Comments on: Dog Separation Anxiety Conquered!

By: DogAnxiety

DogAnxiety — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:49:01 +0000

As well as all the useful behaviour training techniques mentioned here,we’ve found that leadership can be a big issue for dogs with separation anxiety. For a dog it can only be one of two ways – either you’re pack leader, or they are. Trouble is they live with us in a world they don’t understand, so being leader causes them a lot of stress. It also makes them responsible for you, so when you go out and they don’t know where you are they get desperate and do things like try and scratch their way out of a door – they want to come and find you and make sure you’re alright! If you become leader of the pack they will stop worrying about you and their separation anxiety – with some of the behaviour training mentioned here, should disappear.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:03:46 +0000

Mandi – there is definitely hope for this sweet girl you have. You should start crating her for sure though. You should speak to the people doing the adoption trial if they have any words of wisdom for you as well, and perhaps a “Loaner” crate while you work out this situation. Poor thing has just found herself in a loving, happy home (finally) and is worried you’re going to leave and not come back. Try some of the techniques in here, and keep us posted! If you can, visit a vet and see if they can help with some behavior modification medications for a short time, as I described. – Melissa

By: mandi

mandi — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:32:26 +0000

hey, i’m in an adoption trial 2wks. with a dog who was found on side of the highway eating garbage. She then was evaluated and was diagnosed with pyometra (a fatal serious uterus infection) she had EVERYTHING female removed from her in a surgery (big scar). was also in early stages of a pregnancy at the time. it has only been 4wks now since her rescue. she spent 1 wk with the rescue place, then got surgery, then 2wks later she came to me, and i’ve had her 1wk. she’s been through alot, and hard telling what happened before that time, because she’s between 1 to 2 yrs. old, and has a bad old leg injury where her elbow is a big knot, and is ceased, and her leg is smaller than the other one due to her favoring it for a while apparently. all that being said she’s is super sweet, and learns pretty fast, i actually kind of love her already, and esp. my son loves her (she sleeps with him he is seven). anyway, i’ve left one day for three short times to test her (she is house broke) she freaked barking, whining, clawed up my door probably would destroy it completley if she has enough time alone! she peed on the bed (a river). i was unaware of the leg issue going into this, and was told she was laid back and almost a perfect dog. seperation anxiety was never mentioned, i was told she does fine in a house left out to rome. i’m extremely stressed out right now. i feel hopeless like i could never rectify this issue, you have given me some hope. i can get my money back in the trial period, but it would not be enough time to know if she can get over this. i’m so upset that i wasn’t warned about this, now my son loves her and he would be highly upset if we give her back. i don’t have money since my husband works at a factory and i stay home with kids right now (i wouldn’t have it any other way). the adoption fee plus a door and whatever else really makes me nervous here. i will get started right away with this technique it sounds the absolute most promising thank you so much for sharing your story.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:41:07 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story. I recently adopted a 5 year old Lab who was used for excessive breeding and later abandoned and found in a barn. The first few months were pretty smooth sailing until the past few weeks when her SA increased dramatically. She howls/barks from the minute I leave the house until I return. I’ve used kongs, a crate, canine pheramones, clothing with my scent on it, you name it. My neighbors are NOT happy. I’ve implemented many of these techniques but need to consult my vet in addition to intensive Behavior Training. It is very comforting to know (during such a stressful time) that others have succeeded in easing SA.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:42:52 +0000

Wow Jamie, I’ve never heard of that happening. I sure am happy to hear he was fine. Guess we all better check to make sure our Kongs are “extra large” and nobody can get stuck. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:21:56 +0000

I used to leave my dog with a Kong filled with treats until I came home one afternoon and found he had wedged the whole top part of his snout into the toy. It was a medium Kong recommended for a dog of his size. I had to take him to the vet where they had to sedate him to cut the toy off of his face. I’ll never own another Kong after that experience. I don’t know how long he was trapped with that on his face. His face was swollen and red when they took it off but he was fine once the swelling went down. I am just thankful my vet was open or it would have been a much worse experience.

By: Ellen B.

Ellen B. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:56:32 +0000

Thanks to this blog post and the comments added, I left my dog this morning with (#3) a kong toy filled with treats & seal with peanut butter, he has (#4) a blanket over the top part of his crate, and (comment) he is listening to the radio. He doesn’t have anxiety issues, but these all sounded like great ideas, and I want him to be as content as possible when home alone.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:09:40 +0000

Oh that is something I forgot! I did purchase some “Soothing Pet Music” CD’s which I would play for Molly when I left. I dont know if they helped or not, but they made me feel better anyway.

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:51:42 +0000

I always left the TV on when I left to help my lab mix who definitely as anxiety about being left alone. Cartoon Network seems to be her favorite.

By: Bonnie Ramba

Bonnie Ramba — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:18:40 +0000

These are excellent ideas! May I also add that for my greyhound, “Clarence”, I loaded my CD changer with uplifiting music. I could tell that Clarence enjoyed that. I had previously used music when I had a critically ill sheltie named Jasper. To everyone’s surprise, Jasper survived and would lie near the CD player whenever I played the soothing music in the future.