Separation Anxiety...Help!

[scrapple24]

Same Here ....

Halley, our 2 year old boxer has the same problems.
She has torn apart a bedroom door,
a 7' x 7' 20 gauge steel chain link fence kennel,
a screen door ( and windows. )
Tore up the couch on three different spots
and crashed thru a glass window.
The window caused a lot of cuts and bleeding. The Vet bill was $1400. Ouch !

We now keep our baby in the garage now.With lots of toys that get switched out each day. There was a cat door ... but she is slowly chewing her way out.
I don't want to do the "doggie drug" thing but with a baby on the way i need to do something. I was thinking of another dog... but will this just add to the problem ?
With all that being said.... Halley is the greatest dog I have ever had the pleasure of owning.
If anyone has a cure or idea, please let us know.
thanks,
Halley's Dad and Mom
Michael & Nicole

 

[Krikkit]

Like Chirs, I've also heard great things about the DAP pheramone plug-in. Something like Clomicalm may also be of benefit along with behavioural training. Seperation Anxiety is such a complex issue. Bella has SA but these days it is very managable. When she first came to live with us I simply could not leave her home at all even with our other Boxers around. She also could not be crated and left alone as she had confinement issues with the SA. We also had one rescue (foster) who would literally scream if left out of our sight - eventually her issues became manageable too.

The booklet Dan mentioned is excellent.

Here are some other resources:

Separation Anxiety
http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm

Another look at a common problem
http://www.greytdogs.com/problem.html

Canine Separation Anxiety
http://www.cpvh.com/Articles/47.html

Separation Anxiety
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/separationanxiety/index.shtml

Drugs, Aggression and Anxiety
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00027.htm

Severe SA - A Personal Experience
http://www.greytdogs.com/midnite3.html

 

[Emma'sMamma]

Seperation Anxiety...

I'm so glad to hear that I am not the only one out there with this problem. We are going to try medicating Emma along with working with a behaviorist. I'm praying this works. She destroyed her crate. Surprisingly she has no problems going into the crate and she never eats her blanket or bedding while she is in there. She has escaped several time though. I've come home and found her sleeping in a chair like nothing was wrong, but when I tried to leave her out while I was gone she gets destructive. Strange!! Anyway, so glad there are others out there to get ideas from.

 

[BoxerLuv82]

OMG! Guys I've been having the same problem with my pup. He's 6 months old and have huge issues with being left alone. I'm currently trying the crate.. but he is not taking to it.. at all! I can't leave him outside because Miami's weather is HORRIBLE, I can't even stay out too long. Unfortunately when left inside he destroys everything.. even moves the sofa to the middle of the living room.. ??? I've tried babygates.. he climbs them as if it wasn't even there. Tried leaving him in my room.. came home to a urinated bed :(

Since he is so young I'm hoping maybe he will "grow" out of it before trying to medicate him. Amazing thing is that when I'm here with him he is great, quiet calm, and snuggly.

I wish you all the best of luck with this issue, God knows we need it!

 

[Tango's Mama]

We must all go thru that! My baby destroyed my laundry room, we tried a crate and he was so upset..shook..foamed at the mouth, when i would come home he would have standing foamy slobber in there. I decided to leave him in the spare bedroom one day. It had a window facing the road and not much furniture in it. I gave him treat filled balls, all that stuff. Much to my suprise it was the window that did it! My neighbors said he never leaves the window from when I leave till i come back. He has torn up nothing since. I dont know if a window would work for anyone, but that was my solution. After Tango was about 3 years old. I was able to let him have the run of the house while we are out. He turned out to be a really good boy..:p