Tom Shelby, who has trained dogs and their owners on Martha’s Vineyard and in New York City, answers readers’ questions about their problematic pooches. This week, the Dogfather counsels the owner of a stress pooper.
Dear Dogfather,
I recently rescued a puggle, and she is doing really well. I’ve got some questions, however, and was hoping for some help.
One sticking point I am having has to do with her being alone in the vehicle. Any time I have to run into the store for anything, she immediately starts barking, crying, and scratching, and if I am inside for more than five minutes, I can almost guarantee that there will be a big dookie waiting for me. The barking and crying is annoying and pretty embarrassing, and the scratching, chewing, and making is doing a number on the interior. It’s important to me that my dog learns to be comfortable relaxing by herself in my vehicles so I can fit her into my work life.
Please help,
Thanks
HD
Dear HD,
Congratulations on your new family member and being one of the “good guy dog rescuers.” Sounds to me like Puggle girl is suffering from car separation anxiety. Assuming she’s crate-trained, meaning she loves her crate, sees it as a den and sanctuary and therefore keeps it clean, put it in the truck. When you leave the truck, throw a couple of “special toys” in the crate with her. Two hollow marrow bones, one with a piece of any kind of meat wedged in the middle so she can’t really get to it, the other with a piece of cheese.
Show no emotion when you leave the truck, no long goodbye. Just a quick “back in a bit” as you throw the two bones in the crate. Then leave for a very short time. You want success to build on success.
Enter the truck with a quick “Hi Pugs,” and take the bones out. Be as emotional as a park bench at the reunion. She only gets the “special toys” when she’s alone in the truck. Leave her and return multiple times, slowly increasing the length of time she’s alone.
When you feel she’s ready to start transitioning out of the crate, try it by following the normal routine, but leave the crate door open. After a while you should be able to leave the crate home, with her loving the ride-alongs.
Also, make sure that the truck often represents going to places that are great fun. If the only time you got to ride in the car was to go to the dentist, you’d learn to hate the car. My dog Paula has been driven to Trade Winds so often that she’s petitioning for her own car and driving lessons. I did have a dream to that effect, anyhow.
If she’s not crate-trained, you can try all of the above without the crate. However, I’d suggest you get her crate-trained first, and if you need to learn how to do that, let me know.
The Dogfather
