Separation Anxiety

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

A month ago we moved into a new place and Whopper took it all in stride.  In fact, she seems to really like our new place as she has made many new friends and there is a dog run as part of our complex that she goes to daily.  Two weeks after moving in, my husband returned to working full time after having been home with her for 11 months.   For the first week, she was great.  We thought that she was getting plenty of exercise, was adjusting well, and that all would be okay. 

 

Unfortunately, she has been suffering what appears to be major anxiety.  Anxiety to the extent that we cannot leave her without coming home to a mess.  She has stolen things from high countertops, the center of our quite large dining room table, opened pantry drawers, etc.  We have two eaten remote controls, a shredded text book, several shredded magazines, we've had oatmeal and a whole package of flour dumped and spread across our living room, and just about anything else that can be shredded.  Fortunately she doesn't eat anything but the shredding is out of control.  We leave daily thinking there is nothing she could possibly get to and she is finding ways to reach things that shouldn't be possible.

 

What we have been doing:  She is getting morning time playing at the dog run.  She is left with a peanutbutter filled kong, bully stick, or something along those lines as well as several toys and the tv on.  My husband comes home and lets her out and plays with her outside at lunch time except for on Tuesdays when a dog walker comes and takes her out to play and for a walk totaling 45 minutes.  When I get home we take a 30 minute walk and then she plays with other dogs in the dog run for around an hour.  Last night she played for 2 hours straight. 

 

We don't really know what else to try at this point.  She never took to a crate and has not been in one since 3 months old.  It really stressed her out and we tried everything from feedings in there, special treats only in crate, covered/uncovered, bed/no bed...We still have it but really don't want to force it but also don't want her to turn to furniture, walls, or most significantly hurt herself.

 

We have a friend in the building who has said she'll come visit but this friend is moving in a month and we don't want Whopper to get used to additional visits or always having company just for it to be taken away again.

 

The cost of daycare is just too much right now as an everyday thing for us because that would cost over $400 a month and there isn't a great place right near us so would add complications in getting her there.  We have considered rescuing a dog as a puppy will be too much for us at this point and there are obviously many in need of rescue, but still remain concerned about the additional costs of premium food, vet visits, apartment pet fee, etc for a second dog. 

 

Sorry this is so long but any recommendations, insight etc will be very much appreciated.  Whopper is a great, loving dog and is really tugging on our heartstrings right now as we just want to help her adjust. 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am lucky in that Peri actually likes her crate. We leave her in it when we are gone, but that is never all day long, ever (we also trade off and do walks during lunch every day). She likes her crate so much now that I simply say "go in your crate" and she goes in (and gets a treat).

I wonder if Whopper might be okay with a crate now? I might give it a try. I would also start this weekend with a 30 minute trial while you run errands or something. Maybe you could sneak back early to see if she is making noise??? Whopper is probably getting very bored being at home alone and the security of a "safe place" may be just what she needs now that she is a little older. May not work, but maybe maturity will help. Also try leaving a sound machine on - we still do this. Today the theme is "Tropical Rainforest".

Last thing - could you afford daycare once a week? A Wednesday trip might be just what she needs to break up a long week...we personally do Fridays so we can do something with friends later that night and not feel guilty leaving Peri (since she is dead to the world LOL).

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We leave the tv on so she has noise and my husband comes home to be with her during lunch time everyday of the week except for Tuesdays. On Tuesdays is the day we pay the dog walker to come and spend 45 minutes with her.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, I saw your husband comes home during lunch - I misread and changed my response!
I think you may have to try the crate again....
Or confine her to an area? Like kitchen or something?
I am looking to see if there is a Dogtopia coming to your area. That is a great daycare we use.

http://www.dogdaycare.com/locations.php

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Yea. We are considering confining her to our bedroom. Currently she is mainly in the living room with access to our master bedroom. All closet doors, the bathroom, and the guest bedroom are closed off. We were trying to keep her food/water, main big bed, and toys out of our bedroom but may have to rework things.

We could afford doggie daycare once a week but we haven't found a decent place nearby yet.

We may need to consider trying the crate and it would be easy to know if she is making noise just by standing in the hallway. We know she is quiet all day while in their alone and not in the crate as even when we come back, the dog across the hallway will be barking but our apartment is quiet.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Thankfully, Phoebe has loved her crate from day one BUT we had a black lab/chow mix who literally used to try to chew through the wire mesh sides of hers anytime I left the house. I had thought I had tried everything until someone suggested I put her in the crate while I was home and milling about her so that she could see me. It seems so obvious, but I had not thought about that at the time--worked like a charm. I think she associated the crate with my leaving so she acted up. Once she was comfortable with being in the crate, I would move to another floor of the house and then eventually out the door for short periods at first and then longer times once I came home and found she had not been stressed out. I can only imagine how stressed you must be leaving your house and not knowing what you will find when you return. Hopefully, you will find a method that works for you all very soon.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Thanks. We tried that when she was a puppy and she would bark and cry non-stop if we were in sight. Even if we sat there petting her, she would be okay for a minute or two until she realized we still weren't going to let her out and then even with us petting her she would cry and bark. Maybe now that she's older that would work.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

You never know - I really think it could. When Peri was little, she went ballistic in her crate when we were home, but stopped as soon as we left. Now we can put her in it while we vacuum (she freaks otherwise), if a guest comes and she is too wild, etc....she is quiet. That happened with age only......

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think for safety reasons, as a minimum, I would significantly reduce the area she has to roam around in while you are away. Sounds as if you are in an apt or condo so I'm not sure what your options are. Our girls go into their room anytime that we leave the house. This is basically a room that has been puppy proofed. That is where their beds, toys, and water and food are. It doesn't have a door, but a baby gate across the doorway so they can see out into the rest of the house. I have left them out in the whole house a few times, but I think they are really just more comfortable in their own room when I'm gone for very long. They pretty much just sleep. This is also where they sleep at night.