As I previously posted, my 5 month old pup is having what appears to be seperation anxiety overnight, but seems to be getting worse. She's been here 4 nights now, and last night was by far the worst, she bakred for an hour at 11pm, then woke again at 3 and barked for another hour, and then another hour at 5. The other nights she's settled by 3am.. We've tried everything, nothing seems to help.. and now hubby has been told to squirt her with water and she'll get the message. This comes from a guy at work who keeps dogs - a real 'dog person'. I wouldn't let him do it last night because from what I've read, it won't work and could make her worse. So, now - due to a complaining neighbour, I feel I have 3 options. I can either put the crate in our bedroom and have her sleep in there, or keep ignoring it hoping she'll get better, or use the water spray.

I worry that having her in our room won't help the separation issues she has in the day. I've managed to leave her for 20 minutes max, and that was when she was very busy with a new rawhide chew. Any other time, she whines for the first couple of minutes, then escalates to barking her head off until I return. So... I'm working on the daytime thing, and I don't want to make it worse... but I feel like having her in our room may be the solution to the night issue.

Opinions would be appreciated

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Phoebe, our Whippet Kelpie Cross Puppy
Mummy to four cats ~ Angel, Baz, Chester and Whisky

Gotta go out now - will do a better reply when I return
But DON'T use the water spray - you'll terrify her shes needs to settle is and learn to trust you before you use these type of correction methods. Do you leave something of yours in her cage that she can smell , how about an hot water bottle as she may be cold.
catch you in a little while
but NO water spray please

Hope this will help a little........

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

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R.I.P ...Mesha xx Never Forget you xx
I will be back! i need to fight the BIG "C" atm!

Thanks DT, I don't plan on it .

She's in a crate - we've also tried confining her to the kitchen and leaving the crate open. She likes her crate in the day - if it's with us in the lounge.
We've had the radio on and off, and the TV on and off.
She has had my nightie in with her the past 2 nights.
She's been covered, and uncovered.
She's got her soft toys, chewy toys, hidden treats and a stuffed kong last night - she doesn't bother with any of them.
We don't go down to her, we ignore her for 15 minutes before bedtime, and don't fuss her in the morning.
She is exercised about 1hr30 before bed - she has a good run in our back alley - and promptly falls asleep on our return. Last night I kept her awake until bed.
She is pretty much housetrained, and hasn't messed in her crate since the first night.
She's not being destructive, just very vocal and loud.

Other than this problem, she is the model puppy. Housetrained 99% in 2 days, already 'sitting' and getting 'off' furniture. She's very good, but very clingy.

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Phoebe, our Whippet Kelpie Cross Puppy
Mummy to four cats ~ Angel, Baz, Chester and Whisky

Hiya, thanks - I've read that before and unfortunately nothing seems to work. It may be I haven't given her long enough - but I expected to see small improvements each night, but nope... I'd give anything for her to just settle and sleep - so I can aswell!!!

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Phoebe, our Whippet Kelpie Cross Puppy
Mummy to four cats ~ Angel, Baz, Chester and Whisky

I have never had to deal with this, however I see no problem with moving the crate to your bedroom until she settles in, it might make her realise where you disappear to every night.

Maybe she has never been introduced to a crate prior to you having her - it is harder to introduce an older dog - but with her being ok in the day that theory could be invalid!
~When she's in the crate in the day are you there too?
Have you considered trying her is a dog bed not in the crate?
regards
DT

If it wouldn't be too much of a hassle, I think keeping her in the room with you would be better. I really don't agree with your coworker, punishing her would only make things worse.

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Agree with Janice 4 days isn't long. You are doing a fab job, and I can only imagine how frustrating it must be but all the work will be worth it. She's very lucky to have found someone so caring and understanding.

Have you tried a DAP diffuser in the room with her? I've never used one (luckily always had chilled out dogs) but I've heard they can work really well for stressed little ones.