Separation Anxiety - Need help/advice

[Dwele]

I have a 2 year old male boxer (not fixed) named Hutch who needs help with his separation anxiety. My girlfriend and I recently moved out to our apartment last week on Friday, things were fine over the weekend but Monday was a whole different story.

Let me start from the beginning since I've had him when he was 8 weeks old. I moved home with my sister and mother to help out for awhile and got Hutch. Ever since he was a puppy he's always had someone around him (mother) so leaving him alone with her was never a problem. Even now when we used to leave the house he was fine being home alone since he's used to our house but now it's back to step 1 all over again, he cries, barks and even scratched the drywall by the door up on my new apartment! Now I do understand it's a brand new environment to him and that he's NOT used to the people and dogs here at our apartment complex. Since day 1 of living here I've been taking him out as much as possible to meet the other dogs, people and get used to the environment. I know it'll take some time for him to get used to our new place but is there anything else that I can do to ease him into this?

Hutch is very needy, he's soooooo attached to me it's crazy. How crazy? Well if I go into the bathroom, lock & shut the door he's constantly crying as if I left him. This is WITH my GF in the living room! It's like he doesn't care about anyone else but me, I love him and I know he loves me and I'm his world but there's got to be something that I can do to fix this.

Every morning before I leave to work I take Hutch to the dog park that's built into our apartment's property, we usually go for about 20-30 minutes and he runs around and takes care of business. I then bring him inside and when it's time to leave a switch turns on for him and he's at it again - whining, crying, barking here and there and scratching the door....... I don't want to be charged for damages to the apartment and I do NOT want to get rid of him. I love him to death and I'd never ever leave him so I'll do whatever I can to help him with his separation anxiety.

Can you guys give me some pointers on what I can do to relieve him of his separation anxiety? I need major help here, thanks y'all.

 

[joannaryan]

It's hard seeing your furkid stress that way and boxers are very people oriented. Is there a doggy daycare around or a dog sitter that you could hire until he can get used to his new home? Is he kennel trained? to where he can be kept in kennel until you return home? Maybe keep the tv on while you are gone or a radio to where he feels that he is not alone? I know these are probably not the right answers and I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for, good luck

 

[Poetic_thing]

My male didn't have seperation anxiety but did have huge!! anxiety. So I put him on L-Theanine (125mg) twice a day, he is also on Empower+ which is a vitamin/mineral mix designed especially for mental health issues. Huge, huge, huge difference in my man. I would strongly suggest the L-Theanine if nothing else, my female is on that as well and I have noticed her to be more calmer, walks are a breeze witht he both of them - they can actually enjoy it instead of being on constant alert!! Good luck.

 

[Dwele]

My male didn't have seperation anxiety but did have huge!! anxiety. So I put him on L-Theanine (125mg) twice a day, he is also on Empower+ which is a vitamin/mineral mix designed especially for mental health issues. Huge, huge, huge difference in my man. I would strongly suggest the L-Theanine if nothing else, my female is on that as well and I have noticed her to be more calmer, walks are a breeze witht he both of them - they can actually enjoy it instead of being on constant alert!! Good luck.

Is that something that I need to see my vet about or can i get that stuff from the local pet store? This separation anxiety is killing me, I don't this to impact my work and personal life just because he can't be home alone for a few hours a day =\

 

[Poetic_thing]

The L-Theanine you get from the Health Food Store and the Empower can only be ordered on line through truehope.com. These are both human supplements but together have worked wonders for my boy.