Leia Skypes

"Just checking in on ya Ma!"

Well, I have figured out how to Skype "with" Leia while I am out to see if she is freaking out or not and I figured, hey, what Dog owner wouldn't like to check and see if their dog with separation anxiety is actually behaving or not.

To Skype your dog you'll need a few things:
____1. A laptop/computer at home with a webcam
____2. A smart phone with skype or a second laptop that can Skype and you can take with you.
____3. 2 Skype accounts (one for you and one your dog).

The laptop/computer that will remain at home will now be referred to as "Your dog's computer." This is the computer your dog's Skype account will be open on. Your computer (the one you are taking with you) will have your personal Skype account on it.


Add your Dog as your friend/contact on Skype, make your dog approve the friendship. Now you can call each other BUT you still have a few steps to go before you can have a good call with your dog.

The next step is to change some settings on your dog's account. Go to: Tools --> Options --> Calls --> Check/click "Answer calls automatically" --> Now a second option which says "Start my video automatically when I am in a call" should appear. Check/click it. Click Save.

Time to test it. Warning: You may want to get help with this, if you are sitting in front of your computer with the other computer/phone, you are going to get feedback. If possible, turn the volume down on your dog's computer to a lower level,  and take your computer/phone in another room. "Voice call" your dog.  What should happen is the video should begin automatically, showing your dog (or whatever your camera is pointed at) and you should be able to hear sound. If you don't have sound, check the mic settings on your dog's computer. If no video, go back through the steps above on your dog's computer and make sure you clicked save, not cancel. Still no video? Make sure you camera is hooked up right. Otherwise, no clue. Sorry.

So, now you should be able to call your dog and see and hear what is going on with him. Make sure the camera is fixed on your dog's crate (in other words, that you can see your dog, in the call), or the area your dog will be staying. (I strongly suggest crate). Another thing to consider. Will you mute your dog's computer or not. Unmuted, you can talk to your dog (be careful with this, it could simply make your dog more upset to hear and not see you. However, it also gives you the potential option to correct. You probably want to test this before you leave "for real") Muted you can't correct, but you also don't have to worry about the sound (of the skype call starting) upsetting your dog.

Before we begin a few suggestions (some of these will repeat information from other posts, sorry.).
____1. Wear you dog out. Give them a good long walk, a game of fetch, whatever your dog likes to do and wears him/her out.
____2. Put your dog in the crate a while before you leave.
____3. Let them settle down. Walk around the house, mess with stuff (your keys, the door lock, the knob, open and shut it a few times, anything that might "set off" your dog's anxiety.) then return to a place that makes the dog calm down. For Leia and I, it's me sitting on the couch or in the bedroom. Repeat a few times, waiting for your dog to calm down each time before starting again, and I mean really calm. For example, I know Leia is really calm when she lays on her side with her head on its side.

On a regular basis you should be messing with these things when you are not going to leave so it desensitizes the dog to it. everything from putting your shoes and coat on (then sitting down and having tea or something), moving your keys from one side of the room to another, opening the door for no reason, going outside and then right back in, opening the garage door for no good reason, anything that seems to make your dog question whether or not you are leaving. The idea here, no one thing means I am leaving 100% of the time. If the only time I ever pick up my keys is when I leave, Leia knows, "keys mean she's leaving me" and she may panic.

____4. When it is time to go, do not make a big deal about it.  Just quietly walk out. Don't look at them, don't say "bye puppy", Nothing. Just go.
____5. At this point you can check in on them with the phone, or whenever you want.  You can also mute your microphone (as a second precaution so your dog doesn't hear something). Up to you.
____6. When you return home two things could happen when you walk in the door.  Your dog could be calmly (or excitedly) waiting but not crying, or you dog could be freaking out. If your dog is freaking out, correct it and then walk away (whether out the door or into a different part of the house is up to you). If your dog is calm, just walk inside with no fuss. In BOTH instances, do not look at your dog. Walk in the door ignoring their existence. If they are fussing then you turn your attention and correct firmly. if they are behaving, great, leave them alone. Walk around the house, turn on the TV, do whatever that isn't acknowledging your dog. No touch, no talk, no eye contact.
____7. When your dog is calm and relaxed, and has been for a while, you can let them out. Don't make a big deal about this, just open the door and walk away. Remember, this is not mean, it is maintaining a calm dog. If they run up to you wiggling and crazy, ignore. If they persist, correct and claim your space.

And while all this may sound overwhelming, you'll find it's simple once you start.

Something to remember, if your dog's computer has a screen saver or a sleep mode which automatically comes on, you might want to disable this before you go out to ensure the computer doesn't go to sleep and prevent you from calling.

So now your dog Skypes. Congrats!