Jessica O'Neill Dip. CBST answers questions about companion animal behaviour. Providing advice and eduction to promote the human-animal bond.
Visit www.petbehaviour.net for more information or to send in your questions.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Our Spoiled Rotten Bichon Frise

Dear Jessica,

This letter is in response to your article in The Record News EMC regarding pet behaviour.

We have a wonderful, loving, friendly 6 year old Bichon Frise. We brought her home after
we were both retired and she had our undivided attention. Yes we spoiled her shamefully.

However, we are now inclined to leave her alone more than in previous days and she has
become our "little guilt trip". She exhibits the symptoms of "anxiety separation"
(yes a human trait, however it seems to apply to our little pet also).

I have practised turning my back on her, ignoring her when we first come home, making her
sit and be still before greeting her. This has worked somewhat, however she will then
follow me around the house for hours after being left alone and won't let me out of her sight.

I would appreciate any advice you can give us that will help make her feel more secure and
allow us to leave her alone and not feel guilty doing so.

Thank you.

A: The answer to this question will appear in my next article in the EMC Record News

2 comments:

Dayanti Karunaratne said...

Is this answer up yet? I'm afraid we're a little too excited to see our collie when we get home, too.

Jessica Eden O'Neill said...

Hi there,
If you read the posted article called "Jumping Up Got You Down?" and "Human-Canine Communication Barriers", you should answers that will be helpful. If you need more advice, feel free to send me a message.
Thanks.

Pet Intel. Behaviour Centre

Pet Intel. Behaviour Centre
VISIT PET INTEL.