Insecurity with a specific cause

The owners, a professional couple, had demolished their house and were living in rented accommodation while they re-built on the site of their old house.  Their dog, a female Weimaraner, 5 years old, had visited the building site and seemed to recognise it as “home”.  There was no direct evidence of whether she was disturbed by the absence of the house. The female owner had increased her working hours a little, although the dog had been used to being at home during the working day. In the new house, she was kept in the back yard during the day. She made desperate attempts to get out, despite the owners’ efforts at “dog-proofing” the yard. She had succeeded about 8 times. Usually this happened shortly after the owners had left for work, and a neighbour phoned one of them to say the dog was out.

Various explanations were put forward, but after gathering more details, I decided that the most likely explanation was that the dog was reacting with insecurity as a result of the move. Possibly the somewhat longer hours of being alone in a relatively unfamiliar environment, together with the fact that the dog knew that the owners visited the site of the old house, had combined to motivate the dog to get out, not so much in order to get out as to get back to the old home. 

I suggested trying some further “dog-proofing” of the yard, but primarily suggested that the owners attempt to reduce the emotional cause of the problem.

•    by allowing the dog access to the house during the day

The dog was relaxed and “at home” when allowed access to the house, and did not feel the need to escape. The owners were concerned that she would sleep on their bed, and “backslide” into dominance, which had been an issue in the past.  I suggested  that they do some revision on their leadership exercises, as well as putting the dog’s bed in the study (a place she liked) and her bean bag on their bed, so that if she did try to get on the bed, she would still be confined to her spot. The main issue about access to the bed is not that it automatically causes the dog to be dominant. The issue is whether the dog claims ownership of the bed, and shows resentment about being asked to get off, or resentment about allowing anyone else on. 

•    by making the back yard more of a shared living area - for example by sitting out in the yard to have a drink when weather permitted, or by exercising the dog by playing in the yard sometimes, rather than always going out

By these means, the dog’s anxiety reduced, escape attempts stopped and the owners brushed up on their dog’s general response to leadership and everyday life control.