1) Just to clarify, it's the Australian shepherd mix that is exhibiting signs of separation anxiety?
It is the Australian Shepard Mix that does the barking. We tried leaving the terrier alone while he barked it wasn't very often.
2) How long have you had him and has he always behaved this way? Is this a new behavior?
We have had him for 3 years. It is unclear how new this behavior is. A neighbor pointed out he was barking a lot when we went on vacation and he was left here with a house sitter, which is why we got the pet cam. The house sitter stayed overnight and was gone a few hours a day. We did leave him at a day care for a day to see how he would react in case we needed to leave him there when we went on vacation. He barked the entire time he was there we were told (6 hours). He was kept in an open area with a number of other dogs. He wasn't barking at the dogs, just barking.
3) If this is a new behavior, have there been any recent changes in his life? (recent moves, new baby, loss of pets, medical issues)
No recent changes, I suppose it it possible that leaving him at the day care triggered something, but there is no way to know.
4) Does he tend to act clingy around the home, following you around or following other family members around?
He is not clingy around the house.
5) Does he show signs of getting nervous as you get ready to head outside? Like when you put on a jacket, tie shoes, grab the car keys?
No, he can tell when we are getting ready to take him some where or leave him at home. He gets excited when he knows he coming with us, runs to the door, gets animated etc. When he know he's staying he's calm, lays on the couch or the bed.
6) Does he engage in overly enthusiastic greetings upon coming back home?
Glad to see us but not overly enthusiastic.
7) Based on your recordings, would you say that the barking is continuous without any breaks? Or does he bark, then naps and then maybe barks 2-3 times and goes back to napping, repeating over and over several times? I know you said that, based on the recordings, he's only quiet for 5 minutes, but you also said he lies down between barking sessions, so if you are out for say an hour and he's only quiet 5 minutes, does that mean he's barking for a whole 55 minutes?
Barks then naps then barks. Repeating several times. The longest quiet period has been about 5 minutes, then barking 2 or 3 times. Then repeats.
8) Any drooling, pacing, panting? Does he have any accidents in the home when alone?
No drooling, pacing, panting, has never had an accident in the home.
9) Does your recording pick up any noises that he may be reacting to?
The recording has picked up any noises. When he had the run of the house, he would lie on the bed looking out the front window and fall asleep. He would then bark at something he either heard or saw outside. We then closed him in a room that has windows he can't see out of, with the windows closed and a baby gate across the doorway. From the recordings he I believe he is reacting to something he hears. We've tried leaving the radio, doesn't seem to help.
10) When he lies down does he ever get to really nap? or shows signs of trying to nap? Does he try to nap and then his ears orient towards something and he quickly gets up and barks?
He does seem to nap then reacts to something gets up and barks, sometimes he doesn't get up and just barks.
11) Does he take any food while he's alone? Like if you leave him with something durable to chew, is he able to enjoy that?
We have not left him with food, other than giving him a few treats when we leave, which he willing takes. We have left him with water, which he doesn't drink. He's thirsty when we get home and usually drinks water as soon as we get home. When we left him at the day care I mentioned above, he did not drink all day and was absolutely parched. Drank a lot as soon as he got home.
12) Is he reactive towards noises/any noise phobias?
No, he'll bark at sudden noises, but no noises phobias.
13) Do you live in a tight-knit neighborhood? Has anybody ever complained about the barking?
No one has complained. Neighbor across the street mentioned it in passing when we got home from vacation.
I believe he is reacting to the normal noises he hears when we are with him. If we are here, he doesn't react to them. He only reacts to them when we're gone. He's not destructive or exhibiting any other forms of anxiety that I can see when we are not here.
Thanks for your help!
