What have I learned about dogs so far
Every dog has taught me something different about dogs and Marco is no different in this.
He has been with me for seven months now and when he arrived in June I think I was as disconcerted as Christopher by his behaviour. As soon as he was separated from us in any way he immediately evacuated bowels and bladder, he cried and barked all night and leaving him alone for a few minutes while one grabbed some necessities from the supermarket brought about incontinence and barking and distressed behaviour.
Christopher felt that he was too complicated for us, and wanted me to return him to the association, and when I wouldn’t he withdrew to London leaving me to deal with the problems by myself. I had to have the help of my dog minder, because I have a full time job and I was living two hours from the hospital. She stepped up to the mark and between us we introduced the crate, because she had to keep him separate from her other charges at feeding time and while she dealt with the sheep or chickens. One of the earliest challenges was getting him to accept being the other side of a door... I would feed him outside, so that he could see me through the glass and it didn’t matter if he pooed or peed.
Gradually we built up his tolerance to being apart from us, and to being alone. I had read up online and the majority of articles seemed somewhat pessimistic about curing separation anxiety, and it seemed to be a major reason for dogs being returned to shelters which seems ironic but I understand that people could be quite overwhelmed by the behaviour of a deeply anxious dog. Sometimes when I see adverts saying don’t buy, adopt, I want to add but don’t adopt if you don’t understand the problems you might encounter.
Life threw problems at me when both Christopher and my mother became ill at the same time and it was clear that while Tina, my dog sitter, is wonderful she had not signed up for continuing care of my dog. She had other clients and her own family to consider... and then when I tried to talk the problem over with Christopher it brought things to a head, and I had to find somewhere to live.
I was really anxious about how I would cope with Marco and work, and deal with the cats all by myself. A dog with separation anxiety who would have to spend eight hours alone day after day in a rented house... I wondered if I should contact the association, perhaps I was being crazy, or even cruel...
I paid for courses online, and for advice locally, I looked at the website for the association and saw that Marco’s brothers were all still waiting for homes, and I knew that it would be more cruel to send him back. I talked to Marco about the situation, explained that we were in this together and that I needed him to cooperate.
I have worked on making alone time fun, I hide toys and treats around the place, he has a pee pad, and access to the cellar if he needs to do anything, and I try to stay calm whatever I find when I get in.
After he peed in my bed twice, probably due to the arrival of the cats, I decided that henceforth he would sleep in the salon, and ten days later this has become normal, with no major incidents.
I have great hopes for the future, we have come a long way in seven months and Marco is the most intelligent dog I have had the privilege of knowing, he has taught me a lot and I have no regrets that I decided to keep him. I can only hope that he doesn’t either.
The Lessons
1. A dog needs to feel that he is listened to, that you have heard what he is trying to tell you.
2. A dog needs to feel part of the family
3. A dog needs to feel useful, that he has a role to play
4. A dog has to learn to enjoy alone time, by making alone time better than together time, and food is very important in achieving this.
5. An anxious dog will find it impossible to eat, so you have to reduce anxiety and increase hunger by increments in order make alone time fun.
6. Never forget to tell your dog how much you love him, he isn’t psychique, he needs reassurance.
These are the main lessons that I have learned from Marco, and which I hope might be useful to others.
Marco hates having his coat on, but he gets rather cold when it’s snowing.
Marco always takes advantage of my absence to check the counter for spare food.
Marco and Heathcliff have a special relationship.
He has been with me for seven months now and when he arrived in June I think I was as disconcerted as Christopher by his behaviour. As soon as he was separated from us in any way he immediately evacuated bowels and bladder, he cried and barked all night and leaving him alone for a few minutes while one grabbed some necessities from the supermarket brought about incontinence and barking and distressed behaviour.
Christopher felt that he was too complicated for us, and wanted me to return him to the association, and when I wouldn’t he withdrew to London leaving me to deal with the problems by myself. I had to have the help of my dog minder, because I have a full time job and I was living two hours from the hospital. She stepped up to the mark and between us we introduced the crate, because she had to keep him separate from her other charges at feeding time and while she dealt with the sheep or chickens. One of the earliest challenges was getting him to accept being the other side of a door... I would feed him outside, so that he could see me through the glass and it didn’t matter if he pooed or peed.
Gradually we built up his tolerance to being apart from us, and to being alone. I had read up online and the majority of articles seemed somewhat pessimistic about curing separation anxiety, and it seemed to be a major reason for dogs being returned to shelters which seems ironic but I understand that people could be quite overwhelmed by the behaviour of a deeply anxious dog. Sometimes when I see adverts saying don’t buy, adopt, I want to add but don’t adopt if you don’t understand the problems you might encounter.
Life threw problems at me when both Christopher and my mother became ill at the same time and it was clear that while Tina, my dog sitter, is wonderful she had not signed up for continuing care of my dog. She had other clients and her own family to consider... and then when I tried to talk the problem over with Christopher it brought things to a head, and I had to find somewhere to live.
I was really anxious about how I would cope with Marco and work, and deal with the cats all by myself. A dog with separation anxiety who would have to spend eight hours alone day after day in a rented house... I wondered if I should contact the association, perhaps I was being crazy, or even cruel...
I paid for courses online, and for advice locally, I looked at the website for the association and saw that Marco’s brothers were all still waiting for homes, and I knew that it would be more cruel to send him back. I talked to Marco about the situation, explained that we were in this together and that I needed him to cooperate.
I have worked on making alone time fun, I hide toys and treats around the place, he has a pee pad, and access to the cellar if he needs to do anything, and I try to stay calm whatever I find when I get in.
After he peed in my bed twice, probably due to the arrival of the cats, I decided that henceforth he would sleep in the salon, and ten days later this has become normal, with no major incidents.
I have great hopes for the future, we have come a long way in seven months and Marco is the most intelligent dog I have had the privilege of knowing, he has taught me a lot and I have no regrets that I decided to keep him. I can only hope that he doesn’t either.
The Lessons
1. A dog needs to feel that he is listened to, that you have heard what he is trying to tell you.
2. A dog needs to feel part of the family
3. A dog needs to feel useful, that he has a role to play
4. A dog has to learn to enjoy alone time, by making alone time better than together time, and food is very important in achieving this.
5. An anxious dog will find it impossible to eat, so you have to reduce anxiety and increase hunger by increments in order make alone time fun.
6. Never forget to tell your dog how much you love him, he isn’t psychique, he needs reassurance.
These are the main lessons that I have learned from Marco, and which I hope might be useful to others.
Marco hates having his coat on, but he gets rather cold when it’s snowing.
Marco always takes advantage of my absence to check the counter for spare food.
Marco and Heathcliff have a special relationship.