[sveremey]

Hello!
I have a female Shar-Pei, she's about 3 1/2 years old. I have had her since she was a pup, and she's a wonderful dog. VERY friendly, she's never met anyone or anything she didn't love or want to play with.

She's also very energetic. Extremely energetic.

When I leave her home, she goes crazy. She slams on the door, slams on the windows, barks up a storm... I would think separation anxiety of some sort. So, I leave her in the basement. It's dry and safe, there is a bed inside her crate down there, and she seems to lay in the bed, so I know she's getting somewhat comfortable.

Unfortunately, my basement door is trashed from scratching and banging. A door is a door, I can fix that. I just feel bad for her feeling like she has to "fight her way out" of the basement.

So here's my real question. I just bought a house and I'll be moving in next weekend. She has not been to the house yet, but she loves new places and isn't afraid of change, so I'm sure she'll enjoy the new place. But is there a good way to introduce her to the new basement so she won't feel so emotional when I leave? Any suggestions? I sort of have a clean slate with this new place...

Thanks!

[Chicster]

Maybe you could try Rescue Remedy down there? It is some sort of pheromone scent that is supposed to help calm dogs. They sell it online and at petstores and you can get one that is a wall plug.

Also just make sure you bring her favorite toys and her bed down there, and things with familiar scents. I've also heard that leaving the radio quiet on a soothing chanel can help so that they hear voices? And maybe stuff a kong full of peanut butter and kibbles and freeze it for her, and give it to her to occupy herself while she is alone if you haven't tried that yet.

Let us know how it all works out!

[sveremey]

Originally Posted by Chicster

Maybe you could try Rescue Remedy down there? It is some sort of pheromone scent that is supposed to help calm dogs. They sell it online and at petstores and you can get one that is a wall plug.

Also just make sure you bring her favorite toys and her bed down there, and things with familiar scents. I've also heard that leaving the radio quiet on a soothing chanel can help so that they hear voices? And maybe stuff a kong full of peanut butter and kibbles and freeze it for her, and give it to her to occupy herself while she is alone if you haven't tried that yet.

Let us know how it all works out!

Thank you, I ordered one of those plug in pheremone emitters... it may help!

But does anyone have suggestions as to how to best introduce her to the new place? I think at the current house I'm in, we just brought her in and let her run around... because it's cute. But I'm sure it's probably best to keep her leashed and "show the house to her", so she doesn't think she's the instant Queen of the castle, if you catch my drift.

Other than that, I was thinking of first introducing her to the basement only, so that's more of her "den". I could keep her on the leash until she's calm, and then let her explore the basement and get comfortable with it. Then I could leash her again and slowly show her the house.

Does that approach seem smart?