has anyone any advice we have a 11month old dog that's suffering from seperation anxiety . when we go out he barks for england (and wins gold) if we leave him in't back of car same thing .we've sought advice from barkbusters and to be honest that was only a little help,if we go upstairs and leave him downstairs he stays quiet and if we go out he's ok for a while cos we've stood outside the door and waited . but always when we come back after the outing he's woofing away we've tried the electric collar he's got used to that we leave radio on that doesn't work does anyone else have any suggestions:help:

It sounds like you need to go right back to basics and i would certainly get rid of the electric collar!

When we got our first dog we followed this advice and i swear by it. It is written as if for a hound but would apply to any dog. Also don't forget you have a energetic youngster and that definately affects their ability to stay alone for long periods.

http://greyhoundgap.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=1094719581

http://greyhoundgap.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=1094722231

I hope GG don't mind me putting this on here but it is fab advice and worked for a very troubled little terrier we fostered and cured her of her SA and she was terrible.

are you sure hes barking while your out and not just on your arrival home???
our dogs bark when we get home every time .
if youve waited outside the door and he doesnt bark he may just be welcoming you home. ours go nuts when we get home even if we've only been gone 5 min

also if i tie one of my dogs while i pop in shop he wines and barks for england because they think you will leve them somewhere they are not familiar with . shop car ???

We had a problem with separation anxiety with Guinness, he wasn't barking but he used to mark his teritory in the Kitchen everytime, even if we were out for a couple of minutes to nip to the shop and he'd just been out for a wee, so I did a bit of reading on the internet and found the DAP diffuser, you just plug it in and it emits pherremones to calm them down, (its completely odourless). Its working a treat for us, we're 1 month into it now and so far there hasn't been any mess at all and when we get in he goes straight outside do his business without the struggle we used to have.

Try Nutrecare (do a search on google or yahoo)for DAP diffusers, very reasonably priced.

All the advice on sep anxiety suggests you should make the dog understand you are not leaving it forever, by leaving it in a room alone for a few seconds, then opening the door but not making a fuss of your dog, then repeat, and gradually extend the amount of time you are out of the room or out of the house, and when you return, dont make a fuss. Gradually your dog comes to realise you are not leaving it forever and will return.

When Ailsa was a pup, we were worried about leaving her because we didnt want the neighbours complaining if she happend to howl or bark, we followed tha advice above and also we always gave her a chewy treat or a KONG stuffed with potted meat or doggy chews, then we quietly left her with the radio on and did nt make a fuss. She was brilliant - never howled, destroyed the house or created a fuss - we still leave her a treat and the radio and as we leave the house she gobbles the treat and is already halfway up the stairs on her way to bed before weve closed the door.

thanks all for the replies ,Adz your link was good but we've been thro that, to no avail.this has been going on for 6 months we ignore him when we come in ,we go upstairs for 2hours and nowt if you stand outside for half hour still nowt but if you're gone for 2 hours when you get back he's barking.thanks for that suggestion lacey but we're sure it's not cos we return home.and thanks matchstick but the dap diffuser doesn't do owt either we bought one of them last year for our other dog cos of the fireworks, and it's still got some stuff in and still plugged in and has no effect.he's not destroying owt just barking we also tried the KONG thing but 2 hours is enough time for him to eat it and start barking. the neighbours are very good and tell us,but it's not fair on them to have to put up with it.thanks again all.