[Jellyblush]

Hi all. Once again I post in pets in desperation. I have a beautiful bull terrier x, Roo. I've had her from 6 months as a rescue, she's now 3.5. She has terrible separation anxiety. She self harms and does thousands of damage to property daily.

I've posted her before and had some great advice (see below) but unfortunately I think we are now at the end of the road as to what I can try or very close to it.

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lof...hp/t909768.html

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lof...am/t977458.html

Since the previous threads, she is fully medicated (Reconcile daily plus Trazodone when left) and I have actually moved house to one that is concrete and steel to minimise the damage she caused in her anxious frenzies. She has one hour minimum of heavy exercise (running or bike) per day plus she has toys ie tug a jug etc, plus her food (I feed raw) is always fed frozen so it takes a while for her to get into it. I bury a bone for her to find once a week.

She currently has a paw bandaged after surgery to remove a claw which she split to the pad from scrabbling at the concrete for hours a day. That didn't stop her doing it again today and I've come home to find the bandage off and the wound reopened, she also managed to get through the steel doors somehow, even though I had someone come and turn the handles upside down as well as locking them. Sigh.

Anyway, the only thing I can think of now is to crate her for her own protection during the day....

So my questions are:

1) How long is too long to crate a dog ?She could be crated inside with tv on etc. But I do work 8 hours days, so 9 hours with travel time.

2) Is this ^^ viable?

3) Have I got to the point where pts would be kinder (crying just typing that)

4) Does anyone in Melbourne know anyone that might dog sit during the day (i.e. elderly etc)? I had this suggestion from one of the other threads, I letterboxed and door knocked but no takers. Roo is a perfect, submissive dog who would be no trouble. Her crazy only comes out when alone. She is actually very well trained with impeccable manners.

Can anyone offer any advice? Please? I love her so much.

[Jellyblush]

[boatiebabe]

Your dog is gorgeous.

If I lived closer I would over to take her the days I don't work.

I'm so sorry. I hope someone can help.

I have read your other posts and really feel for you...

[hey baby]

Whereabouts in Melbourne are you? BTW, I think you are amazing, so dedicated. xx

[paod]

How is she with other dogs? Is getting her a friend to play with during the day an option?

[la di dah]

Oh Jellyblush.

I don't know about crating for that long in a day. It made my family's staffy with separation anxiety a bit nuts to be crated that long (in the home before she ended up with us...) and she ended up with vet bills from hurting her teeth trying to eat her way out of a metal cage, and she also panicks in small spaces, I don't know if she did that originally but she certainly isn't cratable now.

Basically I am afraid for her. She sounds like she's suffering terribly - NOT that you are unkind!! please don't be mad! - but suffering nonetheless.

I am sorry the pet-sitting idea didn't pan out.

I don't have anything helpful to share really.

Is she panicky in her crate? Is she crated at all, ever, now, and okay with it?

[minimae]

Oh Op,

That is so sad. I can't advise on crate training but your poor dog

We had a behaviourist out about our dog once and she was telling us about the horror that is true separation anxiety.

If I was in Melbourne I would watch her for you. Could your budget stretch to one of those Doggy daycare type programs? 9 hours a day is a very long time for any dog to be on its own, let alone one with separation anxiety.

She is beautiful, I really hope someone can help.

I can hear your love for her in your post.

Good luck.

Eta: A quick google of doggy daycares in Melbourne shows they range from 30 - 45 dollars a day, pretty expensive

This post has been edited by minimae: 14/01/2013, 05:51 PM

[charlottesmum04]

All i can offer is DH's family are from melbourne so i can put the word out to them and ask. What area of melbourne?

[SqueakyBee]

*hugs* OP, I am almost in tears after reading your posts (this one and the previous ones). She is such a beautiful girl, and really lucky to have someone who cares about her as much as you do.

My worry if she is crated is that it won't stop her from self harming - either trying to chew the crate or biting herself.

I really do hate to suggest it, but I think the best option is to find her a home where someone will always be there for her. If she's ok as long as she's not alone, then the kindest thing to do for her is to put her in a place where she has someone there always.

I know that this will be really hard, she is your family and I hope that someone else might have some other suggestions, but you've tried so much already.

Sorry I can't be more help. Take care xx

[Jellyblush]

Thank you everyone. Yes, she is gorgeous! I noticed when I posted this that I have now posted in 2011, 2012, and 2013 on this And feel like I've gotten nowhere.

How is she with other dogs? Is getting her a friend to play with during the day an option?

Hi Paod. I tried this very early on - I got a very placid golden retriever friend of hers to come and stay for 6 weeks. It helped marginally but unfortunately not enough.

and she ended up with vet bills from hurting her teeth trying to eat her way out of a metal cage, and she also panicks in small spaces, I don't know if she did that originally but she certainly isn't cratable now.
Is she panicky in her crate? Is she crated at all, ever, now, and okay with it?

Thanks Lah di dah. Roo has four teeth missing currently from biting at metal doors, so I know this one!

I've never crated her before. I'm just desperate....

We had a behaviourist out about our dog once and she was telling us about the horror that is true separation anxiety.

Eta: A quick google of doggy daycares in Melbourne shows they range from 30 - 45 dollars a day, pretty expensive

Thanks minimae. Roo sees a leading behaviourist here, she actually teaches vet science at Melbourne Uni and has used Roo's videos as examples of extreme behaviour in her course She sorted the meds and they did seem to work for 6 - 12 months or so but no longer.

I can afford a day of daycare a week but that doesn't really solve the problem unfortunately. I have also enquired about working from home but my job just doesn't allow it.

Silly little animal. Just rebandaged her paw....