[brwneyegrl46]

Hello. I have an 8 month old beagle pup that we're having some trouble with. She presents with what I think is separation anxiety. We work during the day. She's housebroken but still a bit too energetic to be out about by herself while we're gone, so we have a 4x4 pen that we put her in with her bed, some toys, and water. She has a pretty good understanding that M-F from 8-4 she'll be alone and she's fine, but if that gets thrown off at all she flips out. My husband came home early yesterday only to run out the door again and she howled from 12:30 until I got home at 5, non-stop. She has also started to tear up the old linoleum floor in our kitchen (where we keep her during the day) because she is digging trying to get out. I'm going to start taking her for walks in the morning before work (possibly with a dog pack on-she's got a lot of energy) and I'm told that will help. I'm curious about her crate. I bought a couple books on dogs and they said their crate they sleep in at night should be in our room, but I've now read other things saying that she shouldn't because of the whole dominance/Alpha dog thing. We've kept her crate in our room since we brought her home at 7 weeks. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA!

 

[Lonewolfblue]

One suggestion that I would make is to maybe have a kong in the freezer with something good in it, like peanut butter and cream cheese. If you do this, and the dog is good with the 8-4 pattern, then if you or your husband breaks up this pattern, before you leave, get the kong and give it to the pup and then go. Make sure it's something really good and that the dog won't be able to just eat it all in a few seconds. It has to be good, and it has to last to give some time after you leave.