Chewing/Separation Anxiety?

[alisonb]

Hey all- My name is Alison and I am mom to two year old Maggie. I adopted Maggie a little over a year ago from a family who kept her tied to a lead most of the time. She had never been crate trained, and my house didn't have room for a crate, so when I first got her I left her in the backyard while I was at work, came home for lunch to walk her and walked her several times at night along with socializing her with other dogs. She did well, would come in every night and sleep on her bed in my room. Eventually, I started leaving her in the house for short periods of time, when it would rain or was really hot. She did well, never had accidents in the house or chewed up anything. After a few months I started leaving her in the house all day while I was at work, coming home at lunch most days to walk her. She did fine for awhile. I also had a roommate who was there part time and off and on during the day so she wasn't inside alone for more than a few hours. Then I went on a trip for a week and my roommate stayed with her. She chewed up her bed while I was gone. I bought her another one when I got back and she had chewed it up within a couple of days. Over the next few months she started chewing up things that she had never touched before; pulling books, photo albums, dvds off shelves and chewing them up, newspapers, magazines, books off tables. Then she started a habit of pulling the placemats off the table nearly every day while I was at work. (as a side note she NEVER chews up anything in the morning if I leave, only in the afternoon or evening). Then she chewed up several baskets, one that held her toys, while I went down the street for dinner one night after work. I recently moved into a new house and it's gotten worse. We've only been here a few weeks, but she has already chewed up dvds, a library book, a coaster holder, and a pretty expensive new bed that I bought her, only a few days after I bought it. I pretty much can't leave anything within her reach, the only thing she's never messed with is shoes, but I'm just waiting on her to start in on those. I know it's partially boredom, but I also feel like a lot of it is separation anxiety for me leaving. For example, she didn't chew anything while I was at work today, I came home, walked her, played with her for awhile, fed her, then I left again to go have dinner. I was gone for an hour and a half and she had chewed up some more dvds (they're on shelves, not laying around). I don't think that was boredom bc she was playing with a toy when I left. It's getting really bad. I definitely do not want to give her away but I do not want my entire house chewed up. She has some other issues too, but this is the thing that really bothers me the most. I know that I could always exercise her more, but there's only so much I can do when I live alone and work a full time job. Is there anything short of crating her that I can do to curb this? I really don't think she would do well with a crate. She is definitely very attached to me, she follows me around the house, she whines if I am in the shower and leave the door open, if I'm on the couch or at my desk she is right next to me. She's a pretty high strung dog in a lot of ways, she gets "worked up" and will start panting very easily. Sometimes we'll be just laying there and I'll be petting her and she'll just start panting and whining. Any advice will be very appreciated. Sorry this is so long!

 

[jbbtlr]

Do you have anything other than toys down for her to chew on? Try putting some flavored femur bones done, cow hooves, and stuff kong (frozen) they last longer. Just some suggestions. Unfortuantely boxers can be very destructive when they are bored that is why several people recommend crate training, and that is what I would suggest. It is something you will have to introduce gradually it can't be over night so she doesn't learn to hate it right off the bat. Until then, maybe try confining her to a specific room.

The answer isn't to give her away, it is just to find a solution that will work. And it is going to take some work to find what will solve the problems.

 

[Althea]

I second jbbtlr. A thought: find a local behaviorist who could help you with crate training her. It can be done, and it is honestly very humane. My girls love their crates, and my boxer will go in there to chew her toys or just to lay down. Beyond that, it is helpful with travel and for leaving her at the vet for overnight stays.

Another possibility is doggie daycare. If you don't have a local one, check into local pet sitters who may be willing to keep her during the day (some of them only do it part-time, or as hobbyists, which is convenient for YOU!). Make sure to get references. Do you have any neighbors who are at home during the day, perhaps a retired person who lives alone, that really likes your dog? There are all kinds of ideas -- try to think outside the box on this (or inside, depending on the crate idea! ) and you'll find a solution.

 

[TwoDogs]

There's lots of things you can do to help with separation anxiety but they all take some time committment or financial committment.

Start Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol. It will help teach your dog to relax and the exercise builds to include you leaving the room, exiting the door, etc. You can build on the protocol and customize it to include any stressors/triggers your dog has such as being away from you.

Contact a behaviorist and learn how to introduce the crate gradually and in a positive manner. Once you have had success introducing a crate, redo the entire Relaxation Protocol exercises having your dog in the crate with the door open. Then do the entire Relaxation Protocol a third time having your dog in the crate with the door closed.

Look into purchasing a Thundershirt or Anxiety Wrap. Many people have gotten great results by using them to reduce anxiety in dogs. Additionally, consider using a DAP diffuser as a calming aid. You could also try Bach Flower Essences or Melatonin.

Doggy Daycare might give your dog the companionship as well as exercise she needs during the day while you are at work. She may do best in a "home daycare" environment where there is one regular person she can connect with and generally fewer dogs. Alternatively, the bustle of a larger facility might offer her just what she needs to occupy her mind while she gets used to not relying on human companionship for comfort.

Lastly, discuss with your vet whether your dog is a candidate for one of the many pharmaceutical options available to treat anxiety in dogs.