[sashax415]

We adopted a dog from a rescue group about a week and a half ago and he has been having some serious issues with separation anxiety. We keep him in our large bathroom with his crate and bed and tons of toys, snacks, etc, but the moment we leave, he howls and cries like the sky is falling. It goes on for about 30 minutes. He was also doing some scratching on the door, so we put up a baby gate in front of the closed door to prevent it.

We were going through all the desensivitation drills and trying to get him more used to it, but nothing seemed to work... but then again, thought it wasnt so serious because he wasn't showing any more serious signs of anxiety.

Then, yesterday, things took a turn. We came home to find that he had completely destroyed the baby gate, turning it into a mangled mess of wire and splintered wood, then he managed to get the door open and proceeds to ransack the house. Clearly he was looking for us, because all the miniblinds on every window were bent, chewed, and twisted. He also broke his water bowl, chewed up the moldings in the doorway and somehow got a big bloody scrape on his belly in the process.

Ever since we came home, he has been extra clingy and nervous. We thought crating him when we left might work better, because he enjoys sleeping in his crate at night, but when we tested it and put him in there while we took a quick 20 minute trip to the grocery store, he bent the bars of the crate with his mouth and was glassy eyed and panting heavily when we got home. He was in a craze.

And although the destruction is an issue, I'm more concerned with his emotional state. He clearly has fears of abandonment and I'm afraid he might end up seriously hurting himself trying to escape confinement.


I called a behaviorist, but it will cost a minimum of $350 for her to come in and work with us and I don't know if she will just reiterate everything I've read about. I'm just unsure if its the right way to go... or if it will even be worth it. A lot of co-workers who have rescued dogs are telling me just to give him tough love and crate him and he will eventually get over it.

I'd really appreciate any advice, thoughts, recommendations. Should I go with the behaviorist or give it more time on our own?

Thanks...

[cshellenberger]

This is a VERY severe case of Separation anxiety. I rarely advise meds, but it might be a good thing for this case.

Meds alone won't do it all though, you NEED to get this dog help. Please understand that it's really not all that unusual for rescues to have such issues. I'll post some links to Positive reenforcement trainers (behaviorists aren't always neccessary). I'll also post some reading material you can get to work on things at home.

http://www.iaabc.org/consultant_locator_dogs.htm
http://www.apdt.com/po/ts/us.asp

I reccomend the IAABC certs first and then the APDT certs, though both emphasize positive reenforcment.

Books

CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY WORKBOOK, 5TH EDITION
by James O'Heare

I'LL BE HOME SOON!
by Patricia McConnell

The biggest advice I can give you is NEVER make a big deal out of coming and going! Ignore your dog when you first come home (hard as it might be).

[ZensMom]

We have a german shepherd we adopted when he was four months old, which is a breed known for their clinginess. We actually work with a professional trainer/behaviorist, and though not as expensive as yours (ours is $225 for 8 to 10 sessions) I would spend that money over and over for her help.

[Anela]

Given the severity of the problem, I would also consider some sort of a mild sedative. You could also consider some sort of appeasement spray (DAP is an excellent choice) or calming collar. I don't think a behaviorist is going to do much good.

I think one of the biggest mistakes you are making is leaving the dog alone for to long. At this stage of the game, he is traumatized by your absence, which could (or could not, but who knows) be due to his background. When introducing a new dog to the house, and getting them used to your absence, you should leave the dog alone for only a few minutes, then gradually increase the time by only a few minutes you are away. 20 minutes or more in this case is way to long for the dog. He simply does not think you are coming back. When dog is quiet and behaved, be sure to reinforce good behavior with tons of praise and treats. Also, when dog is being good for any reason, drinking water, laying down, eating or anything else, make sure you praise him for this to reinforce positive behavior and let him know that he can please you. Be sure not to scold the dog for this negative behavior. You could make things worse and find yourself dealing with submissive peeing (done when dogs are trying to please their humans) or other negative issues.

I would try to dig into the dogs past. I rescued a 4 month old Shepard/Hound last year and discovered after having huge problems house training her that she was completely traumatized by her past. This caused all sorts of other issues. You must get this under control if you are going to proceed with further training. Consult with your vet, state that you need help and ask for advice. A mild sedative or anxiety medication may be the only way to go, ask if this is an option until dog get's used to his new surroundings.

Good luck!

Anela