ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Hi guys, bit of back ground info first, my new dog is a Cane Corso 8 months old, he has the odd whine when he wants something previously,which i didn't mind so much because it was usually the toilet, so as you do i responded to this by letting him out.

Iv'e been away for 3 weeks so left him with friends over here in croatia, who are nice people and have 3 dogs of their own that are well cared for and well looked after, which is a bit rare over here as most are chained or locked in a cage and fed cheap crap food and stale bread.

So in the past i'd let him out and he would go and do doggy stuff in the vast open space that my house is located in, for about half an hour or so then when he gets bored he comes and sits on the balcony in the sun or has a scratch at the door and i let him in as you do.

So now he's out for 2 mins and back at the door and has taken to whining if i don't get there straight away, so since noticing this change in behaviour i leave it a bit longer before letting him in, so as not to reward said behaviour as i don't fancy being at his beck and call for the next 10/15yrs he has also become a lot more clingy.

Ok so i figured out he must be having some sort of doggy separation/anxiety issues.

Question is what should i do about it, do i continue with the non reward method or should i try reassuring and let it continue till he gets his confidence back and realises i'm not going anywhere.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

I would go out in the yard with a friend and just chat. completly ignore the dog until it walks off then call him. if he comes then reward him.

Matteeboy

Similar to what Rob says.

IMO almost ALL dog issues stem from separation anxiety. Sort that out and you have a great god.

The key is to make sure greeting and leaving him is a complete non event - any excitement at either and it al goes wrong.

And reward good stuff but try not to punish bad stuff - a lot of dogs end up doing naughty things just for attention, not really worrying if it's a telling off that they get!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the replies, no need to book him in to a shrink just yet then, just wondered if i was going in the right direction, not had a dog do this before, i think where he was he got a response from his whining activities, as they said he was a bit of a pain with it, so now he's trying it on me.

Just have to see how i get on, i left him out till he stopped whining yesterday, which seem to have worked and as i type this he is calm and in his bed and not fussing.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Damn, thought I was coming on to a thread to have a bitch about our wives...

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

feel free mate, not much difference in the way you need to treat them.

Just ignore it.

r32

You are his leader, so its not surprising he has issues when you go away. Take him with you.

LVC

Get another dog - I've always had 2 and never had any separation anxiety issues.

As long as they know their place in the pack (with you as the alpha) there shouldn't be any probs.

The ignoring them until you call is an excellent method (as per the dog whisperer book) and really stamps home their place.

Not so easy with one dog but am sure you'll get there

Leslie

Its the only way he can communicate with you, his English is probably not that good.

You may find you have to learn the patience to put up with it yet.

Les

RA Dunk

Have you tried scratching it's *****?

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Same thought popped in my mind too.
I tend to get the silent treatment (from the wife not dog I hasten to add) which is fine by me but I have to make out I don't like it.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Do you do things different North of the border?