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Question Hello. I have a 3 and ½ year old Bichon Fris. She is absolutely perfect until we have to go out and leave her. She freaks out, poos, and jumps in it….getting it all over herself, the wall, the crate, the door. Last night, my husband and I went to a movie, it took us almost two hours to clean up the mess when we got home (and she is only 9 pounds!). We are afraid to go out and have fun, because we know what we will come home to. Sometimes we leave her for eight hours and there is no mess, other times we leave for twenty minutes and we have a huge mess. Other than these freak outs when she is left alone, she is potty trained. The vet said she has seperation anxiety and suggested puppy Prozac. We put her on that for a couple of months but did not see a significant change. I did not refill the medicine after 3 months. We also bought another small dog this past December thinking if she had a playmate to keep her company it would help. It did not. She loves the puppy and is very motherly toward her, but the second I leave the house she freaks out. I tried puppy diapers, but somehow she magically manages to completely miss the diaper and still get poo everywhere else. The only benefit is the diaper keeps half her body clean. My parents talked to their vet about this issue and he suggested putting her on an all natural diet to limit the amount of poo she has. We have just started to change her diet this week, so no results yet. I love her so much, but I cannot put up with this much longer, neither can my husband. We are willing to try anything that might work. We know giving her up really is not an option; no one else would want to deal with this issue, but we can’t continue on with the way things are. Please let me know if you have any suggestions! We greatly appreciate it!!!
Answer Ok so there are a few issues that surprise me here. One at times she is left for 8 hours, this is NOT the type of dog that accepts such long separation from owners, no more than 3 is in reality what length of time she should be left. These are very intelligent dogs that thrive on human interaction, to deny her that is simply encouraging her behavioural problems.You do not need prozac just go back to basic training, I suggest enrolment at puppy classes to give her some socialisation , this young lady needs to trust you at the present she does not.
Firstly start her on a natural diet high in omega oils (salmon oils etc) , feed her only once per day between 0600 an 0800 then just give her fresh water and a single toy to entertain her, such as a feeding ball that you insert treats into which she rolls on the floor to obtain one.
Secondly try take 1 week from work to commence puppy training again, start by crating her for 20 mins and get her out to play and toilet, gradually increase until the end of the week she is accepting 3 hours.
Thirdly enrol at local puppy classes to give her some socialisation without the pressures of home life that she has found so unacceptable.
Exercise her twice daily to make her tire , trust me a tired dog is a sleepy dog.
You have a wonderful breed all you need to do is go back to basics and understand why she behaves like she does and in reality its because she isnt feeling like member of the family.
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