Separation Anxiety: Day 9 of Slinky with Misha May Foundation

Slinky is happy to sleep in the crate off and on. I would love to see her have this as a safe and comfortable area. Certainly my dogs are modeling that for her. Every one of my current dogs took to the crate naturally – I never even had to train them. They saw them – they went in!

Shadow, my 12 pound Rat Terrier, uses his crate in the funniest way. He doesn’t destroy his toys so he has a quite a few in his crate. It’s the only place they are safe from the other dogs who would destroy them. When he is in there, he is growling and talking, and swinging the toy around so that it hits the side of the crate. It sounds like a war going on. You can just tell how ecstatic he is to have this opportunity to get it all out!

Shadow’s crazy playing reminded me of something my Rena used to do out of anxiety. She was a dog who chewed things up when you weren’t looking. But her favorite thing was money. If anybody forgot and left money sitting out, it went into Rena’s stomach. Our proof was in her poop. The humans needed training to take care of their money better. I remember one day returning to the living room from the kitchen just in time to see her approaching a stack of bills. Prior to that, the damage had been about $25. This would have been quite a bit more. That was the last time we left our money out and vulnerable.

Slinky is great at copying other dogs, thus I’m hoping the crate training will happen easily. Today she copied something that her friend Canyon had done last night. Since I had never seen Slinky do this before, I’m hypothesizing that she had fun and wanted to re-create the game. Canyon always drags a blanket around her house. She chews on it, naps on it and gets rough with it. This morning Slinky dragged a blanket out of one of the crates, took it in the living room and played with it.

Slinky is adorable at feeding time. When I go to the food closet, she lies down, watching and waiting politely. Aside from being anxious when alone, she is not an anxious dog. And fortunately, she doesn’t have the separation anxiety symptom of drooling.

Samson, Misha May’s 5 year old Aussie Shepherd mix, was a drooling dog. He needed help with anxiety and is now crate trained and loving it. But when he first came to us, he cried and drooled. The foster thought he had urinated in his crate, because the puddle was so big, but she figured out from the lack of smell and through observation that he was actually so nervous he was drooling a river.

For Samson, being in a foster home was great and was the reason he was cured easily from a slight case of anxiety. In a shelter situation, dogs are often rewarded when they are whining or jumping or barking. It might be time in the schedule for dinner or a walk or a visit, and the dog receives the positive attention no matter what he was doing. Whereas, in a foster home, the meals, walks and attention can be appropriately given when the dog is calm and behaving.

Although it may seem counterintuitive and even mean, it is important not to reinforce the whining of an anxious dog. Comforting during whining will let the dog know to continue to whine as comfort will arrive. Ignoring might be indicated if the dog is not too distressed. Then you can give attention as soon as the dog is quiet. Or, using techniques like Tellington Touch or Reiki are helpful but don’t support the anxiety.

Having a clear routine and expectations helps anxious dogs settle in and know what to expect. They learn how to get what they need, including your attention, and that can calm them down considerably. Slinky is paying attention to me and to the other dogs. It’s obvious that she wants to know how things work around here. She gives a joyful jump or relaxes as soon as she figures out where we are going – outside to play! Or she lies down when she realizes ‘we’ are going to read.

Slinky has realized something else even more important. Her primary caretakers are returning for her. They are part of the plan and part of her life even though she is spending so much time with me. Their coming and going reinforces her attachment to them in a healthy way. Soon coming and going will become normal and she won’t have to worry.

I’ve discovered that if I can initially distract her when her owners are leaving, that she has a much calmer transition. It’s best if we get in the car and move away from them. After a fun walk in the park, Gina went in the opposite direction from our car. Slinky jumped right into the car with me and was ready for the ride. She looked in her mom’s direction but was not distressed. She whined two quiet little cries. Then she became interested in her surroundings and seemed okay with the separation.

Her walk in the park had also been relaxing. Previously she had been reactive to other dogs. Our approach was to say in a fun voice ‘oh look it’s puppies’. Because the human is relaxed and knows there is no danger, the dog can relax. Slinky followed our cue and accepted that there would be other dogs around. At the end of our walk, Gina and I both fed Slinky treats. Gina gave Slinky to me as if to say I trust Lorraine, no need to worry. Then I brought Slinky back to Gina letting her see that I am trustworthy. When it was time to go, Slinky tried to follow Gina but came with me with very little encouragement.

We ran several errands and mostly Slinky was relaxed and tolerant of my comings and goings. I have to continue to work according to her tolerance. The key is to keep her from having another panic attack so that she is present to learn that she is safe. She had a few whiny moments here and there which I ignored. Then when she laid down I would pet her and praise her.

I was very happy that by the time she got to my house she had recovered. I let her into the yard, and let the other dogs out to join her. They played. When we all went in she was fully settled. Right now she is in a dog bed in the office. So each transition has been better.

When the dogs come inside from the yard, they receive a treat. Tara likes to run to her room and eat it there. The three little ones eat theirs quickly wherever they are. Slinky accepts hers, runs off to eat it on the couch and then comes back to try for another! She’s workin’ it!

Separation Anxiety: Day 8 of Slinky with Misha May Foundation

I’ve been changing the order in which I perform cues which signify my departure such as picking up the keys, donning my coat, or moving the car from the garage. Slinky is taking note but not reacting. I have especially found it useful with cases of separation anxiety to move the car around from garage to driveway to street and around the block on separate days, returning after each move. Since I return quickly, the dog gets used to my departures and returns.

Joan Ogner, Professional Organizer and owner of Very Organized, was here today helping me sort through years of stored Misha May ‘stuff’. My home is no longer the ‘shelter’. I am dedicating my time to teaching dog training and behavior to owners, fosters and apprentices in Misha May’s Community Education program. Misha May will continue to rescue as many animals as we can find foster homes for, including a maximum of 3 at my home! Joan is a fantastic coach, a hard worker and she really listens to what you want. Contact Joan to get organized:)
Email: veryorganized@mindspring.com (303) 618-1723

Before & After Photos!

Slinky spent the day assisting us and being off on her own. She was very independent exploring the basement and first floor, and checking in with us. She seemed to be very relaxed knowing we were there but not attentive to her. This is an important step for a separation anxiety dog. She understood that just because we were not directly engaged with her, it didn’t mean we were not available to her. You can understand how this understanding can expand to include those times when the person is not physically present either.

Some dogs with separation anxiety salivate so much that they are in a pool when the owner returns. Slinky doesn’t have that symptom, but Samson did. Samson, a 5 year old neutered male Aussie Shepherd mix, is a foster with The Misha May Foundation and needs an adoptive home. When he was returned to us after having been adopted for three years, he exhibited quite a bit of fear and anxiety.

His foster reported to us that besides vocalizing and being distressed when they left him alone, he also was urinating. However, upon closer inspection, they realized it was saliva filling his crate, not urine! Samson did not have severe separation anxiety and was fairly easily convinced that his crate would bring great things and that his kind foster would indeed return. He is currently crate trained and much more relaxed.

I simply directed his foster to practice separating from him when home, and to reward him for calm behaviors. This home had no children or other dogs and was quite quiet. This was exactly what he needed to relax and not develop more phobias. Often, when dogs are sensitive to one trigger, like being left alone, they will develop additional phobias. It is crucial to afford them sanctuary to unwind and heal.

Slinky and I visited a friend and her dog this evening. Canyon is an adult spayed female setter who is very friendly, well adjusted and playful. Slinky and Canyon became almost immediate best friends. They soon were in rhythm with their play bows, alerts to birds and squirrels, and attention-seeking from the humans. They were two absolutely joyful dogs, which I can’t show you since I forgot my video camera.

I took two bully chew sticks along even though Slinky had shown no interest previously. Suddenly when she witnessed Canyon’s intense chewing, Slinky decided to see what all of the excitement was about. Soon, the 2 girls were lying side by side enjoying their treats. Dogs learn from watching each other.

Separation Anxiety: Day 7 of Slinky with Misha May

Slinky got her name because when they tried to put a leash on her at the shelter, she slinked across the floor. That says to me that although she was almost one year old, she seemed to have been deprived of some common and necessary experiences. Perhaps her separation anxiety was caused at least in part by neglect. The result of this was her feeling insecure when she was left alone, knowing it was very possible she would not get her basic needs met.

She no longer needs treats or any special cue when I exit through a door. I can go down to the basement, out to the back yard and out the front door without her being triggered. I do return in a matter of seconds or minutes and am increasing the length of time as tolerated. She hasn’t had any intense vocalizations since the first evening and those were nothing compared to the crate video.

In the beginning, my Rena used to vocalize when I was standing even just a few feet away. It was heartbreaking and was frustrating and irritating and tragic. I felt that I was being controlled by her. It took quite some time of miniscule absences until she could tolerate distance. She was damaged beyond just separation anxiety and was clearly an anxious dog even when the particular behaviors were extinguished.

She always accompanied us to work. Within a few days of her adoption, a group of us was purging and cleaning the offices. We were right there in the hallway outside of her room and she could see us. But she could not tolerate being ‘alone’. She sounded to me like the Three Stooges all expressing themselves at the same time. It was difficult in those beginning days to attend to her and get anything done. Sometimes I felt resentful that so much accommodation had to be designed for her. But I soon realized just how terrifying this was for her and concentrated on feeling elated at each inch of her progress.

In comparison, when Nancy came to drop off her artwork and quilt donations for our Moment for Mutts auction coming up on November 12, Slinky was behind a gate and looking into the living room, so that we could go in and out of the front door with the dogs safely contained. She was happy and twirling and seemed to feel a part of our enterprises. This is an important aspect of designing a rehabilitation program. Even though dogs may share the condition of separation anxiety, each is an individual dog with particular strengths and fragilities that need to be addressed in order to be successful.

Professionals do not agree on one theory regarding the exact causes of separation anxiety but contributing factors may include extremely social dogs being left alone, associating a negative or frightening experience with being left alone, or being left alone for the first time without preparation. Dogs who have been abandoned, traumatized, or abused may find it difficult to face not having someone to comfort them. And some dogs may be genetically predisposed to the condition.

Charlie, the only male pup of terrier Sugar in a litter of six, exhibited some behaviors early on that might have led to separation anxiety even though none of his littermates or mother did. He seemed a likely candidate for preventative measures. Foster pup Charlie was first separated from his littermates and mom at about 13 weeks because it was believed that he was a bully picking on his sisters. When he came to my house, where he spent a week prior to adoption, he seemed more anxious and demanding to me than aggressive.

I had brought a crate with me to transport him home and he began to scream the second he was inside. The foster told me that he had had that same reaction each time he was placed in a crate. He would have benefited from gradual crate training, but it wasn’t possible seeing as how he had to be transported to vet appointments safely in the car with all of the others. Unfortunately this happens – dogs need to be crated but there hasn’t been time to acclimate them to the idea. The best case scenario is to continue to work on gradual crate training in addition to necessary trips. Eventually, a natural affinity for the crate will most likely emerge.

When Charlie arrived at my house, he followed me around, which is not that odd for a pup. But when I went out of his sight and he couldn’t follow, he screamed and wailed. Charlie seemed to have little tolerance for being alone or controlling his impulses. He went from hanging out to completely frustrated very quickly. I focused on rewarding polite behaviors and ignoring what I could ignore such as jumping up and barking. I taught him that waiting patiently would earn him attention and a reward. He learned to ‘wait’ at a closed door as if it were the most important job on earth. He seemed to feel so proud and confident as I praised each little step.

I reminded myself that he had been living in his foster home with 9 other dogs, 2 adults and 4 children, not to mention neighbors, friends and additional family. He was extremely well socialized but he lacked the capacity to be alone and happy and to self-soothe. The week at my house was a successful transition time for him. He now lives with 2 adults and another dog and we hear he is very well adjusted. No one knows for sure if he would have developed into a more anxious dog, but preventative measures can decidedly impact a dog’s future behaviors.

Separation Anxiety: Day 6 of Slinky with Misha May

Slinky joined 3 other dogs, Shadow, Twinkle and Valentino, in having a great time in the snow. She seemed a little fragile at first, affected by the cold. But once she got running and playing and investigating, she loved it. Shadow, on the other hand, never enjoys the cold unless I am carrying him in my arms. He prefers to do what he has to, and then scurry back inside. He is always standing by the door waiting for everyone else.
http://youtu.be/huc40JARdn8

It doesn’t seem to bother Slinky to be outside without me, even if the other dogs come in. She fixates on squirrels. She doesn’t bark or chase them as they are usually in the adjoining yard, but she stares. When the most courageous squirrels do run along the fence of our yard, she joins the other dogs in hot pursuit. For a little seventeen pound dog, she is really quite athletic and hearty.

I set up another crate today specifically to see if Slinky will take ownership of it. I transferred some of the bedding from the other crate into this one to make it seem familiar and friendly. This one is Great Dane size. I like using the largest crates possible, as long as there aren’t any house training issues. The spaciousness can be quite inviting and allows them to have their own little apartment where they can play or share, sleep or eat. I want her to be able to move from crate to crate and generalize that they are all good, whether wire or plastic, here or at her house. I had intended to put the crate in my living room where there is more space, but I realized if I put it in the office with the other ones, she might accept it more easily at first.

Slinky did go right into the new crate as the others were occupied. When I am here typing, 4 dogs are usually with me in crates. The doors are always open unless it is meal time, as two of them like eating in their own crates and not being disturbed. Slinky and Twinky (Twinkle) were in the large crate today resting as seen here.
http://youtu.be/n3qXXKwBwHI

Tara, my 11 year old black Lab mix has now joined Slinky and her buddies Valentino, Twinkle and Shadow in playing in the yard. Tara really loves the snow too. Slinky seems to understand that Tara is an older female and greets her with slower and more deferential movements. Her puppy respectfulness is quite endearing. Perhaps their play will be livelier when they have known each other longer. Tara can still run around the yard, chase balls and squirrels and throw an inviting play bow.

A milestone in crate training happened today. As I was retrieving office items from the bookshelf behind Slinky’s crate, I inadvertently gently bumped the door to the crate which adjusted its position. She had no response as it swung toward her to the closed position. This was really the first time that the crate had been manipulated with her inside. I had been walking near it and interacting with her while she was inside it, but I had not moved the door. I was very pleased to see that her comfort level is quite high and ever increasing.

Slinky accompanied me to the Arvada Understanding Dogs meeting for our dog trainer apprentices. She loved all of the attention from the trainers and was often off by herself exploring. This was good because she was acting independently in an unfamiliar place. What was not so good was that she chewed her leash and chomped on some of the toys – for children, not dogs – in the bins. Nothing drastic thank goodness.

Slinky met Liz’s dog Boo, an adult neutered male blond cocker spaniel. They didn’t play or interact much but tolerated each other nicely for the evening. Slinky also helped with a leash walking demonstration. Yukari had attended the national Association of Pet Dog Trainers conference in San Diego and was sharing some of the highlights with the rest of us. The technique has the handler and the dog on the move in a fluid dance-like motion. No jerking or sudden stops are involved. The dog learns that as long as she moves with her handler, treats and praise will be forthcoming. It seemed like a very pleasurable experience for both.

At the beginning of the demonstration, Slinky was not absolutely certain that she wanted to help Yukari. I got up and walked beside Slinky while Yukari continued to hold the leash. Soon, Slinky was invested in the exercise and didn’t need me as a transitional support anymore. I hadn’t said anything to her; I was with her and she knew it.

While I unloaded my teaching materials for the class, Slinky waited in the car. This was probably the longest time she had been left with me going out of sight into a building. I think I may have heard her cry a little, but she was calm when I returned. She is not as comfortable and relaxed waiting in a car as many other dogs I’ve known with separation anxiety. She rides in a car beautifully though. She is calm and gazes out the window.

Separation Anxiety: Day 5 of Slinky with Misha May

Slinky has one broken canine which happened during the one and only time she was crated in a wire crate. Injuries similar to this are common. These injuries confirm that the dog is in a panicked state, unaware of the self-infliction of pain. My dog Rena once flipped her wire crate on its side and managed to squeeze through without injury. She then pried open a heavy restroom door and proceeded to greet all of the clients in the building. Buddy and Kabul also both managed to escape from wire crates uninjured. Sadly, many dogs do sustain injuries from jumping off balconies, through picture windows and nosing through crates.

Slinky really has the’ wait’ at the kitchen door. Sometimes she just stays on the couch as I go out – doesn’t even get up when I leave or return. At first I took a treat to the couch to reinforce her calm, but then I started just saying ‘wait’ and closing the door behind me. She is making terrific progress in and around the house and yard.

This girl wakes up joyful every morning. You can see her continuing to relax and look forward to whatever the day brings. No worry, no dread, no anxiety! Still dancing and prancing as she eats! She eats almost all of her food now.

Our next transition session with her adopter will be a walk in the park together. I expect an easier transition back to my house since she will not be leaving me fully and then having to return. I have an exercise planned for building trust.

Kabul, a young dog rescued from Afghanistan, who received help from Misha May with separation anxiety, resource guarding and having lived in the wild his entire life, never had any transition problems. He went smoothly between his rescuers and Misha May. He did however, have a problem being alone and did not want to be in a crate. His rescuers had built him a big enclosure which he escaped from enabling him to come close to chewing his way through their garage door.

When Kabul arrived in the USA, he went to live with two older female dogs. They got off to a rough start when he decided he better fight for the precious food. He also had no manners or understandings for living in a home. He chewed and destroyed anything he could. He had no comprehension of ‘walks’ on a leash. Most of the time he would simply sit or lie down in the shade and seem to be saying ‘I’ve walked around wherever I’ve wanted to my whole life. Why are we following this limited linear path?’

Through Misha May’s program, Kabul is now crate trained, over his separation anxiety, and spending his days at home with a midday dog walker. He is not crated and enjoys the company of the two other dogs. Kabul has many dog playmates, in addition to which, he always makes a favorable impression on the humans he meets. If you want to see an Afghan Koochie Dog, Kabul, or K, is featured in many videos on Msha May’s youtube channel.

This is a short video of Slinky hanging out in the crate. It is so great to see her following along with what my dogs do. Dogs really do help each other so much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQZwJog2QiU

Slinky and Shadow have really taken a liking to each other and have developed an enthusiastic rhythm in their play. They are featured in this video, with Valentino and Twinkle looking on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3dxHIRW9po

Slinky has learned a lot in the mere 1½ weeks she was with her adopters. One thing is, she remembers to lift her leg as she is getting into her harness. I know dogs who still don’t do that after years! I got confused about how it strapped on, and she showed me how.

Another milestone with the car happened today at the library. Instead of parking at the drop box, I had to park in the lot and go all the way inside, out of her sight. I was prepared to abort the mission if she didn’t seem as confident as I thought she would be. But she simply sat quietly as I walked off saying ‘bye-bye’ cheerily. I dropped books off, hurriedly self-checked new ones and was back in a flash.

Often dogs with separation anxiety find comfort in the car, even while waiting by alone. I’m not sure why, but I imagine they think of being in a car as being in a safe haven, a mobile den big enough to accommodate their person too! A car isn’t stationary like a crate where they are certain to be left behind. When Buddy, the 100 pound German Shepherd who destroyed a few homes, came to Misha May for treatment for separation anxiety, he would only stay in the car alone, nowhere else.

Slinky accompanied me to Misha May’s Understanding Dogs class last night. When we were working with the other dogs, she waited patiently with our dog trainer apprentices for about an hour. Some dogs with separation anxiety, Slinky included, need to be with one person in particular to feel safe. Since she has begun this training, she feels safe with an ever increasing number of people. Our goal is for her to remain bonded deeply with her adopters, but to have trust for other deserving humans. This enlarges her world and her opportunities, and decreases her anxiety and apprehension.

Surprisingly, upon arriving home, Slinky went right into the crate! Sometimes she will leave the rest of us in the living room and go lie in the crate in the office. Her natural denning instinct is growing stronger.

Separation Anxiety: Day 4 Slinky gets treatment with Misha May

Currently, Slinky is on chlomicalm which is usually the first choice medication for anxiety. It has to be prescribed by a veterinarian and must be accompanied by behavior modification.

Slinky was adopted from a local kill shelter after having been transferred from another kill shelter. We don't know any more of her story. The first day that her adopters left her alone in the house, she destroyed many things. Someone recommended kenneling her, which, of course, is dangerous with SA cases because they often hurt themselves trying to get out and find their owner.

Her adopters followed this unwise advice because they didn't know about her condition. The next day she was crated in a plastic crate but escaped, again destroying many things. When the adopters returned, she was absolutely distraught.

They then purchased a wire crate thinking that she would like the open style. Thank goodness they had set up the video cam that day and captured Slinky’s panic attack complete with destroying the blanket on top. They immediately sought a diagnosis and help for her.

Rena, my first dog with separation anxiety, progressed fairly well as I implemented tactics to help her feel good about being alone. She was my first experience and I definitely didn’t know then what I know now. One of the mistakes I made, was leaving her too long before she was ready. I left her in her wire crate, covered with a blanket, for what I thought would be 3 hours. Unfortunately, I was held up and it resulted in a 5 hour absence instead.

When I returned and stepped into the room, the silence was unnatural. My attention was first drawn to the floor where there had been numerous rugs and floor coverings to catch the dirt and mud from our mountain yard. All I saw was carpeting. As I lifted my gaze, I saw my poor baby cocooned not just within the wire crate and outer blanket, but literally immobilized within all of the floor coverings she had dragged into her crate. It was hilariously tragic, and it took me awhile to free her from her twisted prison. She seemed fine and miraculously continued to like her crate even after that.

You probably want to know how I initially created such a strong positive association between Rena and her crate when she refused to even enter one then. Motivation is always the answer. Because she loved stuffy toys, I started by throwing her favorite one into the crate as we were playing and she was on the move. She followed it right in, picked it up and came towards the gate. I let her come out, but as she did I took the toy. I continued playing the fun game of throw the toy in the crate and taking it when she exited. She astutely realized that the only time she could lie down and play with her toy was in her crate. That did it! Eventually I was able to close the door.

For some dogs, crate training is successful with meals or special treats, friendly smelling bedding or just time and patience. The key is to go as slowly as needed, always having it accessible and filled with something irresistible to your dog.

Slinky waits at the door beautifully now while I attend to other animals. Her time increased today because I included feeding the cats and scooping their litter boxes.

Slinky decided she liked the durable dinsoaur nylabone she found and and chewed happily for quite some time. Like many dogs, Slinky appreciates items that wear the slobber, saliva and smell of other dogs.

Slinky is integrating seamlessly with the resident dogs. They are all roaming, playing and resting during the day. Here she is with, playmate Shadow.






Another milestone in her treatment was her calm response to my moving the car out of the garage with her in the house. This can be an enormous trigger for dogs who have separation anxiety as it predicts departure. I was not actually leaving so I came right back in. I found her hanging out with Shadow, pictured below. I moved the car because based on her behavior, I was 99.99% certain that she would not react. In treatment, our goal is to change predictors of abandonment into irrelevant happenings.

Her mom came and picked her up in what would be their first visit since treatment began. It is important to widen Slinky’s circle of trust while maintaining the bond with her adopters. We want the transition between and among them to be stress-free. Gina was given a list of things that I had already introduced that she would now practice today and in future visits.

1) All greetings and farewells are low key
2) Ignore half of her approaches.
a) Reward all distance. If Slinky is sitting away from you, say softly ‘good girl’. If she comes to you, nonchalantly acknowledge her with a quiet good girl. We don’t want to discourage the ‘come’.
b) Try to walk by her when she is lying down somewhere. Pet her calmly - keep going half of the time, join her half of the time.
3) Imagine a line across an inner doorway. When she is behind it and you are on the opposite side, say ‘wait’ as you throw a small treat just past her, being sure she can see it. As she turns to get it, say ‘yes’. As she nears the imaginary line coming toward you, say ‘okay’ before she crosses so that you are actually giving permission to cross. This builds a ‘wait’ cue along with independence and confidence, while giving her a job to do in your absence.

Buddy, a 100 pound German Shepherd rescued by Misha May, suffered with separation anxiety. He had been returned to a shelter three times for destroying homes. The notes claimed that he had even pulled a refrigerator across a kitchen to get to the loaf of bread on top – had he been tied to it? In looking for his perfect adopter, we needed someone who would be sensitive to his need for a transition between his foster home and his forever home. He is doing terrific at home all day now, but we began with hours, overnights, and weekends. His adopter even went home each day for lunch to make her absences shorter.

When Slinky first returned from her play date with her mom, she greeted me and the dogs with joy and ran into the yard to play. Then as the distractions lessened, she realized mom was gone. She whined and searched restlessly for about an hour, much less than the first evening. Again, I wanted to help her but not reward the anxious behavior. Rescue Remedy came to the rescue again. She lay down in one of the crates and relaxed. Here she is crying softly.
http://youtu.be/bTRSLsW5Tcc

I am very happy to report that she soon discovered another toy which kept her busy and soothed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwa3KwuQy9U

Separation Anxiety: Day 3 Slinky gets treatment with Misha May

For the first time, I was able to exit through the back door into the yard to check on my dogs while Slinky waited just inside. I threw a treat to Slinky and said ‘wait’ and she did. Not only that! When I came back in she wasn’t hovering at the back door as I expected but was in one of the bedrooms being curious. She was pleased to see me but not frantic.

I gave her treats, said ‘wait’, closed the kitchen door, and went down to get Teddy. She waited quietly while I took Teddy outside. The same was repeated when I brought him back in and also fed the cats downstairs.

The next time out, she went with Valentino. They greeted each other like trusted playmates and explored the yard. When they came in, he got a treat and she took her meds in the kitchen. While I am in this room typing, Slinky and Valentino are in the living room. They have been exploring. Now she is alternating between chewing on a tennis ball and investigating her adopter’s shirt. Intermittently they engage and throw play bows.

I am very pleased with her progress. There has been no triggering since she came that first evening. She is happy and relaxed and enjoying each moment. She is acclimating well to being distant from me physically as well as my not paying attention to her. She is waiting patiently and quietly when I shut a door between us.

It is 9:30am. Everyone has been fed and all is quiet. I am in the office with 3 of my dogs. Slinky is in the living room curled up in her bed on the floor. She is content to know that we are near.

10:30am Video #1 Slinky & Valentino in the yard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXh9eXVKMA

Slinky and Shadow met and went outside together. Seems like a good match as they are about the same size.

I’ve also been leaving Slinky loose in living room as my 4 dogs go in and out. She has met each one individually and got acquainted over the room gates. So now she is part of the group inside.

When she is outside, she watches the bird and squirrel ‘sanctuary’ through our dividing chain link fence.

My afternoon rest time was on the couch with Slinky and Shadow, my 3 year old Rat Terrier. They are doing beautifully together.

Slinky went on her first car ride with me to the library to drop off books and Starbucks drive through to buy coffee beans. She was very calm in the back seat watching as I walked the short distance to the book drop. At Starbucks she was curious.

She spends time lying in her bed in a very relaxed fashion. She also played with a tennis ball and the clothing that her adopters left so she would have their familiar smells nearby. She seems very at home.

I spent the evening at home. Everything was very quiet as we read, watched a movie and hung out. Slinky is very relaxed and already knows the routine. I couldn’t be more pleased with her progress of transitioning into the program.

Separation Anxiety: Day 2 of Slinky's treatment with Misha May Foundation

Slinky continues to be a joyful sweet dog. She is friendly to my dogs who are behind their gates. I continue to carry her as I tend to the other animals. My approach to meets like this which involve multiple dogs is to allow them so much friendly access and positive associations that by the time they actually meet, they feel like old friends.

Slinky ate her breakfast in the living room at the same time as the other dogs ate in their spaces. She ate most of it dancing lightly around in between bites. She really is quite the little dancer.

Understanding Dogs apprentices Pauline, Desarae and Mary came for a meeting and Slinky enjoyed the extra attention. She is very relaxed and friendly. She engaged some of the time and rested on the couch some of the time. I left her with them when I went outside and they said she looked toward the door but didn’t seem distressed. She whined slightly. We are building her family of folks she feels safe with.

Slinky has investigated each of the crates. I have not set hers up in the living room yet. I will include bedding from the other dogs’ crates to make it more familiar and enticing. All of the crates are wire like the one she freaked out in prior to diagnosis and treatment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE6Vpm1U7LM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL. I’m pleased that she doesn’t have a completely negative association to them. She went into Tara’s crate and found her chewed bully stick – that is a good association! Then she went into Twinkle’s and found a toy which she played with. Another great situation! When all of the other dogs were outside, she laid in Twinkle’s crate while I typed. I am very pleased with her choice to do that. One of our goals is crate training so that she will have that option to feel safe and for travel.

I let Slinky meet and play with Valentino, a 3 year old neutered male beagle mix, as I thought they would be a great match. And they were! They ran around the yard like crazy. It was so beautiful to watch. They both like to chase and be chased so they alternated. It seemed that they had boundless energy and joy.

Slinky & Valentino playing in the yard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXh9eXVKMA

Slinky then met Tara, Twinkle and Shadow individually as they walked outside to go to the yard. Slinky did very well with each, smelling and greeting and following along like a puppy. Twinkle was her sweet self; Tara avoided and offered claming signals as usual; Shadow ran at her and way from her vocalizing as usual. She accepted each interaction matter-of-factly. I was impressed. This is great because now I don’t have to carry her. I’m not ready to have them all in the yard together but I will most likely let her experience each of them separately in the yard today.

Slinky napped with Valentino and me on the couch. I know Shadow, my 3 yr old neutered male rat terrier, is missing the closeness with me and I with him (right now he is behind me in the chair as I type). Soon we will all be napping together again but my slow methodical approach to integrating Slinky with my dogs will help avoid issues of jealousy or feeling overwhelmed.

Slinky ate her dinner more routinely. She seems to enjoy that everyone else is eating in their spots too. She runs from her dish to each gate at the entrance of rooms to create camaraderie. She dances and wags that long tail in a celebratory manner.

Now that I am not carrying her and she is not accompanying me every second, I am teaching ‘wait’ at the door between the living room and the kitchen in order to tend to the other animals. As I said ‘wait’, I threw a few small treats at her and when she turned to get hem, I closed the door. She was kept busy finding the treats and had no time to worry. When I returned in two minutes, she was dancing expectantly on the other side of the door. She was not distressed but was happy that I had returned. I kept our reunion low key and pleasant.

Slinky began paying with a tennis ball that was lying around. I am pleased that she is initiating self-soothing practices such as lying on the couch and diversions such as choosing toys to play with. When feeling safe and relaxed, she seems a well adjusted dog.

I don’t see signs of abuse. I wonder why she was brought to a shelter. Was she already exhibiting separation anxiety behaviors such as destruction and her owners didn’t know that she could be cured, or didn’t want to try? If so, how was this condition created? How was it first triggered? Maybe her family loved her and dropped her at a shelter for financial reasons. This would explain why she felt so abandoned and is now pathologically bonding to her new owner. The abandonment experience can be like death to dogs both literally and figuratively. Sometimes they end up killed in overcrowded shelter; sometimes their hearts break and their souls fade without the love and security they were accustomed to having.

Slinky in separation anxiety treatment with Misha May - Day One

Day One:

Slinky and I had met previously in a park where we walked and I had given her treats. We liked each other and I knew she felt comfortable with me.

Slinky’s first session began at 6:30pm so we could work for just an evening rather than an entire day. We greeted each other as old friends who were happy to have more time together.

When it was time for her adopters to leave, she and I went into the play yard at the same time that her adopters said, ‘bye-bye’ in a cheery voice as we had planned. She and I continued into the yard where I kept her on leash and we wandered around. It was a good 5 minutes before she realized that they weren’t there. She went to the door from time to time but was not distressed. She was definitely enthralled by the smells in the yard.

This is the first time she would be away from them. Our initial goal as we form Team Slinky is to not leave her alone so that she won't have any more panic attacks. The three of us would be her support while implementing the separation anxiety protocol.

Slinky is a very sweet and likable dog. Fortunately, she is not a Velcro dog. She wanders around with curiosity and does not need to be exactly by your side. Once the separation anxiety is cured, I think she will be a well adjusted dog.

When she realized her adopters were not around, she did become nervous. She sought me out for comfort and came every time I called her name. Interestingly, she would be lying in a very relaxed settle position, but still vocalizing her abandonment.

She was restless and paced for several hours but eventually became quieter and more relaxed. Even though I was with her, she went to the front and back doors, and sought to find the window behind the curtains. She wanted to follow her family.

I did not reward or support her distress by saying things like 'that's okay'. I did help her cope by performing trauma reduction techniques such as Reiki and Tellington Touch. She especially grew very quiet and relaxed when I was doing her ears. I also gave her Rescue Remedy. She was able to gobble treats the entire evening so I felt that she was not that over stressed.

Most of the time she whined and whimpered softly. At those times, I stayed in close proximity but did not give her attention. But, several times she began to vocalize with increasing intensity and volume. I didn’t want to give her attention for that, but I did not want her to continue this pattern or make herself distraught. I decided to say ‘Stop’ in a firm grounding voice to bring her back to the present where everything was okay. She responded by quieting and calming for 20-30 minutes at which time I performed one of the techniques. Often she would offer her belly and I would rub it soothingly.

I decided to not introduce her to any of my dogs in this first session since she was a little on edge. So I carried her in my arms when I let out Shadow, Tara, Twinkle and Valentino from behind their gates. They were all curious and stretching up to smell her. No harsh words were exchanged. I thought the limited exposure went very well. When they came back in I repeated the procedure. Everyone went to their places and all received treats. A very positive experience was had by all.

When I went to let foster dog Teddy out, I placed Corky foster cat in his big crate as usual, to allow Teddy to pass through his area without incident. The difference was that I was carrying Slinky. Slinky and Corky had a short exchange of pure curiosity. Slinky was attracted to the litter box, of course, and I will guard against her access. Teddy was curious about Slinky as well, but was calm and polite as he stretched to smell her in my arms.

I repeated the outings to the yard several times with Slinky. She was settling into trusting me as part of her team. All went well.