Our miniature poodle hates being apart from us.

 Question:
I have a five month-old Miniature Poodle. She is very good except when we leave her in the kitchen while we are in another part of the house. She yaps, cries and howls until we come back.

She has plenty of space, toys and a dog-flap for access in and out of the garden. She is no trouble at night when we go to bed and, as far as we know, she is OK when we go out (when we get home she is quiet and sometimes we have sneaked back just after leaving and she hasn't been making a noise).

We left her with a pet sitter white we were away for a few days and she was fine unless she was left alone in a room when she cried and howled. The pet sitter used to be a veterinary nurse and dog trainer and she says our Poodle has a separation problem. Do you have any advice as to how we can deal with this?


Dog Behavior:Answer:
Dog Behaviorist Sarah Heath says:
Certainly your dog has a. problem which is related to being separated from you, but the fact that she only displays this behavior when you are at home suggests that the problem is related to attention-seeking rather than to anxiety at being alone.

The fact that you go back to her when she is barking or howling means that you are unintentionally rewarding her behavior. If she is always able to get your attention when she can see you then her expectation of gaining your attention will be increased, and she will be more likely to seek interaction from you when you are in another room.

To deal with this behavior you will need to alter your Poodle's expectation of attention when you are both in the same room. Initially, you may find it helpful to teach her that a certain visual signal, such as a particular ornament or vase, means that you will not pay her any attention- as follows:

• Place the object in an obvious position for a few seconds, and while it is on display actively ignore your dog; turn your back on her and pay her no attention in a way that is clear to her.
• Then put the object out of sight and give your dog good quality attention and interaction, perhaps with a toy.
• Repeat this exercise until she responds to the sight of the object by walking away and settling down, in the knowledge that no attention is available when the object is on view.
• Gradually increase the amount of time that the object is displayed. Also begin, separately, teaching her to go and lie in her bed, or a designated 'bed' such as a blanket.

Once she has learned this command, you can tell her to go on to her bed and then put the 'no attention' signal on display. After a few seconds, remove the signal and go to your dog. Provided that she remains on her bed you can then praise her.

Over time you should work towards her bed being further and further away from you, and eventually being in a different room. In the first instance the door to this other room should be open so she can see you, but over time work towards the situation where your dog is sitting in a separate room with the door shut and is on her bed with her 'no attention' signal on view.

The aim of the lesson is to teach your dog that as long as she sits quietly on her bed you will return and attention will once more become available.


Dog Training:
Answer:

Dog Trainer Charlie Clarricoates says:
Separation anxiety can show in a dog in many different ways, but it is surprising that your dog seems to be fine when left home alone and at night. This is encouraging as many dogs suffering from this problem have difficulties coping when their owners are out or not about.

The problem is therefore not as bad as it could be but to ensure that it does not get worse I suggest that you try to follow the points outlined right.

• Put a stair gate across the stairs or doorway so that your Poodle cannot follow you when you are moving around the house, therefore you are controlling her access to you. You may find that putting her away from you in this manner is more acceptable to her because the door is not closed on her.
• When putting her away from you gives her a toy that can be filled with tasty food so that she has something to interest her when on her own.
• Try using a dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) diffuser (available from the vet). This should help keep her calmer and less anxious about being away from you.
• Be aware that the amount of close contact she has with you will also have an effect upon her behavior

Before putting her away in another room make sure that you ignore her for ten minutes or so first. For example, allowing her to spend long periods on your lap can exacerbate this problem, so be aware that lots of close contact just before putting her away could be one of the reasons she protests so much when put on her own.