[NAGDU] Home alone

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Cindy.
On the rare occasions I leave Krokus home alone, he does very well.  I used
to put him in a crate, when he was a wild young thing, but now he just sacks
out somewhere until we get back.  He was very happy to see us, though, and
then he ran to point to his kibble can to get a treat.  That's my boy!
I thought of tying him to a chair at the event, but he could easily move a
chair.  Or move himself out where he could see us better, and get stepped
on, or fed by some "sympathetic" stranger.  Or stick his face up on the
table and help himself.  Better to leave him home for a bit.

Maybe Fischer is getting a bit of separation anxiety in his old age?  My old
gal Echo had some anxiety issues in her old age.  In her case, she came to
hate going anywhere.  I don't know if it was that her arthritis made it
uncomfortable to get in a car, or if her decreased hearing and mental
capacity made it confusing to be out of a familiar place, but she became a
real homebody.  It's hard to know what's going on in a dog's head.  But it
seems like old age can have mental effects, as well as physical ones.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 4:02 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone

Well, Tracy, I'm thinking of something similar, but my situation is
different from yours now. Fisher is rarely left, but sometimes we have had
to leave him for nine hours. Trust me, that is rare, and I hate that. But of
late when we get home he starts crying from his crate and is very anxious.
Sometimes it is because he needs to get outside, but not always. Yesterday
and Sunday he was alone for only a little over two and yesterday about three
but we got the same results. I am wondering what caused this, and I am
beginning to feel like staying home with him, though Bob isn't feeling well
and might. Then it wouldn't be a worry, but he seems very anxious lately.
As for Krokus, I probably would leave him that long and in a care, though if
he doesn't stay alone all that often, it might make him stress. I would
probably take the dog and tie him to a chair when I was going out on the
dance floor, but I've never done it, so I can't say for certain.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 12:09 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] Home alone

Tonight my husband and I are going to a dinner dance, and I decided Krokus
can stay home alone.  We'll only be gone about 4 hours, and I don't want to
be worrying about what he's up to when we're out on the dance floor.  

I know I'm a silly Midwesterner, but I worry that, if something happens,
like we get into an accident or something, no one will know the dog is here
and come rescue him.  So I've told my neighbor we'll be out, and she can
rescue Krokus in the unlikely event we don't get home.  I've probably
confused the heck out of her.

Does anyone else think about these things?  Do others have a better idea?

Tracy the worry-wart

 

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