DAP diffuser and sprays

[Geordietyke]

As I'm having lots of SA issues with my 12 week old pup, Odie (he poos in pen/cage every time I leave the room - see my numerous other, desperate posts for further info!  ).  I was wondering if the DAP diffuser or spray might work.  I have tried every other method to stop him toiletting inappropriately so have come to the conclusion it's a SA problem.  What do other COL'ers think about DAP - might it work for me with my problem pup?  He doesn't whine or bark when left BTW, only poos and wees! 

[coralee]

Hiya - I was advised by COLers to get a DAP diffuser when Harvey was having his seperation issues. I don't think you notice an amazing breakthrough with one - but I do think it calmed him a little, enough to know when he was tired to go to sleep as opposed to barking himself ragged (Harvey's SA manifests itself in barking, peeing and pooing). They are quite expensive...but well worth a try. Harvey still has a little bark (so my neighbours tell me!) but, I leave him with a frozen kong when I go out and when I come back in he's always asleep in his bed. Now there is no poo or pee, yet, we're still working on the barking.

Does Odie do his poo's if you just walk out the room for a little while, while he's in his pen? (not just when you leave the house?) Are you able go about what you're doing in the house without him having to be with you all the time? Or is he happy to bimble about doing his own thing whilst at home?

If he shows signs of distress even if you go to another room - then SA seems to be the next thing to look at. (although, I really am no expert, just going by my experience.)

I really hope it works out for you (and I'm sure it will) I remember posting on here in floods of tears because Harvey just would not let-up unless he was actually on my feet!! Even a metre away from me in his pen he'd scream the place down (literally!!) - with a lot of perseverance we've now got him accepting his pen and crate (As thats the only place he gets to have his yummy kongs!) he doesn't pee or po in it any more, and he seems much happier all round. I don't believe for one minute we're out of the woods 100% yet, but we're definately making headway with it! As a comparison Harvey is 13 weeks.

Sorry, another of my Uber long comments - hope you haven't lost the will by reading it!!

[Geordietyke]

Thanks Coralee!  He is quite happy using his pens/cage (has 2 pens/1 cage for bed!).  Sleeps overnight next to my bed no problem.  Will put him in his pen and stay in the same room with no problems.  Only if I leave (even for 5 mins) the room does he poo.  He is regularly taken outside.  That's why I think it is SA so will try the DAP route (I've tried everything else!!  ). 

[coralee]

You might have already done this - so please disregard if you have - but...

Have you tried him with a kong when you go out? I noticed that the small puppy kong wasn't big enough to keep harvey occcupied whilst I was out - so I got a standard sized kong. First step is to "plug" the little hole in the end (I use peanut butter or cream cheese) then I put the kong, small hole down into a mug. I then fill  with chopped up carrots and hotdogs - then pour in some chicken bouilion (sp) - the kong in cup then goes in to the freezer. Then, about 3 or 4 mins before I go out I put the kong into the pen (Harvey outside the pen) - Harvey goes nuts to get in to his pen to eat the kong. (he really picked up on the Kong = yummy very quickly.) I then put him in his pen and leave the house without saying a word to him.

This started the process of him becoming really happy to be in the pen while I was out - he had something to occupy his mind - and, as it's a big kong, and he has to wait for the melting process, it takes him an AGE to get through it! By the time I'm back home, he's worn out trying to figure out how to get the frozen treats out the kong and is fast asleep (kong completely empty!!), and it seems he now doesn't even notice I'm not here (except for a few barks). I have to say, this took about 5 days or so to get him used to it. But, following the same routine every day, he really picked up on it. I also have the DAP diffuser diffusing all the time and a little radio in the backgound.

What I have now are a number of kongs and I do the filling and freezing in one go!!

If you haven't tried this - please do - it might just work!

If the SA is really deeper set - Odie might need to have some help from a behaviourist, as I understand if SA is a major prob, food aversion techniques might not help. But...give it a go...please let us know how you get on. Will be thinking of you.  

p.s - when putting the frozen kong in the pen -try a splodge of peanut butter or cream cheese over the larger hole - it gets that licking process started, so the melting starts too! )

[Geordietyke]

Thanks.  Odie has a regular Kong but doesn't seem interested in it's contents (cream cheese, pate, peanut butter etc).  I will however try freezing it to see if that makes a difference   

[Top Barks]

DAP only maintains a feeling of wellbeing and does not create one so for it to make any difference it has to be introduced when your dog is calm already and then over time hopefully it maintains that sense of calm.
I have only seen negligible differences when using one.
If you are going to use a radio then make sure it is on all the time and not switched on as you go out, otherwise it will become another predictor to your dog that you are about to leave.
good advice about the kong but makesure your dog is tucking in before you leave without any fuss.
You may need to do lots of very short comings and goings as well as varying your departure routine (your dog will know this very well probably) and also sometimes go through your departure routine and then not go out at all.

[coralee]

yep - re: radio - I turn it on when I have his play/train time - then it stays on - he kind of knows when the radio goes on that something nice is going to happen