Seperation

Morning,

My 2 1/2 year old Staff is left on her own while I am at work and she scratches herself - Could this be a form of seperation anxiety. She has been diagnosed with allergies but I try and keep her away from it as much as possible. She always seems to scratch when she is left alone. Any ideas

Thanks

Tanya and Jessie

It def can be a sign of seperation anxiety, combined with boredom. When Logan is bored about the house he tends to lick his paws.

The only thing you can do to help is make sure she gets a walk before you leave and try some time consuming toys like StagBars and filled/frozen Kongs to keep her occupied when you are away. It's also a good idea to keep these toys only for these times so they are more meaningful to her.

Thank you have you ever used the DAP Defussers that are supposed to calm them. She has a pryamid with some treats in as i dont want to make her fat with stuffing her with treats. What could i stuff her koong with ????

tanyayuk wrote:Thank you have you ever used the DAP Defussers that are supposed to calm them. She has a pryamid with some treats in as i dont want to make her fat with stuffing her with treats. What could i stuff her koong with ????

I've never used DAP Defussers myself tbh.

The StagBar won't been anyway fattening so don't worry about that. I fill Logan's Kong with mashed broccoli which I boil in a bit of stock and he loves it. Again it's very low calorie.

Thats a really good idea and then do you freeze the kong once you have stuffed it - I do have a kong but rarely put anything in it

Yea if you freeze it it will last a lot longer. I tried the biscuits but they weren't much good. Logan really likes broccoli so it works well that way and it isn't very messy when frozen because it tends to be eaten as it defrosts lol! Plus there's no smell at all.

I was thinking Jessie really loves carrot so I could boil some carrots with chicken gravy and mash them up and freeze the kong - That is a really good idea - I never fort of that - Thank you so much

I use to fill it with biscuit and gravy but used to make a right mess on my carpet

This site has been so helpfull as i can ask people on here there advice when i am at the end of my teather with the vets not being able to cure my poor pouch

Thanks again

No worries, hopefully it helps. A bit of a short walk before will also help.

Carrots would be totally fine too, Logan enjoys them also

Thanks again

I usually use her dry food and a tsp of peanut butter with a little water mixed in then pressed into the Kong, she only get it when we go out for a few hours to keep her happy. But the idea of putting it in the freezer is a good one. Great for the summer too to help keep them cool. Thanks!

Are dogs allowed peanut butter - I had never fort of using that - These are all really good ideas.

As from 2mro I am going to start getting up earlier and taking her for longer walks and then I have brought the DAP diffuser to see if that calms her a little will start doing different bits with her kong.

Also sorry are the stagg antlers ok for them to be left alone with x

Yea peanut butter is fine, but probably best in small amounts as it is quite rich. Not harmful though.

Stagg antlers are perfect for them and it's even advised to put a bit of peanut butter on the antler itself to keep it interesting

like I said a tsp of peanut butter is more than ample, when mixed with a little water then added to dry food.

We use the DAP spray to calm Rocky on long car journeys, we just spray it on his car blanket 10 minutes before leaving then let him get in the car. We also use it at home on his bed and blanket during times of stress, like firework night.

Just spray it on and leave it for 10 minutes before introducing your dog to the item.

Frozen Kongs are also a great idea to break up the monotony and boredom of being left alone.

Thank you - I may go and purchase some peanut butter too

These ideas are great

Ive looked at pets at home and they charge £40 ish for the diffusers - Ill have a look online for somewhere cheaper


Thank you

This is a good price for the diffuser and with free delivery:

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/adaptil-dog-appeasing-pheromone-diffuser.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=googleshopping&gclid=CPK056qvrrYCFfDJtAodB3QApw

I bit of lavender on the blanket will calm them too.. or some old jumper or sweater that hasn't been laundered will comfort while your out..

I was thinking that I should put down a top or something with my smell - I do leave a blanket that we both snuggle up to in the evenings on the sofa so that should have my smelll on it - I dont even know if she is suffering from seperation anxiety or if its boredem or if its her allergy problem but its becoming really hard work. I just want her to be better


Thanks

if you leave a kong and something of yours with her she should settle well.. How long are you leaving her for btw?

Quiet a while so TBH I dont blame her - She is so good

That's a shame, she may well be lonely if left too long, try leaving the radio on for her to, it might be a bit of distraction for her.

I know I do try xx Poor little pup

I may look inro dog day care LOL

Hello Guys,

I have been leaving the tele on for her this week and i have been doing her kong and she has had a few sores but not half as many. The kong was a great idea but because she eats it in her bed her bed is drenched when she is finshed so i have tried not freezing it and leaving it in the fridge overnight and she how she goes with that

Thanks

Great news, glad to hear it is working for you already. With time it'll improve hopefully

I hope so - I used to leabe the radio on for her but I think the tele is better. I have that plug in thing arriving today so hopefully next week I have all these bit in place - I so hope that it helps her.

Does anyone else let there dogs on the sofa?

I think you will find there isn't much choice about Letting our staffie's on the sofa! They think its theirs anyway