Update

LoveMyMylie

If you don't know the back story; I have been worried about Mylie getting into her teen years and beginning to act out. So we started obedience training, and are signed up to start group classes next week.

Well, she's been doing so so so so so great during our mornings and afternoons together. I've been spending a lot of alone time with her, doing a lot of new activities during the day, just having a blast.

I just recently started a new job, and took two weeks off in between jobs. Mylie was super stoked about having me home all day. All of this week I have been going through basically new job boot camp... This week I do not have a single day off, I work 3pm-1am every single day. Thankfully next week my schedule mellows out and I will work normal hours from then on out. If I didn't love the job so much this 1am crap would drive me insane.

I've been coming home from work, LATE.... anywhere from midnight to 1:30am. I was actually surprised at how well Mylie was taking to these wacky hours. Every night I come home she runs around excitedly, then wipes outs because daddy does a good job wearing her out. All she wants to do is sleep by my side until I go to bed.

This week hasn't left much time for my fiance and I to talk. So last night, or "this morning" rather, he starts telling me about how awful Mylie is being while I'm gone! Constant barking, crying, and what I believe to be separation anxiety. Since the day she first came home with us, she was use to having both of us here to give her huge amounts of attention from 5pm to bedtime. It just about broke my heart, he's been doing everything he can to keep her busy while I'm away, but it just doesn't seem to be working. I feel guilty for throwing these sudden changes at the poor pup, and I am hoping that my hours mellowing out next week will get her back into our routine.

My poor Mylie, I hate that I'm doing this to her! Any suggestions on what we can do this week to keep her happy until next Monday? To keep her mind off the fact that I'm gone too much?

ljowen123

It sounds like he's trying to keep her as busy as possible. Talk with Brad more about the melatonin thing?

dlroberts

I'm not sure I would jump to medications right away. I don't think keeping her busy is the best thing, I think keeping her as tired as possible is. See if your fiance can take her for an extra walk while you are gone. If he can jog with her (and its not too hot) that's even better. You want to wear her out! Can he take her to a dog park? How about daycare?

Perhaps a more important question is how do you prevent this behavior from happening again? It seems like a fact of life in your profession that regular hours are just not a guarantee. Mylie is going to have to accept that in her life. I might suggest working on being separated from her more often, even if its just the next room. I seem to recall you mentioning how much she hates it when you aren't in the same room as her while home. Perhaps you need to practice that a bit so she becomes more comfortable with the idea of you not being around? Some others might have specific techniques for this they can tell you about.

I know its tough to hear about, it breaks your heart. But I think a little tough love in this case will go a long way to making her happier in the long run.

tsukitsune

is she crate trained? properly used, a crate can be a great safe place for the dog and relieve a lot of their stressors when you aren't there.
We had a basset foster dog who had major separation anxiety issues, it took a lot of consistencies and two full days of leaving him in the crate for short periods, giving him a safety word ("seeya Linus") to expect a treat upon our return each time, giving him a kong with frozen PB for distraction, and walking him at great lengths during this process.

a good article: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html

MommyofNiko

Melatonin is not a medication, it is a natural hormone. It will not alter her but assist in her staying calm. For sure talk with a vet or a professional regarding it. It wont happen quickly and it will take time. As others stated, leave for short periods of time and build it up on days and hours when you are not working. Make you leaving an exciting thing (such as the treats) and dont make a big deal when you come home because it encourages their anxiety.

Romi

I thought Melatonin was a sleeping aid? I have melatonin pills to help with my bad sleeping habit...

I think when you and your fiance both have time - you should try to condition her. Or maybe during the day when you are home. Start to pay attention and see if you can notice when she starts to get anxiety. Is it when you put on your jacket, jangle your car keys, start putting on make-up, etc, etc. I would do whatever it is that first sets her off, and just hang out - don't leave. Do it repeatively for a few times until she doesn't even pay attention anymore. Then you can move on and start walking to the door, opening it, closing it and sitting back down. Once again, do it until she doesn't pay attention. Then you can open the door, go outside, close the door, and come back in. Then you can slowly do it for longer periods of time and eventually, she shouldn't care at all when you leave.

MommyofNiko

It is a natural hormone that is found in humans and animals. It is sold as a vitamin to assist those in a natural way with calming and sleep.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/258.html

Sangmort

"Make you leaving an exciting thing (such as the treats) and dont make a big deal when you come home because it encourages their anxiety." - Rachael

I think this is particularly one of the best things you can do as well. Don't make such a big deal about when you come home especially, it'll only make her want you to come home more & cause her to stress out about it. Also having her seperaed for a short periods throughout the day in a crate can really help.

You want to make her more independent ~

dlroberts

Point conceded, it is a hormone, not a medication; however, I don't think it matters much what you call it. I just think messing with brain chemistry should not be your first option. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but there are a lot of other things you could (and probably should) try first.

I think Romi's conditioning suggestion is a really good one. Have you done much of that before? Also, if she is crated, do you make sure she is calm before you remove her from the crate? Joey used to cry when he wanted out of the crate. He would start whining whenever I walked toward his crate. If he did, I would turn around and walk away and wait out of sight until he calmed down. After a few days, he learned that whining = daddy walks away and he stopped. That might be another thing to try.

tsukitsune

i agree with dave on the medication/herbal/hormone remedy thing. She is so young and very much mold-able with this separation anxiety.
And chances are, if you speak to your vet about it, they will want to give her Clomicalm or something similar, but her anxiety sounds pretty mild, I think with the conditioning ideas above, you will make positive changes over a short time with her.

TeamLaika

Chin up Melissa!
I would echo other sentiments here in that you need to encourage Mylie's independence. Stop feeling guilty and realize that like 98% of dog owners, you are busy, employed people. You are not her entertainment committee.
Unless she is panicked (refusing to eat, salivating, urinating, defecating, damaging doorways or windows), you can probably make good headway with some counterconditioning.
Exercise is crucial but remember, more exercise = increased fitness level = more exercise required. You want to put in short training sessions and make her brain tired too!
Crating can be a good option as long as she is not fearful of confinement (some dogs are). Be sure to crate her when you are HOME as well, so the crate does not become a signal for your departure. (For example, I sometimes put mine in briefly while I do a load of laundry and am hanging around the house.)
Don't let her "shadow" you from room to room.
Teach her to go to a special mat or bed and stay there. Give her a yummy toy like a kong.
Hide toys or food and have her search for them.
Decouple your departure cues as described in the article. (eg. get keys and go sit on sofa, put on shoes and go cook dinner, leave for brief absences with no preparation whatsoever, etc.)
Ignore her when you leave and when you come home. A departure cue can be a good idea, but in general avoid effusive goodbyes and hellos. You want there to be very little change in the overall excitement level when you are present vs. when you are gone. So, feel free to be completely boring once in a while From Mylie's perspective, anyway!