[SunshineTaradise]

So Cuervo is 5 years old and he's always had a degree of seperation anxiety....mostly severe. He has his good times though where it seems like it's a lot better. He screams/barks when i leave and when i'm coming home and i'm sure while i'm gone. My boyfriend lives with me and says he barks/whines a lot some days (he goes into work later than i do so he sleeps later). Every morning i get up i take him oustside and then put him in his crate (which is by my front door) while i get ready for work. Some mornings he will whine/bark while i'm getting ready. I mostly ignore it but sometimes it gets excessive and loud and I don't want him to wake up my boyfriend so i sometimes go in and give him a firm no. I avoid doing that as much as possible because i don't want to give him any attention for his behavior. He has been through two levels of traning but seperation anxiety has always been a major issue with him. I've tried everything.....thundershirt, tv, music, blanket with my scent, a toy in his crate (anything left in his crate is in danger of being peed on because when his seperation anxiety is really bad he tends to pee in his crate). De-sensitizing me leaving by leaving for a few minutes at a time and working my way up.......nothing seems to make it better. Any suggestions??

 

[carrieandcricket]

Cricket is the same age, and does the same thing. I try to ease her by not putting her up until right before I walk out of the house. She does stop when she doesn't hear anyone in the house. Unfortunately now she realizes that even when I put my shoes on its time to go. I just ignore her though. Its hard I know, but for Cricket waiting until we walk out the door is the best. Also you might wanna move his crate away from the door. That might work too.

 

[susan davis]

Having a dog in a crate when he has severe separation anxiety, is usually a no no. Can you confine him in a bathroom or laundry room with his crate (open) and pee pads and his toys. I would freeze a kong (puppy size) with canned dog food, or peanut butter and leave that with him as you go out the door. Hang in there. Another suggestion is a professional trainer to work with both of you. Sue

 

[Finn]

I understand your concerns. I have an older Chi with severe separation anxiety at night. I tried various methods, but after years of being okay, she started waking up at 1 in the morning or so wailing like she was being beaten. I finally put her on herbal canine stress reduction pills. I know that may sound awful to people, but it has worked for her.

 

[carrieandcricket]

Having a dog in a crate when he has severe separation anxiety, is usually a no no. Can you confine him in a bathroom or laundry room with his crate (open) and pee pads and his toys. I would freeze a kong (puppy size) with canned dog food, or peanut butter and leave that with him as you go out the door. Hang in there. Another suggestion is a professional trainer to work with both of you. Sue

I put Cricket in the bathroom with her toys, water and pad. I feel like it gives her room to move.

 

[theshanman97]

tillie has anxiety from leaving me! its not as bad as it was but still quiet bad x

 

[SunshineTaradise]

i would put him in the bathroom or my bedroom but there's issues with that a. my boyfriend has to go in the bathroom after i leave to get ready and when cuervo was a puppy i tried that (before my boyfriend and i were together) and all he did was tear up the door by scratching at it.....i've still tried it now and that doen't work and he could care less about his toys or anything i leave with him when i leave....he's not interested in bones/chew things either. I've only seen him be interested in one chewy bone once and i went out and bought a package of them and he now won't touch them...i guess i can try again this weekend and get up at my normal time for work and see if i can do the method of gradually building up again...

 

[carrieandcricket]

i would put him in the bathroom or my bedroom but there's issues with that a. my boyfriend has to go in the bathroom after i leave to get ready and when cuervo was a puppy i tried that (before my boyfriend and i were together) and all he did was tear up the door by scratching at it.....i've still tried it now and that doen't work and he could care less about his toys or anything i leave with him when i leave....he's not interested in bones/chew things either. I've only seen him be interested in one chewy bone once and i went out and bought a package of them and he now won't touch them...i guess i can try again this weekend and get up at my normal time for work and see if i can do the method of gradually building up again...

Try and put the crate in front of the bathroom door so he can't get to it. Put anything he can chew on up. I put up the bathmat, in case Cricket gets mad and pees on it. Also if you have a trash in there pick it up too. I'm sorry. that's the best advice I can offer.

 

[rubia]

The dog here is absolutly heart-broken when I leave. I usually give him a big walk befeore I have to go--give him some attention and exercise so that when I leave he is ready for a rest. I do not crate. I also give him a treat or food in a ball when I go out the door so he has something to look forward to and not wallow in his misery . If he is just going out to piddle and then gets crated and you go off to work....maybe he needs more exercise and attention before you have to leave.

 

[okchic]

I used a baby gate. Then you can leave the door open. They won 't scratch the door and are happier because they can see out. My Carlos is free in the house now with a pee pad in a closet, but the gate and pad worked for me until I felt he was safe on his own. I do the Kong toy stuffed with treats when I leave in the morning too.

 

[Huly]

What about Basch Rescue Remedy?

Original Bach Rescue Remedy: Rescue Sleep, Rescue Cream, Rescue Pastilles

 

[SunshineTaradise]

i would put him in the bathroom with the crate in front of the door but that would create a lot of difficulty as I have Spina Bifida and I'm in a wheelchair and my boyfriend also has Spina Bifida and walks with crutches and trying to put the crate in front of the door (which wouldn't cover the whole doorway as my doorways are wider and his crate is small) would just create a big hassle getting in and out of the bathroom for my boyfriend. I've also tried a baby gate but he climbs up and over it and he can also jump over it.....