I don't have much advice to offer but it sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Training dogs with seperation anxiety takes alot of time, it is not an fast or easy thing to fix. Keep up with the practice and training and keep extending the time a little bit at a time. I am not sure I would go from a half an hour to an hour. I would probably go from a half hour to forty five minutes and then an hour. And when you come back, do not make it a big deal. Don't pet, talk, or acknowledge your dog until you have been in the house for about 15 minutes. After that you can pet them, play with them,etc. I know it is not the easiest thing to do, the first thing you usually want to do when you come home is to pet, hug, play with your dog. But if you pet them, talk to them, play with them right away it will only make your coming home more dramatic which will make your leaving even more dramatic.
With mine I will give them treats, I will either put the treats in their pen/crate or around the house if the are allowed to roam the house. I give them treats, chews and fix a kong with soft dog food and treats in it. I also leave the tv on and some soothing music on as well.
Dogs pick up on things really fast even our routines. We usually have a routine when we are leaving even though we don't notice it. For example, we will put a coat on, shoes on, grab a purse or the keys,etc. They will pick up on this routine and will get stressed out even more because they know what is coming and that you will be gone for awhile. So try mixing it up. Put your shoes and walk around the house in them. Grab your keys and walk with them.
Keep up with the training, I am sure after some time things will all work out!!! |