jog anyway? (can yu tell I dont jog? :lol: ) to kinda "loosen" up the muscles or something? Maybe dad goes for jog, then with the suit still on comes and walks Conar? Is that possible? just a thought...... :-? Quote
Queen Bitch Posted June 15, 2004 Author Posted June 15, 2004 Conar does get a nice long walk before the jogging, and if there isn't time for both, then he gets walked and the jogging doesn't happen. I'll bring up the idea of wearing the jogging clothes on the walk though. Quote
courtnek Posted June 15, 2004 Posted June 15, 2004 hillside wrote: Conar does get a nice long walk before the jogging, and if there isn't time for both, then he gets walked and the jogging doesn't happen. I'll bring up the idea of wearing the jogging clothes on the walk though. It might help. He has come to recognize that outfit with his daily jog, which he cant do so well anymore. Mine know when I come out of the bathroom in my "work clothes" that I am leaving. they both try to block the door... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I believe they can associate certain visual things with activities. best of luck Hillside! :D Quote
courtnek Posted June 15, 2004 Posted June 15, 2004 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I used to be picture illiterate...now I'm quote illiterate. Too much strain on that last remaining half a brain cell.... :lol: :lol: :o Quote
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