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Good dog gone Bad

19 9:53:06

Question

Cooper and Roxy
I have read your bio and agree to rate your response promptly and fairly. I have a dog that I have had for a few years now and he is a great dog his name is cooper. A year ago my husband got me a Chihuahua (Roxy) on my birthday and at the same time I found out that I was pregnant. On July 4th some people were popping fireworks and freaked out cooper so he knocked out gate off the hinges and they both got out, but when I got home Roxy had been hit by a car. After that cooper has dug out of my back yard and he does not run off he sits at the front door until I come home. we put a electric fence up and now he has chewed up everything in my back yard. So I thought that he needed a new puppy because I have been spending allot of time with my 7m old son. He has done a little better, but today is the first day both of them will be left outside together. Did I do the right thing?

Answer
This sounds like separation anxiety,which is common after an event such as being hit by a car.And what you can do,is to leave them alone for small periods everyday,start off with 5 minutes and slowly increase once they get used to 5 minutes,go up to 10 ect. If that doesn't work,try to find a trainer that has dealt with this problem before and sometimes seeing it they will find a solution. Generally those type of trainers come to the house,and might even set up cameras when you are away. and as a last resort they may have to medicate the dogs,under a vet's consent. but first try leaving the the dog alone everyday and increasing the time as they improve.

Adding another dog right now will complicate things,so don't add another one until this problem is sorted