Separation anxiety when out and about

[Mandymlc]

Effie is six months old and has recently started showing signs of separation anxiety. Not when I leave her at home - she's always been brilliant at being left and will sleep pretty much the whole time I'm out. The problem is occurring when we are away from home and her 'safe' environment. Recently I went to a friends house for the weekend and every time I went to the loo, she cried outside the door and squeaked to be let in. Then last weekend we went to a horse show and I had a friend hold her while I popped into the portaloo - well you'd have thought I'd been swallowed by a black hole! She was jumping at the door and running around the back trying to find me, then when I came out, she jumped all over me, scratching my arms and legs in her relief that I hadn't abandoned her.

Even when someone held her while I grabbed a bite to eat - in full view of her, no more than six feet away - she still strained at her lead to get back to me.

When we're at home she is perfectly happy to be downstairs or out in the garden on her own with no fuss whatsoever. It's only when we are out in strange places. I understand that in that situation the only thing she knows is me, and when I'm not there, it can be a scary thing, but I always come back and am never gone for more than few minutes.

my friend has suggested going out with other people and having them hold her while I walk away for a few minutes, then build up the timeline distance I'm away for.

Has anyone else experienced this and how did you get over it? Help!

 

[Markr64]

I have read this a couple of times now and I am still thinking about it. Some dogs and humans are creatures of habit and find change very difficult. With dogs it is about where they feel safe and their pack are safe. It could be that she wants to protect you or just that she is a nervous dog who needs her surroundings to stay the same.

I am sure others will think of something before I do as I think it is a difficult one and needs to be handled carefully to not make things any more difficult for either of you.

[Mandymlc]

these are very interesting comments Markr64. I don't think she feels the need to protect me - she's very submissive to anyone and any dog we meet, and looks to me for reassurance in these cases. In fact, when faced with potentially 'dangerous' situations (scary man with umbrella, scary fisherman with fishing kit) she runs away and leaves me to face the danger on my own!
At home and with people she knows she is very confidant, some may even say gobby at times! And she's always interested in what's going on when we're out, she doesn't cower or hide at all, she wants to interact and be involved. She just doesn't like me being out of sight!

[Markr64]

It does sound like she could be nervous which is common. Our boy is a very confident dog at home but we were walking out the other day and there was a log which had been moved to near the path we were on on he completely freaked out and would not go near it. Enjoy the love you get as it is priceless to have an animal so very loving.

[Mandymlc]

Effie is six months old and has recently started showing signs of separation anxiety. Not when I leave her at home - she's always been brilliant at being left and will sleep pretty much the whole time I'm out. The problem is occurring when we are away from home and her 'safe' environment. Recently I went to a friends house for the weekend and every time I went to the loo, she cried outside the door and squeaked to be let in. Then last weekend we went to a horse show and I had a friend hold her while I popped into the portaloo - well you'd have thought I'd been swallowed by a black hole! She was jumping at the door and running around the back trying to find me, then when I came out, she jumped all over me, scratching my arms and legs in her relief that I hadn't abandoned her.

Even when someone held her while I grabbed a bite to eat - in full view of her, no more than six feet away - she still strained at her lead to get back to me.

When we're at home she is perfectly happy to be downstairs or out in the garden on her own with no fuss whatsoever. It's only when we are out in strange places. I understand that in that situation the only thing she knows is me, and when I'm not there, it can be a scary thing, but I always come back and am never gone for more than few minutes.

my friend has suggested going out with other people and having them hold her while I walk away for a few minutes, then build up the timeline distance I'm away for.

Has anyone else experienced this and how did you get over it? Help!


( had already posted this earlier in the puppies photos section by mistake  )

Mod comment: have merged the two threads now
 

[Redked]

Bonnie is very similar when we go anywhere different. She is and always has been brilliant at home and doesn't bat an eyelid when we go out (except if she doesn't get a treat before we go) but take her anywhere different and she is very unsettled and pants and paces and has to be attached to us (sat on us lol) so I know she is anxious. She even does this is familiar houses we visit like my mums and my daughter's - we used to live in my daughters house so there is nothing there that should unsettle her! She is like it when we go away with her and have found the anxiety means she can't settle. We don't take her away longer than a weekend now as she gets so distressed. On walks and days out, she is fine, it just seems to be other houses.

We just accept that she is a home bird and it doesn't really cause us any problems. People come to us rather than us taking Bonnie out of her comfort zone or she stays home and my mum comes to sit with her if we are out for a longer time. Sorry I can't offer any tips but we've adapted to her being like this rather than us changing her behaviour, which would probably have been a better option and would have given us more freedom to take Bonnie away or to stay at other people's houses. Will be interested to see whether there is anyone with tips on how to help xx

[minimoo]

I wouldn't worry or make too much of it, she is still very young and may grow out of it saying that my youngest cocker is 5 and is still a proper mummies boy, if I go out for 10 minute you would think I had been away 6 months some  cockers are just like that

[Blueberry]

Blue is a bit like this too, although he is still only a baby. 
There's a cafe nearby, where I often meet my friends for coffee (and cake - shhh!)  Dogs are allowed in a certain part close to the door, but if I leave Blue with my friend and go to the counter to order, he starts to cry (quite theatrically!) the minute I go out of his line of sight, and my friends are unable to console him until I return - then I'm greeted as though I've been on an expedition to the North Pole lol!

[wendall]

Blue is a bit like this too, although he is still only a baby. 
There's a cafe nearby, where I often meet my friends for coffee (and cake - shhh!)  Dogs are allowed in a certain part close to the door, but if I leave Blue with my friend and go to the counter to order, he starts to cry (quite theatrically!) the minute I go out of his line of sight, and my friends are unable to console him until I return - then I'm greeted as though I've been on an expedition to the North Pole lol!

I have the same with Honey, yet I can leave her at home no problem. I don't know what the answer is, but hope that someone can come along with a suggestion!

[lescef]

I'm not sure if it's a spaniel thing but Bramble is still like this and she's four!
Part of the Kennel Club gold good citizen award involves leaving your dog out of sight for two minutes. It was the thing we had the most difficulty with! I've generally accepted that Bramble will always do it to a certain extent and just try to minimise the occasions it could happen.
To teach it I started at home, leaving her in a stay, go back, reward between the front paws, repeat stay, reward, repeat  a few times. Then walk out of the room for a few seconds, go back and reward as long as they're quiet. Gradually increase the time out of the room. Then I put her at the bottom of the stairs while I went to the loo. Then take it outside. It's very small steps but you are teaching an alternative behaviour to help them cope. Hope that helps!

[Ambler54]

Rosie at 9 months is still 'anxious' if I go out of sight.Hubby stands out side a toilet holding Rosie while I answer the call and I can hear Rosie wailing, in coffee shops, He has to go to the counter.I meet a friend once a week go for a walk then a coffee( oh...and cake) Rosie comes too but when its my turn to buy I have to give my friend the money so She goes to the counter. The only time She held Rosie and  I went to the counter when I came out She was surrounded by caring people who thought Rosie had been abandoned . Rosie has no problem with the Kennel Club training, think She has sussed I am just around the corner and a treat is imminent.
Not much better at home...dont think I have been to the toilet on my own since Rosie arrived, although now She just opens the door to check I am in their rather than actually join me, if I go out, even if hubby is home, She sits on the door mat until I return. But I have also been poorly and OH has had to walk Her on His own and do more with Her and that has Definately helped , I think Her anxiety level has dropped since.

[Mandymlc]

It sounds like it's pretty common in the breed so I shouldn't worry too much about it. I do think it makes my friends feel slightly awkward though as it looks like they have stolen her and she's desperately trying to get away from them!  Maybe we need to start going out for coffee (and cake!) more often so she'll get used to it!

Mind you, it's almost worth it to see other people at training look slightly jealous when she launches herself at full speed into my arms after a recall and their dogs merely trot back to them and sit down politely   

[bizzylizzy]

That's right - there's nothing like a cocker for boosting tne ego!!