Dog Barking - Doggie Day Care - please help

daisydoggy

My mum's 4 year olf Staffie-X called Joey (rescued at 18mths) developed Seperation Anxiety about 9 months ago and starting ruining the house. They saw a behaviourist who gave them a behavioural plan to follow and my parents invested in a big shed and run outside, so Joey could go out there when they were out (they are out for about 4 hours a day).

They asked a neighbour to let them know if Joey was barking etc, and everytime they asked the neighbour he said everything was fine.

BUT today, my mum has received a nasty letter from the council as they have had complaints and have been out to monitor the noise etc. Apparently he is barking all day constantly (the neighbour must be deaf).

SO, the only other solution my mum can think of is to put Joey into "doggie day care" - does anybody know of anywhere in Swansea that does this? My mum ideally wants him to go into a house as opposed to kennels (as she thinks kennels will make his SA worse).

My mum with NOT consider using a crate indoors.

Any ideas would be a big help, as my mum is at the end of her tether now....

Thank you

Vicki

littlelab

Hi Vicki

Welcome to Petchat, don't know is the answer, you could put an advert in at the vets for someone
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Natalie and Co xxx

poppydog83

Unfortunately the neighbours might say everything is fine,but he could have well been the one who complained to the council and didnt want to say anything to you. When we first moved to the house we are in now our neighbours came to us first which i thought was nice rather than going through the council. Unfortunately there wasnt alot we could do to stop our dogs from barking,they just stopped it eventually. I think one thing that helps our dogs is that we have the radio in the day when we are out and that seems to help the dogs keep calm etc...they just now go a bit mental when the postie comes

coliel

hi
i have been through every thing you have said i think your best chance is to try keeping him occupied as barking is often due to boardem or because of fear.
so keeping him buisy is worth a try!
firstly give him a good walk before going out then feed him as you leave but this has to be his only meal so he is hungary and give him the food in lotts of differant ways 1- dry complete in a plastic bottle he will have to mess about with it for the food to come out.
2- 1 raw meaty bone that is frozen this keeps them buisy for ages.
3-an empty marrow bone filled with pate and bits of complete
if you give all of these at once as you go im sure that since he had had a good walk then had to (hunt)for his dinner he would then sleep for a bit.
i hope this has helped ! also i think the dog going some where else would be auful as he needs to know where he lives and who loves him! love coliel

littlelab

Good suggestions there Wink

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Natalie and Co xxx

Twig

Do not use frozen bones or weight bearing bones ie the ones butchers often give you for free because at best are a treat, but at worst a tooth breaker. Personally I wouldn't leave my dog alone with a bone or plastic bottle.

He is clearly distressed, and I don't know what the behaviourist hoped to achieve by sticking him in a kennel outside! Shocked

He needs to get used to being left alone gradually, starting with 30 secs, 1 min etc etc and eventually working up the time. He must not be rewared for being anxious though when you return.

Its tricky, and there are loads of methods, it may be beneficial to get in contact with a staffy breeder or staffy rescue and see if they have any advice.

Good luck

coliel

its all very well saying to build leaving him slowly but if you have to go you have to go i was lucky with my dog as i am at home any way as my partner works and i look after the kids but this not always possable!
as for the teeth breaking bit i have never heard of this and would be very soprised as in my experiance they just lick it and mess about with it untill it is possable to eat! the plastic bottle is safe too! my fammily and my self have used these methods alot with no probs i sopse its similer to lots of things some say raw meatybones are dangerous in case of splintering and choking but others say their fine and natrel for dogs one thing i know is that they never caused our animals any probs and worth a try as having the council complain and even getting so worked up giving the dog up can only be a mistake love coliel