Separation Anxiety Advice

[dsnation]

My wife and I just took in a 1 year old rescue who seems to have a significant amount of anxiety.  Part of this is obviously from making a change from being neglected to going to a foster facility at a doggie day care to now being in our home.  We're crating her over night and when my wife is at work (2x/week) on the advice of the rescue group, but she's very destructive in the crate (ripping the blankets to shreds) and pees in the crate.  Does anyone have any advice as to how to ease this transition for her?  She gets along fine with our son and other dog and is a real sweetheart, but she can't stand not to be in the same room as one of us and we'd like to get to a place where we don't use a crate at all.

[littlelizard]

There is a lot you can try. Park Pet carries calming treats and the pheromone plug-ins which work (sometimes). Don't put any bedding at all in her crate. Make sure you feed her in her crate - she will be less likely to soil the area she eats in. Use Kongs filled with peanut butter and/or some of the treat containers that make dogs work for the treat to keep her occupied.

At night you can give her a Benedryl.

It will take some time but don't let her feel your stress. There's all kinds of great advice on the web about this particular issue - just google "help with dog separation anxiety".

[dsnation]

There is a lot you can try. Park Pet carries calming treats and the pheromone plug-ins which work (sometimes). Don't put any bedding at all in her crate. Make sure you feed her in her crate - she will be less likely to soil the area she eats in. Use Kongs filled with peanut butter and/or some of the treat containers that make dogs work for the treat to keep her occupied.

At night you can give her a Benedryl.

It will take some time but don't let her feel your stress. There's all kinds of great advice on the web about this particular issue - just google "help with dog separation anxiety".

Thanks.  I've been googling, but it's hard to separate the signal from the noise, so I'm hoping to find out what has worked for others.

[rewinderase]

There is a lot you can try. Park Pet carries calming treats and the pheromone plug-ins which work (sometimes). Don't put any bedding at all in her crate. Make sure you feed her in her crate - she will be less likely to soil the area she eats in. Use Kongs filled with peanut butter and/or some of the treat containers that make dogs work for the treat to keep her occupied.

At night you can give her a Benedryl.

It will take some time but don't let her feel your stress. There's all kinds of great advice on the web about this particular issue - just google "help with dog separation anxiety".

Thanks.  I've been googling, but it's hard to separate the signal from the noise, so I'm hoping to find out what has worked for others.

When we took in our stray, she had some serious separation anxiety and managed to destroy a metal crate to pieces. We were really afraid that she was going to hurt herself if we put her in another metal crate so we got a mesh muzzle that is open at the end so she can still pant and even lap a bit of water up but can't bite or destroy anything and let her roam around the house while we were gone. It seems to have helped alot.

[Brandy]

I'm no expert.

Having said that, I think it's also about positive associations with the crate, and that it doesn't only happen when you are away from home.  I would try a super special treat (bacon, peanut butter, duck, etc.) with the door to the crate open to get her in there.  EVERY TIME. and then not latch it.  just so that she knows she gets good things for going in there. And then maybe crate her, latch it and then sit in there with her.  until she calms down.  then move to the other side of the door, and only go back into the room when she's calmed down for a few seconds.  not for a long time, but for a few seconds.  So that she knows good things come when she's calmed down. 

Right now it sounds like she sees the crate as a place where she's abandoned, rather than a safe place that's her "den."  Maybe if you can help her understand that good things happen there rather than punishment, it would help her? 

Disclaimer: I used to be addicted to Victoria Stilwell's "It's Me or the Dog." 

[triumph]

Google these words:   exercise discipline affection

[Lynn]

My dog was never unhappy about being in the crate (I would always feed him in there) but his separation anxiety manifested by destroying anything that smelled like me (ie clothes, shoes, etc.) and peeing/pooping everywhere if he was left out to roam.  I took him to the dog park EVERY day after work and would also usually run/walk him too-still had to be crated.  I also got him all kinds of chew bones, toys, and the work-for-food-puzzle toy things-still had to be crated.  Even doggie daycare would not tire him out enough to end the destruction.  What finally worked for us was moving in with my boyfriend (now husband) and his dog.  It was like magic, now the only time he needs to go in his crate is when we have visitor dogs (he's become pretty territory aggressive). 

The other dog had some separation anxiety barking issues-coupled with being an untrained puppy.  We crate trained (and he HATED it) for approximately two weeks and then all of the issues disappeared.  No idea what worked with that one.  They both love the crate now and use it as their little cave/den with the door open.

I think every dog is different, you may need to/have to try various things to see what works best for her.  Also, depending on how severe the issue is for your lives/her life, you may want to consider consulting a veterinarian as well since they can often evaluate the need for various medicine coupled with some behavioral stuff.  Dr. Annie Price and her staff at Ormewood Animal Hospital have been awesome recommending this with my behaviorally challenged cat.  In fact, she gave me a behaviorist's information at my last visit, I haven't been able to make an appointment because it's a bit pricey but I'll see if I can find the information for you if you're interested?

[hotlegshooligan]

[spiderpoison]

One thing you can try immediately that worked with our newer dog is to put something of yours--a tshirt you've worn or a blanket, something that smells like you--into the crate when it's time. Your smell in the crate is supposed to help ease the anxiety. Every dog is different, I know, and it worked with ours, so hopefully it'll help your girl out a little.
We had some of the same issues with the destroying beds and peeing when we first started crating new dog. I can't say what exact thing turned him around, but I do agree with making it her "house" and not just where she goes when you leave. Give her treats and encourage her to take them to her house, put her non-crate bed in for a bit, leave the door open all the time when you are home so she can go in and out if she chooses to. 

[dsnation]

Thanks everyone.  We're trying a lot of these and hopefully something will work.

She's getting plenty of exercise, discipline & affection. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, this will pass as she becomes accustomed to our house and routine.

[Mr.Man]

Definitely feed the dog in there.  it helped with miyagi. 

[FutureRelicsGallery]

Besides exercise you should be training her, obedience training is good and so is trick training (teaching her to do things like shake and roll over).  When dogs think they actually use more energy then they do running around the yard, they get tired and they sleep better, they also have more confidence and the anxiety is less.  Plus it's cute.

[rewinderase]

Besides exercise you should be training her, obedience training is good and so is trick training (teaching her to do things like shake and roll over).  When dogs think they actually use more energy then they do running around the yard, they get tired and they sleep better, they also have more confidence and the anxiety is less.  Plus it's cute.

Agreed! I highly recommend Frogs To Dogs in Kirkwood. They are super nice and for one price, you get unlimited classes.

[dsnation]

Besides exercise you should be training her, obedience training is good and so is trick training (teaching her to do things like shake and roll over).  When dogs think they actually use more energy then they do running around the yard, they get tired and they sleep better, they also have more confidence and the anxiety is less.  Plus it's cute.

Agreed! I highly recommend Frogs To Dogs in Kirkwood. They are super nice and for one price, you get unlimited classes.

Thanks, never heard of them before.