Separation Anxiety Strife, Part II
Linus and I are having separation anxiety issues. Again. A few weeks back, I bought a baby gate so I could keep him inside the kitchen when I left. It was working well for quite a while. I came home to a happy puppy and a clean home... ...until last weekend. I came home to find slices of wood all over my kitchen and powder room. My darling boy had eaten the door frame and baseboard. He's better than a Dremmel. He's done it the last three times I've left the house. Before I got the gate, I was crating him and he was freaking out and eating the crate. Now he's freaking out and eating my house. I let him roam free today when I left the house, and he pooped and peed. And emptied trash cans. And was even worse. Help! |
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| If you're having problems getting the anxiety under control by yourself, you might think about bringing in a behaviorist or trainer with experience with this problem. Meds like Clomicalm and Clomipramine helped Panda who arrived with severe separation anxiety but it took almost a year along with behavior modification.
Another option might be to have him stay with someone during the day... this may not be practical. Another pet is sometimes considered but this doesn't often fix the problem because they're missing their human (we had 5 other dogs and it did nothing for Panda). This weekend, I changed the top board on one of the half Dutch doors we use in place of baby gates. It was the one that Panda had chewed on during her SA back in 2006. They can be very destructive... to the point of being fatal if they get into something dangerous... but there is hope!! Below are a few articles that might help... http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1393 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1502 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... &C=0&A=895 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1696 |
| I had this problem with a Boxer that I owned previously.
Tried the drugs, tried containers (she would break out of all of them), when left in the garage, she tore up the door into the house. I would say to try -leaving something to occupy the time -make sure that its only the dog that is feeling the seperation anxiety, as dogs are quick to pick up on human emotions -leave the dog inside the house with a different command, such as 'wait' rather than stay -leave the dog inside the house for a very brief time and work up, each time returning as if you hadn't even been gone Best of luck!  |
| Things have gone from bad to worse. I think I need a trainer or a behaviorist to come to my house.
Linus chewed an impressively large hole in the drywall of the kitchen today in slightly more than an hour. I almost cried. I left him yesterday for about 3 hours, and he was perfect. Everything was as it should be when I came home. He's 9 months old and I've had him for just about 2 months. We went from perfection the first month I left him alone to all-out destruction over the last 10 days. I'm at a loss! And my house is falling apart! I can't figure out a pattern or a trigger. He gets toys and a treat-filled Kong when I leave. The TV's on when I'm gone. He has a baby gate to keep him in the kitchen, which was working quite well. I'm absolutely stumped. I think he's getting plenty of exercise. We have a long walk in the morning, we play outside after dinner, we play with toys inside the house. He's clingy, but not uber-clingy (he follows me around, but sleeps most the day away on the bathroom floor 15 feet away). He doesn't spaz out when I put up the baby gate and leave. He's excited, but not freaking out, when I return. I just don't know what to do. If anyone can recommend a Phoenix-based trainer, I'd appreciate it. Many, many thanks for the advice, everyone. I grew up with OESes and Linus is my family's 5th. (He's my first on my own.) We've never seen anything like this. Cara |
| I can't recommend a local trainer - but you can check out the IAABC and othe rcertification websites. Also - I always leave new dogs inthe Bathroom until I see how they take to being home alone - there is so much less than can chomp in the normal nbathroom. I also spray any wood witha deterrent. He could just be bored and doesn't know wood work from toys. |
| It's getting serious if he's chewing through drywall. A behaviorist or trainer can work with you one-on-one and I think this is a very good idea. I don't know if this was mentioned to you before on a previous thread but...
Quote: Before I got the gate, I was crating him and he was freaking out and eating the crate.
Were you using a plastic crate? We have heavy wire crates that we got about 4 1/2 years ago. We usually use a crate up to 6 months of age... I reinforce each hook point and the front of the tray (they're collapsible) with a heavy green wire so the dog can't work it's way out... though none of mine had tried. http://oesusa.com/DarbyAndEmma06012004.jpg I heard a horror story once of a dog that strangled trying to get out so I alway reinforce them. We don't use crates now but when we did, we started by putting a piece of cardboard on top and then threw a blanket over the top and on 3 sides so it was darker, more den like. All meals were fed inside the crate so it was viewed as a place where good things happen. All of mine at least tolerated their crates well... some loved it! Except for Panda... she arrived at about 10 months of age with this darn Separation Anxiety. We were told that she used to go to work with her groomer/owner and she stayed in a drying cage during the day because of her "issues"... she also spent about 3 weeks at a humane society. And I wouldn't contain him only when you are leaving. You might put him in a crate while you're at home too so you can monitor his behavior... maybe start with 2-3 minutes and gradually work up to longer. As you walk by, toss a treat in his crate. This reinforces that separation from you isn't a bad thing and that again good things happen when he's inside. Also, always remember to remove his collar before he kennels-up. You might also try bringing out special safe toys only when you leave... a stuffed kong, Nylabones, stuffed toys, etc. As soon as you come home, these toys are immediately picked up again so they stay special. If you use a kong, I'd recommend a big black one rather than red because of his impressive chewing abilities. One problem with stuffed kongs though... you're putting more food into the dog's system so he might have to potty before you get home. If you stuff it with wet food and freeze it, it takes more work on the dog's part to get the food out. Panda probably got so she looked forward to us leaving because she always gets a treat as we're going out the door. |
| Cara, check your Messages. Depending on where you are in the Phoenix area, I have a recommendation for you. |
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