Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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Sharkie Jul 2016 4:39pm, 8 Jul 2016 9,450 posts	0 Sharkie We don't leave Jess with food these days unless it's that sort of time. Raffo does sometimes say (but more for my ears) 'You guard the old homestead, Jess' which we have now abbreviated to G the H, Jess. DON"T LOOK BACK!
Sharkie Jul 2016 4:54pm, 8 Jul 2016 9,451 posts	0 Sharkie Jess can manage 4-5 hours being left alone, no problem, but this is rare of course. We both work at home and she's used to one or both of us being around all the time. We knew what people dogs GSDs are and that it would be unfair otherwise. We know there's no problem because our friends next door would tell us if she barked, there's never anything untoward chewed... and she's usually such a sleepy head when we return we know what she's been doing. Sleeping on the sofa. What she objects to is either of us leaving via the back door ie going into the garden without her! Cue annoyed barking and door scrabbling. 'Oh shut up, Jess... he/she'll be back in five minutes....'
Helegant Jul 2016 5:02pm, 8 Jul 2016 3,268 posts	0 Helegant Jet will do 'wait' provided I put the food down carefully and make eye contact etc as I give the command. He has learned the Gold 'Stop' and will perform it perfectly in the hall under club/class conditions. He's a bit more flaky outside so we're practicing. But I doubt if he would even hear the command if there were food involved. My concern is the poisoned food that has been left out for dogs in a local path once already this year... somehow I need to get his attention when it matters.
LazyDaisy Jul 2016 5:06pm, 8 Jul 2016 14,873 posts	0 LazyDaisy I only have to pick up my keys or bag now and Floss hops on her sofa and settles down. I do say 'You're looking after the house!' as I leave. We've left her for about 4 or 5 hours a few times but that's unusual. However she doesn't seem unduly worried if I'm out for about three hours, though she will usually have had a walk before I leave.
Sharkie Jul 2016 5:18pm, 8 Jul 2016 9,452 posts	0 Sharkie Similar to us then, LD. But I think (correct me if I'm wrong) Flossie did have separation anxiety early on? Hence a lot of the sofa chewing... did time just solve it or did you do anything specific to help?
BaronessBL Jul 2016 6:04pm, 8 Jul 2016 5,638 posts	0 BaronessBL Wanda is fine on her own at home as far as I'm aware - she will sometimes be left for four or perhaps five hours without seeing anyone but as I also mainly work from home that is unusual here too. She will get into her bed in the kitchen if she sees the kong being got ready (she doesn't have the kong unless we go out.) However - if we give her the kong leave, get in the car and then I realise I have forgotten something and I rush back in, Wanda will greet me as if I have been out for hours then rush to the front door as if to say 'you only get one chance you know.' She then has to be lured back to the kitchen with a trail of treats.... We do use a dog walker if we both have to be out at work all day.
LazyDaisy Jul 2016 7:49pm, 8 Jul 2016 14,876 posts	0 LazyDaisy Yes, Floss appeared to have separation anxiety and ate her way through the old wicker sofa either overnight or while we were out. It stopped when we replaced it with an Ektorp sofa from IKEA, although she does very occasionally still have a nibble on the kitchen chair legs, usually overnight. I came to the conclusion that it was boredom and/or habit rather than anxiety, and the sofa was just too tempting a collection of sticks - she is a very keen stick finder/carrier ;-). She is a worrier though. She didn't let us out of her sight when we started spending weekends in Devon, although now she knows it's home too and is much more relaxed. With hindsight I think a crate would have been a good idea. She certainly seems much happier to be left in the kitchen with the door shut rather than left open - I think too much freedom and space can unsettle dogs.
Sharkie Jul 2016 9:53pm, 8 Jul 2016 9,453 posts	0 Sharkie Check out Gromit's blog, Pup Fans!
halfpint Jul 2016 11:33am, 9 Jul 2016 20,988 posts	0 halfpint Those photos are brilliant. I am loving all of the updates from D2 as well. Daft question but is there a correct order to do training. We started with sit and paw. He kind of accidentally learned to fetch and drop a ball - he saw a friends dog do it so it didn't take much to reinforce it. He will now drop on request - which is very handy when I have to retrieve my keys, shoes, cloth, packet of crisps....you get the picture. What command do you use to get him away from/off of things. He keeps trying to get in the dishwasher to lick things and I'd also like to stop him picking things up in the first place.
BaronessBL Jul 2016 11:43am, 9 Jul 2016 5,640 posts	0 BaronessBL Good luck with the dishwasher one Our best command for that came from the dishwasher itself when Wanda got her collar caught on it and nearly took out a whole tray of crockery. She didn't stick her head in there for a good six months or so after that. However I can't really recommend that method as it was scary for all of us at the time and I didn't really relish the thought of buying a whole new set of plates!! Now I just pull her by the collar and say no - but she doesn't usually listen. Stopping him picking up things might be easier by teaching a Leave It command?