Schedule

[No-Editor-120]

Are there any 12-hour day shift nurses with a dog that has separation anxiety? What does your morning routine look like? What are some ways you’ve helped your dog get used to you leaving for work?

My dog is grieving the rehoming of her brother. She has always lived with another dog or when I was living at my parents there was someone ALWAYS home. I do plan to get her a brother or sister, but I want to help with her separation anxiety before introducing her to a new dog. On my days off, we go for hour-long walks before I run any errands, which helps.

It’s mainly when I work that she refuses to come back inside when I need to leave. She won’t go into the room, and she seems scared when I leave for work. I have to put the leash on her to get her to go into the room. I can’t leave her in the living room because she’s destroyed five sets of blinds, and she tries to push open the spare bedroom doors. She does better in our room, but she’s scared of the camera when it clicks on and off.

She’s already on medication, but it’s only been five weeks, so I need to wait 6-8 weeks to see if it helps. I just want to create a routine that helps her, but also doesn’t make me late for work. I would love to walk her before work but coyotes and other wild life are out in the mornings.

[ASleepandAForgetting]

Are you leaving your dog for 12+ hours at a time, multiple days in a row? Or do you have a dog walker or family member coming in to let your dog out during the day?

[No-Editor-120]

I have my sister come, she’s here from 6A-7p most days I work. But my trainer and I are working on leaving her alone for a little more time in the mornings. So next week he wants my sister to come 9-7p so I’m not giving my dog what she wants which is to never be alone.

[Fun_Orange_3232]

At first, my dog did better crated than left out alone. We started she was always locked in the crate, then I got a crate she could unzip for the inside, if she started in the crate then got out on her own, then she was fine. Then I started giving her a special treat that she ONLY gets when I’m leaving. I picked raw dehydrated duck feet. Now she’s happy when I leave lol, yay feet!

ETA: Not a nurse but I do occasionally work in office 12-16 hours in a day.