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Hi,

I got a Jack Russell Terrier 2 weeks ago from the shelter. He has had a really bad life so far and he has been in the shelter for the last 2 years. I am already working on his lacks of obedience and he improve pretty well!

The only thing I am worried about is his separation anxiety. He is already really attached to me. Everytime I leave the house he starts barking and he also pees into my room. I am away for 10 hours but I have somebody who is visiting him twice during the day.

Is here anybody who has experience with this type of problem? I am leaving him in my room when he is alone because my room mate is scared that he might pee everywhere in the apartment and it would be also much harder for him to calm down, when he hears people walking by the apartment.

We have no idea how we could help him to get over this, he starts looking sad when we get up in the morning and get ready for work.

My only idea so far was to set up a schedule for him, so that he gets used to the visits of my dogsitter and that he gets a routine in his life.

I really don't want to give him back, so I hope that here is anybody who can help me! I am really afraid that I might get into trouble with the landlord if he doesn't stop barking!

Thanks for your help! Nicoletta

Hi Nicoletta and welcome!

First, instead of leaving your pup in your room, have you tried a crate? If the crate is like a 'den' inside (dark, small, warm), your dog will liley not pee in your room. Additionally, the crate might give him the comfort he needs.

Crate training should be done gradually and there is a lot of material out there about how to get a dog used to a crate. Slowly and in small time increments is the key. If the crate is a safe place, the the seperation anxiety 'might' ease.

No promises though.....

Good luck!

Can the shelter give you an idea why he was there for so long? 2 years seems like a really long time. When coming and going make sure you DON'T make a big deal about it- limit eye contact and talking so he doesn't associate that you're leaving and arriving is a big event. Given the prior history, it will take a long time (months maybe) to overcome the issues. Shelter dogs can be notorius for sep anxiety, but with time, patience, and support you can get good results. And some shelter dogs do NOT do well in crates due to their previous confined history so you may want to use a larger open pen concept.

I myself have never owned a JRT but if I was to have a little dog that would be the kind!! First of all do you give him a good workout before you leave in the am? My oldest sons girlfriend has a 5yr old JRT and from what she has said they need a hour of high intense exercise to just burn off a little energy, a tired dog is a happy dog! Throwing a ball for ten min. is NOT enough for her dog! Peanut is her name,but if she is left alone with out being exercised first she will bark constantly tear things apart pee on the floor and worst of all POOP on Michelles bed! , The reason I no she barks all day long they live next door to my mom. Now my mom has a job also, she goes over at noon to let her out and to go for a little walk around the block! So good luck with your new little buddy , and if all eles fails , doggy daycare a couple days a week would also be a good thing!

Hello you should follow the suggestions given to you, get him a crate and get him used to it and keep him in there while you are gone. Give him a lot of excercise before you leave too that will help.

Also this will take a while but when you have some time, start by leaving him for a few minutes at a time and returning. Just go out the front door and come back. If he is ok with that then extend the time gradually until he is ok for longer periods. This helps him to realize you will come back.

Wow, thanks for all the good advice.

I tried to crate him but I have the feeling that he is going even more crazy then...And he pees into the crate as well...

He was for so long in the shelter because he has bitten people and he was showing the seperation anxiety before.

Maybe I really need to exercise him more in the morning... Normally I take him for a 45 min walk and then I play for 15 min with the ball with him.

the bad thing is that I got him and that I have to keep on working so that it is hard to train him properly in regards to leave him for some minutes and then come back. But maybe I should try this on the weekends and evenings....

however, thanks for all your help so far!!

Another thing you may want to try is getting a backpack for your dog! I have one for Dino and if im in a hurray and no time for a real long walk , I will put a couple cans of soup in it and off we go! He loves it , makes him feel like he has a job. And it really tires him out !!So walk time is cut in half. Not to mention he carries my wallet his poop bags.Im sure they make them small enough for your dog! Worth a try!

That sounds good. Where do you get those?

Brad doesn't recommend those. Especially on hot days. I was surprised when he mentionned it cuz I wanted one myself.

There is a thread on them somewhere in here! Most pet stores carry them! The only reason we have been told not to put to much weight in them when they are young! Other wise they are a GREAT tool!