I have no idea where to start with this. Hi, My name is Melissa, I have a husky named Zeus & he has separation anxiety. lol.
When did I think Zeus had separation anxiety? I will come back to this.
Before we moved, we noticed a few things. When we left Zeus lose in the house, he would take anything off of the counters & eat anything he could. Plus leaves us a present in the hallway. I am not sure about the windows' blinds. I know I did see him looking out the one window when we were all outside & he was not.
After we moved, Zeus got worse. I think he was afraid of us getting rid of him. We had him at the other house from when he was a puppy. This was all new to him. We were trying to get back into our new routine with the kids & Zeus, but you could see that something was wrong. When we first moved into the house, I was mostly home.
When I left Zeus at home lose a few times alone, we would come back to presents in Ethan's room. We would come home to the blinds messed up to in the living room. We have 2 windows-a large one & a smaller one. We also have a window at the top of the stairs on the second floor that has a blind. It looks like he was going from window to window looking for me. Destroying the blinds in the process. In the old house, Zeus would take everything off of the counters. I mean everything. If he could eat it, then he would. Presents in the hallway. This started before we moved. Just gotten worse after the move.
Before we moved, we noticed a few things. When we left Zeus lose in the house, he would take anything off of the counters & eat anything he could. Plus leaves us a present in the hallway. I am not sure about the windows' blinds. I know I did see him looking out the one window when we were all outside & he was not.
After we moved, Zeus got worse. I think he was afraid of us getting rid of him. We had him at the other house from when he was a puppy. This was all new to him. We were trying to get back into our new routine with the kids & Zeus, but you could see that something was wrong. When we first moved into the house, I was mostly home.
When I left Zeus at home lose a few times alone, we would come back to presents in Ethan's room. We would come home to the blinds messed up to in the living room. We have 2 windows-a large one & a smaller one. We also have a window at the top of the stairs on the second floor that has a blind. It looks like he was going from window to window looking for me. Destroying the blinds in the process. In the old house, Zeus would take everything off of the counters. I mean everything. If he could eat it, then he would. Presents in the hallway. This started before we moved. Just gotten worse after the move.
The one day after school I decided to get the kids from school & go to the store. We were gone an hour & 15 minutes. This was the first time we were gone longer than we normally were. Normally 20-30 minutes max. I came home to the front larger window to no blind in it. I could see that as soon as I looked at the front of the house. When I went into the house, Zeus got the curtain rod & the bottom of the front door was torn off, too. Of course, the normal present was in Ethan's room for us.
Back to that question, When did I think Zeus had separation anxiety? When I came home to that mess!
We went out & brought him a crate at day later. I did not leave the house then. That happened on a Friday. I am lucky I did not have to leave the house for anything.
We went out & brought him a crate at day later. I did not leave the house then. That happened on a Friday. I am lucky I did not have to leave the house for anything.
I have done research on separation anxiety & huskies. Here are 2 sites I have looked at: here & here.
I am going to talk about Zeus's symptoms first.
1. Presents in Ethan's room. Now he can escape from his crate & he will do this in the basement or if he does not escape, he will wait until I have my back turned against him, then do it. (I have to let Zeus out as soon as I get home or he does this) Zeus has done this twice on me. I have no idea why.
2. Howling. Zeus is a howler. He only barks at strangers he does not like.
3. Escapes. I just read this on the second link. I did not know this was a symptom of separation anxiety. Oh goodie! Zeus does not get hurt when he escapes from his crate. I have been told huskies are known escape artist! I can see this now!! I can not keep him in his crate. Help anyone! (I have been using Bolt to keep him in his crate plus a plug in thing to help him be calm-explain more later)
4. Pacing. I think Zeus was doing this between all 3 of those windows I talked about before.
I read somewhere else, which I can not find right now, that I should put in his crate a blanket with my scent on it. I did this. We also have the tv on for background sound. I have also read to give him a few of his favorite toys.
I also brought a book called Don't Leave Me Alone: Step by Step Help for your Dog's Separation Anxiety by Nicole Wilde. I am still reading it. I need to get back to reading this book asap. Just because I listed this book does not mean I think it is the best out there. There are a lot more out there. Another Separation Anxiety book for your dog may work better for you. I love the reviews on this book & I read other reviews on other books, too, but I felt this book would work for us. I did the same with the book below, too.
I also brought a book about huskies called The Siberian Husky by Lorie Long because I want to learn more about this breed. I know that huskies are pack dogs, but I want to know more. I thought if I knew more than maybe I could help Zeus more.
Noah also got a book, too, called New Owners Guide to Siberian Huskies." I am waiting to give it to him for Easter, but Noah has it now. We will be reading it together.
I read somewhere else, which I can not find right now, that I should put in his crate a blanket with my scent on it. I did this. We also have the tv on for background sound. I have also read to give him a few of his favorite toys.
I also brought a book called Don't Leave Me Alone: Step by Step Help for your Dog's Separation Anxiety by Nicole Wilde. I am still reading it. I need to get back to reading this book asap. Just because I listed this book does not mean I think it is the best out there. There are a lot more out there. Another Separation Anxiety book for your dog may work better for you. I love the reviews on this book & I read other reviews on other books, too, but I felt this book would work for us. I did the same with the book below, too.
I also brought a book about huskies called The Siberian Husky by Lorie Long because I want to learn more about this breed. I know that huskies are pack dogs, but I want to know more. I thought if I knew more than maybe I could help Zeus more.
Noah also got a book, too, called New Owners Guide to Siberian Huskies." I am waiting to give it to him for Easter, but Noah has it now. We will be reading it together.
The second site says to do this:
1. Kong
We talked with a dog trainer, who suggested we get a Kong. When we are gone for a long day, we use it. Like yesterday. We will filled it the night before & freezed it. Here is another link on How to stuff a Kong. The stuff you buy to put in the Kong like the yogurt, peanut butter that the Kong makers make it is so much easier to put into the Kong than to stuff your own peanut butter. =)
I took Zeus to the vets for his shots & a check up. I told her all he has done. Some more background information. She diagnosed him with separation anxiety. Oh joy! My vet said he is awful nervous. I could see it, too. I have never seen him like this or maybe I have & never noticed it before.
I have this machine (it is small) I need to plug in down in the basement where his crate is. It will help with his separation anxiety. I will be doing this soon.
The only different between the basement & the first floor is he does not destroy things. I think the destroying things was because we come in & out of that door right on the first floor. He is right near it whenever he wants to be.
Zeus is handling having Bolt here. At first, we were not too sure, but now they play very nicely. Tug a war seems to be they favorite game, but Bolt does most of the work. I am waiting for them to lay beside each other. Maybe having a companion is a good idea! When we leave the house, a few weeks back I decided to move Bolt's crate. His crate is now where Zeus can see Bolt. Zeus now stays in his crate. I am not sure how long this will last, but I am enjoying it while it does last. I will update later on in a month for you all!
That's us. A husky with separation anxiety + a daughter with spastic paraparesis + 2 boys with asthma + a husky puppy! Never boring here!
Do you have pets? Tell me about them!
Melissa
I took Zeus to the vets for his shots & a check up. I told her all he has done. Some more background information. She diagnosed him with separation anxiety. Oh joy! My vet said he is awful nervous. I could see it, too. I have never seen him like this or maybe I have & never noticed it before.
I have this machine (it is small) I need to plug in down in the basement where his crate is. It will help with his separation anxiety. I will be doing this soon.
The only different between the basement & the first floor is he does not destroy things. I think the destroying things was because we come in & out of that door right on the first floor. He is right near it whenever he wants to be.
Zeus is handling having Bolt here. At first, we were not too sure, but now they play very nicely. Tug a war seems to be they favorite game, but Bolt does most of the work. I am waiting for them to lay beside each other. Maybe having a companion is a good idea! When we leave the house, a few weeks back I decided to move Bolt's crate. His crate is now where Zeus can see Bolt. Zeus now stays in his crate. I am not sure how long this will last, but I am enjoying it while it does last. I will update later on in a month for you all!
That's us. A husky with separation anxiety + a daughter with spastic paraparesis + 2 boys with asthma + a husky puppy! Never boring here!
Do you have pets? Tell me about them!
Melissa
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