My pup HATES the "fence" UPDATE!!!!!

[spedrunner]

**** UPDATE******
Ive provided a special treat, put the fence up prior to leaving (and different times during the day as well) and dont make a scene when leaving ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND the other day after her walk she was WHINING to get back IN the gate!!! she LOVES it now!!  Thanks for all the suggestions!!! Yayayayayay

when at work, i have to put up some fences for my dog. (2 year old dachshund) she has free roam of bathroom and living room during this time

she absolutely HATES it....she runs away from me, hides under the bed, and has began to whimper and cry.  It breaks my heart

I work from 6-6 , take her out in the morning and my mom takes her out at lunch.  i know its a long day, but she gets some breaks, I leave plenty of chew toys, treats, etc


How do i make this less of a "bad" thing for her? I dont want her to hate this!!
It breaks my heart!!

[nomad100]

Does she act this way when your mom puts her back after lunch too?

My 4yo dog isn't keen on going to the room where she stays, and Cricket is crated, in the mornings either when we are going off to work. But we have found since she is food motivated, there are certain treats she only gets when she goes to that space. They have helped quite a bit.

You may want to mix up things with the gates. Do you have them out all the time or just take them out when you are getting ready to put them up? If it is the latter, maybe keep them out all the time in the evenings and mornings for a while so she won't immediately get stressed when she sees them. Then have the "treat fairy" drop treats right next to the gates so she begins to associate good things with them. Not the special "leaving for the day" treats but just regular treats.

Also, you may want to mix up your morning routine. Feed her in that space. Make sure you aren't rushed in the morning so the process can be more relaxing and less stressful. If she hides under the bed, close the door so she doesn't have access to that space.

Good luck!

I think of dogs a bit like preverbal toddlers. They don't always like some of the things we make them do and are not shy about letting us know it.

[spedrunner]

Apr 13, 2014 8:54:10 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Does she act this way when your mom puts her back after lunch too?

My 4yo dog isn't keen on going to the room where she stays, and Cricket is crated, in the mornings either when we are going off to work. But we have found since she is food motivated, there are certain treats she only gets when she goes to that space. They have helped quite a bit.

You may want to mix up things with the gates. Do you have them out all the time or just take them out when you are getting ready to put them up? If it is the latter, maybe keep them out all the time in the evenings and mornings for a while so she won't immediately get stressed when she sees them. Then have the "treat fairy" drop treats right next to the gates so she begins to associate good things with them. Not the special "leaving for the day" treats but just regular treats.

Also, you may want to mix up your morning routine. Feed her in that space. Make sure you aren't rushed in the morning so the process can be more relaxing and less stressful. If she hides under the bed, close the door so she doesn't have access to that space.

Good luck!

I think of dogs a bit like preverbal toddlers. They don't always like some of the things we make them do and are not shy about letting us know it.

Thank you so much for this.  I have only been putting the gate up before I leave which is def causing the anxiety.  Thank you so much for pointing this out!!  I will leave it up more often so she does not panic. 

She also loves a specific treat.  I only give it to her now when she sits nice and quietly on the "other" side of the fence.  Before I leave.   

[nomad100]

spedrunner Sounds like a good plan.

It is so crazy on how dogs like, and pick up on, routine.

Another big part is for you to stay really calm and cool when she starts to get anxious. Soothing voice, smooth body motions. Don't get anxious too because that will just ramp her up.

It may take some time but I am sure it will get better.

Oh, does she react like this when your mom puts her away after her walk? If not, that is a good sign that you are feeding off each others anxiety about leaving in the morning.

[spedrunner]

Apr 13, 2014 20:10:01 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

spedrunner Sounds like a good plan.

It is so crazy on how dogs like, and pick up on, routine.

Another big part is for you to stay really calm and cool when she starts to get anxious. Soothing voice, smooth body motions. Don't get anxious too because that will just ramp her up.

It may take some time but I am sure it will get better.

Oh, does she react like this when your mom puts her away after her walk? If not, that is a good sign that you are feeding off each others anxiety about leaving in the morning.

Oh yes, she does the same for my mom.  

[nomad100]

Apr 13, 2014 20:25:26 GMT -5 spedrunner said:

Apr 13, 2014 20:10:01 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

spedrunner Sounds like a good plan.

It is so crazy on how dogs like, and pick up on, routine.

Another big part is for you to stay really calm and cool when she starts to get anxious. Soothing voice, smooth body motions. Don't get anxious too because that will just ramp her up.

It may take some time but I am sure it will get better.

Oh, does she react like this when your mom puts her away after her walk? If not, that is a good sign that you are feeding off each others anxiety about leaving in the morning.

Oh yes, she does the same for my mom.  

That stinks. 

I think that visits by the treat fairy in the rooms with the gates will work wonders.  Does she like Kongs?  I know my Cricket loves his mainly because he only gets them in his crate.  So when I show it to him, he runs to his crate.  The power of the special crate/holding room only treat can be very powerful magic.

[caz1221]

I agree with PPs - feed her meals in that space, give"special" treats only when she's in her daytime space (if you can, teach her a command that tells her to go to her space so you can reward her with the special treat for doing what you asked), have the treat fairy secretly put treats in her space or right near the gate, make your departure a non-event by remaining calm, etc.  One other thing that I would suggest (if you aren't already doing it) is to make your return home a non-event as well.  It's hard not to get excited when you see your pup, but your excitement can actually cause her to be nervous/stressed/anxious when you leave (because she's anticipating the excitement when you get home).  I found that it works well to completely ignore your pup when you get home until she is calm and sitting nicely.  Don't give her any attention or let her out of her space until she's calm.  If she jumps all over you, ignore until she's calm and sitting.  This worked wonders for my dogs - they learned quickly not to jump or get crazy when I got home; instead, they greeted me calmly and got lots of love!

[spedrunner]

thank you! Yes i have been making sure not to make a big deal when i leave or when i get home, but that face.......oh the guilt The whining and crying. I CAN DO THIS, be strong, LOL

thank you ladies, i really appreciate it .....the special treats help, i am getting a special kong for her

[spedrunner]

thank you! Yes i have been making sure not to make a big deal when i leave or when i get home, but that face.......oh the guilt The whining and crying. I CAN DO THIS, be strong, LOL

thank you ladies, i really appreciate it .....the special treats help, i am getting a special kong for her

[nomad100]

spedrunner So how is it going? Any changes in your pup's behavior?

[spedrunner]

Apr 21, 2014 15:41:56 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

spedrunner So how is it going? Any changes in your pup's behavio





Awww! Thank you for checking in on us  
She has been better, she still whines when I leave, but i make her sit quietly to get her treat before I leave.  Ive also put the gate up the night before and sit in there at times with her for a bit


we are making slow but steady progress

[nomad100]

spedrunner Glad things are getting better. And I am sure it will continue to get better as she "gets" that this is the new routine.

I know my two are always a little thrown off when we begin a new routine but after a few weeks it is like they have always been doing it.