Help! My dog has separation anxiety.?

Question

We have a vet appointment this Saturday, but I'd like some pointers from others who have been there.

He's a seventeen month old, purebred JRT, rescued when a puppy mill was shut down. He'd been bred several times, and is progressing remarkably well with other training.

We have obedience training slated for next month, and I definitely will be staying during the vet appointment. Actually, the vet appointment is to discuss his behaviors and what we can do about them.

He is crate-trained and the issue is not the crate. He likes the crate, any time we are not leaving the house. He gets upset if one of us (my husband or me) leaves and he is not crated because the other is home.

He has luckily not urinated or defecated in the crate, yet, but he has torn things apart. He has a "special" toy, (a peanut-butter kong) but that does nothing. We've tried the short period of time tactic. We've tried the altered routine. We've tried ignoring him before we leave...

Thank you for the book recommendation.

Answer 1

The best thing to do with a dog with separation anxiety is to crate train them. It's safer for the dog and cheaper for you because you won't have to repair and replace everything the dog tears apart when you leave it.

Answer 2

Get: "I'll be Home Soon" by Patricia B McConnell. If your dog has true full blown SA, it can be a nightmare. Every time we left my beagle alone, he would deficate, urinate, and shred any thing he could get his chomppers on. If we crated him, he'd mess all over himself and hurt himself trying to get out. We followed the plan in the booklet I mentioned above, and we can now leave him home alone without worry.. though only of a few hours at a time. Luckily we have some good friends where the lady is a stay at home mom, and my dog stays with her while I'm at work. Maybe you can find someone who can watch him during the day. There are also some medications that can help. Make sure if you go this route that the vet who is monitering the dog knows what they are doing. they should do blood tests regularly through out treatment to keep tabs on the liver. Other than that, all I can tell you is be patient. It will get better, but it takes a long time.

Answer 3

I was reading an article about this the other day because I think my puppy chi is the same way...One of the things I remember it said is to go through your "leaving" routine several times including getting on shoes, getting keys, etc, in order to confuse the dog so it won't know when you're actually leaving. Also you shouldn't make a big deal when you get home, you should in fact ignore the dog for a good time once you get home so they don't associate you being home as "all the love I can give you" as well as you not being home with neglect

Answer 4

When we first got our 6 year old maltese...we learned,after leaving him home alone on day, that he had some major separation issues.lol...we had under estimated the chewing power that was buddy.His 5 lb behind turned our house upside down.He chewed the window blinds, pulled down the curtains,tore up a sofa cushion..wasnt pretty.
There are tons of websites that can help you and give information.But what i did for buddy was just show him...i am coming back after i leave.I calmly tell him to stay,then i hand him a treat and and say..watch the house buddy,then i walk out like its nothing.
If your dog doesnt know what stay means, now is a good time to teach him/her.But, stay can sometimes be a tough one for dogs to grasp.There are also quite a few websites that explain how to teach your dog that.Buddy learned what stay ment at the same time he learned that he could be home alone and not die..lol.
But basically, pick something to say to him/her.Dont get all mushy and lovey when you are leaving, this will make your dog worry.When you are leaving just act normal and speak to him/her like its no big deal.My mother in law askes her dog to take messages from the phone when she leaves her house.lol It doesnt matter what you choose to tell them..it just needs to be the same thing everytime so that your dog knows you are leaving.try leaving your pet for short amounts of time then returning.When you return, dont greet them with all the hey babys and atta boys.Just say hey pup and walk by them.You want your attitude to be as though you leaving is a normal everyday,nothing crazy thing...which..it is. But your dog doesnt know that yet and that is what you are trying to teach him/her.Dont ever give your dog a treat when you return home,atleast not until he/she has gotten used to being alone.But, if you choose, you can give him/her one b4 you leave.I do this with buddy when i know i will be gone a long time.He is soo excited that he is getting a treat....he couldnt careless if i leave.lol
But again, no long darwn out goodbyes.Say something like....dont loose my remote,toss a treat,walk out the door.Start with short amounts of time,like maybe 10 15 minutes..then work your way up to longer.And when you come into the house,say something like....huney im home in a calm voice and then walk right by your pup,plop down on the sofa or whatever it is you normally do when get home.You may have to take a day or two and just pratctice those fifteen minutes excercises.Go outside for a few,come back in go outside for a few come back in... then lengthen the time each time you go outside.
I hope this helped and i hope that is what you ment b y separation anxiety.LOL..there are other types, we are still working on those with our dog he still follows me every step i take when i get home, but atleast we can leave the house w/o coming home to WWII.
I wish you luck and remember, take your time,be patient and most importantly...persistant.

Answer 5

I have been watching Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic cable channel that guy is amazing. He says keep your energy level low and calm and the dog will calm eventually. Its on tonight all week around 7pmET. Our maltese is always upset when we leave, when we get back &when he is in the car.. he is 10 years old and a rescue just has a ton of separation anxietys. I don't think there is any instant cure.

Answer 6

This issue was just on "Barking Mad".... What you need to do is buy him a kong toy and put ham or something in it that way he wil lbe mroe focuesed on that when your gone instead of panicking... he also needs to be confined to a crate.. and to be praised for being clam and quiet. Start out with praciting leaving him alone for about 15 minutes and slowly work from there.

Answer 7

I have a JRT that suffers from severe seperation anxiety. I have him on a medicine called clomipramine twice a day. Call your vet and ask if this would work for your JRT. I have also used the DAP chemical phermone plug in and I believe that works as well. Good luck!

Answer 8

Get the dog a toy ...take the dog to the store with you and let it pick its fav....that way when you have to leave the dog will have something to focus on besides you. Worked 4 me!!

Answer 9

is it possible to stay with the little guy while the vet examines him?..i always stay with my little fellow.