New foster - Peggy!

Hello everyone. My new foster - Peggy - landed here on Tuesday. She's been in kennels for three months. My God, she's wonderful. One thing we are working on is her separation anxiety. Any tips and what kind of time frame should I be looking at?

Here she is:



And here she is again. Obviously, she's looking for a home. Based in London but can travel:

http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/dogs/peggy-2/

Wow, Peggy looks great. How old is she ?

Separation anxiety is a tough one. Little by little increase the alone time by leaving her with a fun toy so that she doesn't notice straight away. It can be a long haul but they eventually realise that they aren't being abandoned.

Oh fabulous!!! You're wonderful. One word of warning, though, do you know about failed fosterers? Like me... Millie was a foster

Give Peggy a little time. Kennels are incredibly confusing for dogs and staffies in particular can be very clingy. They are so human orientated that being in a kennel away from company for hours each day can make problems that aren't that great worse. Very often, it can take them a little while to relax and realise that they are safe.

I suggest a combination of things. Firstly, give her plenty of attention and cuddles but then also increase the time that you're leaving her and Rupert to their own devices when you are there. Resist the impulse to respond to her when she asks for/demands attention and try with treats/chews/etc to make being away from you as nice as being with you.

While you are at home, occasionally leave the room and close the door, then come back in. To start off with, leave her only with Rupert there and come back in straight away, but then build up the time that you leave them and later start leaving her on her own, going right back in the time you leave to start off with. One good trick is to throw her some treats when you leave her (provided she and Rupert won't compete), and always when you come back in ignore her. That builds up positive associations with you going instead of coming back.

Good luck with finding your forever home, Peggy, wherever that may be.

She is a gorgeous girl, hope she finds a home soon

little and often start with seconds gradually increasing the time its a long slow process. I would do this exercise with peggy alone as she may well be the only dog. make her time alone as exciting as possible good luck in finding your forever home peggy sue xx