[ICY_Anna]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and also a new dog owner.

I have had a dog before, but he was my former step-father's dog, not mine, and I was fairly young. I just adopted a fantastic dog on Friday, and I'm crazy about her.

She has excellent leash manners, excellent house manners, and knows many basic commands. She's totally unafraid of the horses (not sure yet if this is good or bad...)... she's an all-around wonderful little animal.

She does seem to have one flaw. Separation anxiety. When I leave for work in the morning and put her in her crate, she's totally fine. My mother is home still at that point, although she's upstairs and sleeping, and she says Ellie doesn't make a peep.

BUT when I take her to the farm where I keep my horses and she has to stay in the car she gets very upset. She barks (which she never does at any other time), and whines and paces around the car. Last night she did better about the barking (not constant, at least), but still not what I'd like. I'd really like her to lay down and take a snooze.

I bought her a Kong, and plan to give it to her only when I'm away - in her crate and in the car. I gave it to her last night at the farm, but as soon as I got out of the car without her, so became too upset to even remember the Kong was there. She hadn't touched it when I came back. I do get her out a little bit to see the horses, meet people, and go potty, but barn rules says I'm not allowed to have her in the barn the WHOLE time.

I don't want to have to leave her in the crate at home when I'm at the farm, but I also don't want her to get so upset. Should I continue to bring her along and tough it out? Hope that she will get used to it? Are there other things I can try to help her realize that even though she's not with me, I AM coming back for her?

Please help us!

 

[hulkamaniac]

Bring the crate with you and leave her in the crate next to car.

 

[omike015]

I'd really like her to lay down and take a snooze.

If this is the case, your best bet would be to take her out for a really long walk beforehand. Beyond that, just treat it like any other case of separation anxiety (and plenty of exercise is big part of that).

 

[ICY_Anna]

I take her for 2 long walks a day, before I go to work and another in the evening. Aside from that, she also gets out a few times a day for 20 or so minutes to stretch her legs and do her business.

I will try taking her for a long walk right before we go to the farm and see if that tuckers her out enough to relax her. Maybe I'm not giving her enough exercise right before we head out. Thanks

hulkamaniac: Th only issue I have with your idea is the fact that there are other people and horses at the farm, and I'm not sure how they would respond to her being in her crate out of the car.

I like the idea though, so I may give it a try by going to the farm when I know there won't be many (if any) people around. Because if that works, I would be so thrilled. Do you think maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable and safe in my car, the way she does in the crate?

Thanks for the replies!