Question:

I am fostering a littermate of my older dog.  He will be three tomorrow. He lived with an older woman who developed heart problems and couldn’t take care of him anymore.  He hasn’t been exposed to dogs, since he left his litter. Both my pups are pretty friendly and want to get to know Fluffy.  Fluffy is terrified of them and I spent the weekend slowly introducing them. Fluffy (neutered BTW as are my dogs) constantly humps.  I am wondering if this could be fear motivated. I think that Fluffy also suffered from separation anxiety.  His owner said he cried and urinated in the house, when left alone.  I am trying to place him in a home with another dog.  I took Fluffy to meet this family and their little girl (all the dogs are Bichons) is a littermate of my younger dog.  She is sweet but non-stop energy.  Fluffy was really scared of her! I would appreciate any hints that would help with Fluffy’s fear, separation anxiety and humping. Lynn

Response:

rec.pets.dogs.behavior: >Both my pups are pretty friendly and want to get to know Fluffy.  Fluffy >is terrified of them and I spent the weekend slowly introducing them. >Fluffy (neutered BTW as are my dogs) constantly humps.  I am wondering >if this could be fear motivated.

Humping in male dogs can be seen as more of a dominance thing.  I fostered a male Chesapeake and my Cocker male was humping the you-know-what out of him .  The cocker is certainly the alpha dog. >I would appreciate any hints that would help with Fluffy’s fear, >separation anxiety and humping.

As far as the seperation anxiety, try this out.  It worked with my one dog. The high points of a dog’s life are feeding time, when you leave, and when you come back.  Try making the "anxiety spikes" less by not making a big fuss when you leave or come home.  Simply pat the dog on the head to reassure him and leave.  Do the same when you come back.   I think I did this so well that now my dog won’t even get off the couch when I come home .  She’s been shaped to believe I will eventually get around to her and she knows that.  I just don’t make a big deal of coming home anymore. Try making your trips away short at first, only a few minutes, then extending the trips to longer and longer.  You can try video taping the dog in the crate when you are gone to see how he is handling the seperation.  They know when you are in the house, so trying to fool him won’t work.  You need to actually leave.  When the dog is calm with the short times apart, just move it to longer.  If you go to fast, simply back up and make the trips shorter. Also, try crating him when you leave.  Dogs feel rather secure when they are crated and in their "dens".  Remember, dogs are pack animals. They need the reassurance of thier "pack" (your family) to reassure that they are safe.  The crate also helps to make the feel safe. Hope This Helps, Chuck Spafford – Loan Officer Discover Mortgage, Inc. 301-638-0516 – All Credit Considered – 1st and 2nd Mortgages – Debt Consolidation Loans

Response: