Marcus had 3 ‘issues’ – aka opportunities for improvement that we hadn’t fixed yet – nervous, reactive and separation. I tackled the first two initially as I thought they were more important for day to day living and his happiness.
My little Velcro pooch hated being away from me or shut in a different room. I went to the toilet – he followed; I made a cuppa – he followed!
I don’t believe in restricting his access in the house – he has always had freedom.
Where we lived was a new area to me and the only people I knew locally were my now ex partner. I had no one locally to help me or leave him with. I used dog daycare for a couple of hours on a few Saturdays and his confidence grew a bit.
We used click and collect grocery shopping and home delivery. He loved the car and would happily travel for hours and just sleep. He became nuclear bomb proof in so many ways. He slept where he wanted in the house – usually in my bedroom.
After a few months I started to work on the separation issues – my little Velcro pooch just needed a bit of help I thought. I’d close my office door behind me and leave him there for a few minutes whilst I made a cuppa etc. He wasn’t happy – we started the Door Is A Bore – he got to about 3 minutes and then it became counter productive – he soon learnt what that game was.
He’d follow me around less but he still wasn’t happy – no worries in my mind – he had learnt lots and mastered so many other challenges.
I learnt from the research I had done as well as what we had achieved – the key to the issues was this magical word called de-sensitisation!
We moved house – we live in a village in a quiet cul de sac with no neighbours and passing traffic. He smashed the house move – he was with me all the time and it was easy!
I’d be doing things outside and he would be inside unhappy and barking -I’d let him out with me on a very long line. Totally safe and had freedom as well as seeing me. He’d often jump in the car and sleep – car is a safe place for him. I never crate trained as I don’t believe in it.
He came carpet and kitchen shopping with me – the guys and gals at Screwfix loved him – he ignored tradesman after a few visits – so many successes that far outweighed our huge challenge.
We had regular play dates with some pooches we had met locally – the ones he got on with – usually Rommie rescues like him.
One of his play mates is a spaniel who just loves jumping on the window sill and watching the world. Marcus soon learnt this trick!
I’d go outside and Marcus would try and follow me – when he realised he wasn’t coming – he’d jump on the window sill and watch me. Zero barking!
If I went away from the house – he’d be watching and then start barking when I was out of sight. The most I’d leave him was approx 5 minutes before his barking changed tone – I came straight back. Baby steps – one at a time I realised.
If I went to a friends house for pooch play dates and I went out to the shop etc [say 5 minutes] – Marcus would sit at their back door and wait for me. No howling – just waiting. After a few weeks of this – he started to relax and not wait as much for me. De-sensitisation !
Back at our house – if he didn’t come outside with me then he immediately went to the window sill and watched. He also started sleeping more downstairs during the winter – maybe that was due to the fact that the wood burner would stay warm until the early hours 😀. He came back upstairs once the fire was out.
Roll on to present day – Marcus can now be home alone from me – we have achieved 4+ hours on a few times – he sits on the window sill and watches. I still take him with me to a lot of places – I’ve still maintained ‘our’ traditions and routines. I’m a firm believer in letting him have a big world that is safe and controlled rather than just the four walls of our house.
The big part of his success I think is actually seeing me go and then waiting for me patiently.
This time last year – Marcus seriously struggled with 3 minutes – now he’s achieving 4+ hours easily.
Whether it’s growing up, that final bit of trust falling into place as in he knows I will always come back, or it’s the window sill – who knows.
Never give up – I changed some of my life style to help Marcus – I’m lucky I can do that.
Marcus and dad 