Hi Paws, thanks so much for stopping by and helping out. Yes I realize it's been overwhelming for Sam. We've been here 3 months now. At the moment he's lying on the kitchen floor while I am in the loungeroom down the hall, but other times he does follow me from room to room. He's fine with being outside in the back yard with me out of sight inside the house, so that's good. I've tried leaving him for 5 minutes, then 15 minutes, by taking the car out and around the block and then listening before I drive back in, and he's been barking non-stop, very anxious when I come back inside.
He doesn't destroy anything or lose bowel control or anything, just has his nose by the front door waiting and extremely anxious, frantically jumping at me when I come back in the door. He's on a herbal tranquilliser already.
He likes the park. When I realised he was scared walking along the street, I managed to get him across the road from the park to the take away coffee place, and the girls there loved him and gave him pats and treats and after that he associated it with positive things (pats and treats) and is happy to go there now. Then I tried another outdoor café further down the same street - no good. I got him there by offering bits of Schmako as he walked down, then giving him a liver treat when we got to the café and sat down, so he's OK there now because again, it has positive associations (treats).
Walking around the streets for an outing/exercise just isn't working. I'm going to try tonight a street that is flat and I think will be shady, and has a path that shouldn't be too hot. I'm thinking to take some treats in my pocket and give them little bits to entice him along?
What do you think about taking treats with me for a walk? I guess I can see how it goes tonight. We're heading into another severe heatwave so walks will probably not be easy for the next few days.
He was fine when we stayed at my friend's house and was happy in her garden while I was inside her house.
Thanks so much for the help! I really appreciate it.
I'm careful not to force him once he won't go. I'm also aware of the ground being hot so am careful to feel it myself first and I don't walk him on roads etc if it's been a really hot day, just the park in that case so he's on grass.
I guess he's really confused at the different surroundings, smells, climate, it's all changed for him.