I have two dogs. One is a ten year old black lab, Bo. He has always been a go with the flow type of guy. He’s 90lbs of pure muscle and he doesn’t even feel me when I try to walk him. It’s through no fault of his own, he’s too big and strong for his own good! He’s the sweetest, gentlest most caring dog ever though. The only time he would intentionally hurt anyone or anything is if he thought it was endangering me.
The other is a 4 year old Shepherd/Husky mix. His name is Moose and he is the most temperamental, sensitive, hyper/lazy, pouty baby I have ever met! He’s a 70lb spaz. His idea of playing is getting a toy and laying down next to you with it. He might let you throw it once or twice but if you keep throwing it when he just wants to lay next to you with it, then he’ll walk away and go lay down somewhere else, generally to pout that you didn’t do it right.
Now, my husband goes away for schools and training and other fun Army stuff now and again. Bo deals with it. He understands. He’s a go with the flow type of guy, like I said. It doesn’t affect him. Ok, it does affect him, but he has a sense for when it’s ok and when there might be a problem. He has that standard dog intuition about what is going on in his family’s life. Moose, on the other hand, has a separation disorder and he freaks out a little when things are different. It’s fun!
He’ll put more. He’ll pace around the house whining and crying. He won’t play, if that’s what you call it, as much. Instead of cuddling with me, he’ll go pout and expect me to come to him. One thing I never have to worry about with him, though, is his eating. That boy will not miss feeding time if his life depended on it!
Other than just being a big pouty baby, he is generally still a good boy. But, the last time my husband was gone, he pooped in the house every single night. Every night. The first night, I just assumed he got sick, though I couldn’t think of why he may have. The second night, it didn’t look like he had just gotten sick. The third night, I knew it was purposeful. I couldn’t believe how naughty he was being! He hadn’t pottied in the house since he was still being trained.
It came out to four total nights of poop cleanup in the morning. I didn’t know what to do with him. And then daddy got home and he was all better, miraculously. He hasn’t done anything since. And now, daddy is gone again. For three weeks this time. I’ve talked to Moose about how to be good this time around. I let him know it was going to be ok and that he did not need to act out. Night one was a success. He is still pouty though and still wouldn’t cuddle at night.
The kids are being extra supportive of him this time around as well. They don’t want to handle cleaning up after him this time around!
With his separation anxiety, though, I poked around and found this article on how to help the pets get through their issues. http://4theloveofanimals.com/blog/2015/08/31/top-5-tips-to-address-separation-anxiety-in-pets-during-back-to-school-season-by-purina-veterinarian-dr-kurt-venator/
The other is a 4 year old Shepherd/Husky mix. His name is Moose and he is the most temperamental, sensitive, hyper/lazy, pouty baby I have ever met! He’s a 70lb spaz. His idea of playing is getting a toy and laying down next to you with it. He might let you throw it once or twice but if you keep throwing it when he just wants to lay next to you with it, then he’ll walk away and go lay down somewhere else, generally to pout that you didn’t do it right.
Now, my husband goes away for schools and training and other fun Army stuff now and again. Bo deals with it. He understands. He’s a go with the flow type of guy, like I said. It doesn’t affect him. Ok, it does affect him, but he has a sense for when it’s ok and when there might be a problem. He has that standard dog intuition about what is going on in his family’s life. Moose, on the other hand, has a separation disorder and he freaks out a little when things are different. It’s fun!
He’ll put more. He’ll pace around the house whining and crying. He won’t play, if that’s what you call it, as much. Instead of cuddling with me, he’ll go pout and expect me to come to him. One thing I never have to worry about with him, though, is his eating. That boy will not miss feeding time if his life depended on it!
Other than just being a big pouty baby, he is generally still a good boy. But, the last time my husband was gone, he pooped in the house every single night. Every night. The first night, I just assumed he got sick, though I couldn’t think of why he may have. The second night, it didn’t look like he had just gotten sick. The third night, I knew it was purposeful. I couldn’t believe how naughty he was being! He hadn’t pottied in the house since he was still being trained.
It came out to four total nights of poop cleanup in the morning. I didn’t know what to do with him. And then daddy got home and he was all better, miraculously. He hasn’t done anything since. And now, daddy is gone again. For three weeks this time. I’ve talked to Moose about how to be good this time around. I let him know it was going to be ok and that he did not need to act out. Night one was a success. He is still pouty though and still wouldn’t cuddle at night.
The kids are being extra supportive of him this time around as well. They don’t want to handle cleaning up after him this time around!
With his separation anxiety, though, I poked around and found this article on how to help the pets get through their issues. http://4theloveofanimals.com/blog/2015/08/31/top-5-tips-to-address-separation-anxiety-in-pets-during-back-to-school-season-by-purina-veterinarian-dr-kurt-venator/