Hello,
First off, I ponied up the money. I already had a welcome thread so we can skip that part
Any who, I adopted a rescue aussie 2 weeks ago. SHe is a 6 year old red merle that was kept on a chain in the backyard her entire life. She is wonderful! I have had aussies in the past but this one has some strange “quirks”
First off she has figured out doorknobs, I can no longer keep her in the bathroom while at work.
I have to keep her out of the bathroom while I am in the shower otherwise she joins me.
She refuses to do anything with out me.
When she is kept in the bathroom she will toss her food, tip over her “un-tipable” bowls, and herd everything in the room that she can move so it is touching the toilet.
I understand she has some seperation anxiety issues. But this is a little much.
Suggestions welcome!
Barrels
P.S. Will post a photo if someone lets me know how!
Aussie’s are great dogs, and probably about the smartest dog there is. They are also very active dogs and want to do something, anything, at all times.
Your dog sounds like a lot of Aussie’s that have what is basically cabin fever. She is begging you to do something with her. And alternately just finding something to occupy her mind. I personally don’t suggest that anybody get an Aussie(or border collie, they have similar smarts and personality) unless they have a large yard, or at least an hour a day to run and play with the dog. It sounds like yours is still pretty benign in her boredom, but if they don’t get the activity and interaction the crave they can get kind of doggy wacko, or pissy and mean.
Take her to the park as soon and as often as possible
As the “gramma” of an Aussie Chow cross, I can attest to how super smart these guys can be. Simba has also figured out doors. I just wish I could teach him to close them.
I have two suggestions: 1) invest in a good strong crate roomy enough for her to stand up and turn around in, and 2) training classes of some kind. She needs to occupy her mind (herding dogs need a job) and understand your expectations from her.
You get by with just one hour a day? Mine needed at least 2 hours of hard exercise a day to be a respectible dog citizen the rest of the time. Once she hit 4, she was a bit better.
That is good advice, though. If you can wear her out in the morning before work, and crate her during the day, she’ll probably sleep.
Crate-training Maggie was the magic pill that turned our fearful-aggressive coward into the confident, playful coward she is today
Also good advice. Aussies and their owners need to be trained within an inch of their lives. They (and you) are happiest when there is an understanding between you two.
Get that dog to work. She needs something to do. Maybe leave some heavy objects in there that she really has to work to herd while you’re gone. Get her a challenging treat-toy. If she doesn’t know how to fetch or jump on command, teach her and then make her do it a lot. Aussies love frisbees too. These dogs are smarter than the average doper and motivated to boot. They love to feel like they are an important contributer to their pack. Good luck and congratulations, I think Aussies are the best dogs on the planet.
First off I will say again, I have had aussie’s before, two at one time even. Why yes I am crazy, why?
These things that I mention are above and beyond my scope of normal aussie issues. We go to the Dog Park and have fun. We live on a farm, there is lots of run room. But she won’t run, or fetch, or play Frisbee, or do anything other than climb into my lap. If I try to make her run with me she will dart in front of me so I have to stop, and she will roll over on her belly for a rub. All the dog wants is lovings, which I don’t mind at all but …
She also is a wonderful canine citizen. As a matter of fact she is under my desk right now at work with me. My boss came in this AM and didn’t even know she was here until I told him. Unfortunately I can not bring her to work everyday, at most 1 day a week is OK.
We have been working on tricks, and that is going ok. With the help of some cheddar she has learned “paw” and is figuring out “roll-over” we spend about 20 mins. a day at different times working on this kind of stuff. I have tried to give her a Kong filled w/ cream cheese or peanut butter when I leave but she won’t touch it unless I am home. She will not go to get a drink or go eat unless I am right there.
When she does get out of the bathroom she gets into the trash and dog food bags.
Has anyone else worked with separation anxiety in dogs?
Barrels
You got a rotten red, eh? They’re the worst of the bunch (heh. Just like human redheads, I swear…)
I have two rotten reds (merles) myself.
Aussies are very, very smart. As you are finding out, they’ll come up with ways to entertain themeslves if they’re left to their own devices. I have one who raids the fridge and serves himself.
My only piece of advice is to start crate-training. Give her a place where she’ll be safe, where your house will be safe, and where she can’t get into trouble when you’re not home. It’s not cruel, it’s not evil… if used properly. All my guys are penned (I have a 4ft tall exercise-pen set up in my living room) or crated when I am not home.
It is also an awesome way to help control separation anxiety. If separation anxiety is still a problem, talk to your vet, and consider using Clomipramine (clomicalm) or, yes, Fluoxetine (prozac) along with some behavior modification techniques to get her over the separation anxiety issues.
