1st post. Question about my new(ish) 7-year old Corso

[CassiusMoose]

Hi All!So I have a very sweet 7 year old corso named Moose. I've known him his entire life, and in April I brought him in to take care of him from my friend who was no longer able to for some personal reasons. He's a fantastic dog with incredible training and temperament. He was crate-trained and much of his litter has been on dog shows. He's amazing around children and other dogs. He never barks or shows signs of aggression. You can command sit mid-stride and he will drop immediately. He doesn't beg for food.He's a perfect dog. I have one concern, and it's not a big one, but he does have some separation anxiety. When I leave for work in the morning, he understandably gets very bummed. He doesn't whine or bark, he doesn't cry, but his body language is very fearful. He will move away and sometimes go into corners and start moving very slowly, cowering, and if I try to approach him to pet him goodbye, he will sometimes even curl his lips and show his teeth a little, growling slightly.When I back off he always looks embarrassed and tucks his tail. On our morning walks he's his usual cheery self, and doesn't act that way. It's just the last minute or two as I'm grabbing my things to leave.Has anyone else experienced this? I've started to just give him the loving goodbye during our morning walk and I leave him be after that. When I get home he's back to being sweet Moose again.Thanks for any info or advice!

 

[CassiusMoose]

Sorry for the wall of test! I spaced it out but it didn't take. Also I tried to edit my post and got a 404 error.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

Yup. The only way to do a paragraph break is to type without the "." Hitting enter doesn't work. If you do a search there is lots of info on the forum about separation anxiety. I don't have time this morning to go over it again. But will later when I get home. I'm sure others with better advise will have commented by then :lol:

 

[Hector]

So don't pet him goodbye. I think that's the worse thing people can do for a dog is to love on them and talk to them and feel sorry for them before they leave. I really don't think it does any good when a dog gets into that state of mind and then you feel bad for them. Is he crated when you leave? My dog gets really anxious/excited when he knows I'm getting ready to leave. I tell him to go into his crate and close up and leave and when I don't crate him, I just shut the door and leave.

 

[Boxergirl]

I agree with Hector. I don't say anything when I'm leaving. I spent some time noticing the routine things that signal I'm leaving and tried to do them at times when I *wasn't* leaving. Like picking up my keys, closing the blinds, getting my purse, etc. Or I'd do those things, leave, and come back in. All low key. I also don't make a big deal of coming home.

 

[cj-sharpy]

2x this ^^^. . Just get up and go, if you make you leaving or getting home a big thing then he will pick up on that and react in what ever way he thinks is right. Show him it isn't a big deal by doing it like he wasn't there. Also when getting home i try not to pet an excited dog, wait till he is calm and then pet, any petting when he is feeling anxious, scared, or excited may be taken by him as a reward of that feeling. You do right to move away from him if he shows his teeth, any attempt to placate him may be took as "good boy, I like you being scared so i will reward you with a pet"

 

[CassiusMoose]

Thanks for all of this feedback. Much of it I've already been starting to do, and it's nice to know I'm not making any huge mistakes. I've been just quietly leaving and not even attempting any kind of petting goodbye. I've also started keeping my keys on me at times when I'm not leaving, and not making a huge deal about leaving or coming home.Also, hector mentioned a crate. Sometimes I do put him in a crate before I leave and sometimes I don't. it depends how long I'll be. It definitely seems to help. I should mention that even when it's "bad" it's not really all that bad. He's a happy guy and it's not a huge problem. I appreciate all of these great tips!

 

[DennasMom]

We have a routine for saying goodbye... we pack a kong, go out for a quick potty in the yard, then have Denna go to her "rug" and get the kong. As she starts in on her treat, we say "be right back" and/or "be good", and just walk out. Sometimes she'll finish her treat (if it's just a cookie and not a kong) before we get in the car - and she'll watch us drive off. We try to make it as low-key as possible. Leaving is a non-event. She's expected to eat her snack, then take a nap or chill while watching out the window. As far as we know, that's what she does (normally we come home to a bed with all the covers rearranged, and a hot spot in the middle where she's been napping). Having a routine that means "I'll be back in a minute" can be comforting. Leaving with a pat on the head as the dog has the door closed in his face would be a bit off setting to me, too.... I'd create a new routine that he finds more comforting/relaxing.

 

[season]

So don't pet him goodbye. I think that's the worse thing people can do for a dog is to love on them and talk to them and feel sorry for them before they leave. I really don't think it does any good when a dog gets into that state of mind and then you feel bad for them. Is he crated when you leave? My dog gets really anxious/excited when he knows I'm getting ready to leave. I tell him to go into his crate and close up and leave and when I don't crate him, I just shut the door and leave.

Exactly...don't make leaving a big production. Solo goes in his crate. Door gets closed and I leave. Same with when I get home. I don't immediately let him out. I put stuff away, change clothes etc....no, "Hi baby, I'm home!"....keep it simple and neutral.

 

[season]

Thanks for all of this feedback. Much of it I've already been starting to do, and it's nice to know I'm not making any huge mistakes. I've been just quietly leaving and not even attempting any kind of petting goodbye. I've also started keeping my keys on me at times when I'm not leaving, and not making a huge deal about leaving or coming home.Also, hector mentioned a crate. Sometimes I do put him in a crate before I leave and sometimes I don't. it depends how long I'll be. It definitely seems to help. I should mention that even when it's "bad" it's not really all that bad. He's a happy guy and it's not a huge problem. I appreciate all of these great tips!

I would use the crate all of the time if I was you.