Dog Anxiety Question

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Those of you who are giving your dog medication for anxiety or depression - either on-going or as needed, how have you determined what is best?  I don't quite get when it is appropriate to use one or the other or any at all.

Gordie, our seven year old Springer is mellow and laid back when he is with his people. He has no aggression, fear, socialization issues with dogs or people.  Like most Springers, Gordie was an extremely active puppy who destroyed couches, ate molding off walls, chewed shoes......  However he only did this when we were gone.  He had our older dog for a companion, but he needed his people. We had a Springer before who was not this destructive but was this active as a pup (she calmed down at two though). Gordie was not crateable, and got out of every area we tried to confine him to.  We consulted a trainer (a bad one apparently) who told us to leave him outside when we were gone - that was it....  We didn't take his advice and just put up with the destruction until he 'outgrew' it. We did not recognize this as anxiety at the time.

When we got Ned, Gordie went into a depression.  Wouldn't eat, isolated himself, quit making eye contact.... We were totally shocked because we have animals in the family who have stayed with us, even lived with us for periods of time.  Finally Gordie seemed to accept the new addition and life with our three dogs was fine.  Then we added Clancy.  We introduced them first and Gordie seemed fine and even pleased.  Gordie and Clancy then had 'p******' contests for bottom position in the pack which lasted a couple of months.

Gordie has never 'matured' or settled down.  He can go from sleeping to extremely excitable in seconds - someone comes to the door for example, and Gordie jumps, dances, races around and whines for a while.  This even happens if someone goes out to get the mail. He travels well but can get very excited and pants on shorter car rides as opposed to the RV.

We can leave him home with the doodles, but not home alone, and not at all in the RV with the doodles. Our son can take him to his college apartment,  walk him around the campus and into his classes - no problems.  Our daughter can take him overnight with her lab and leave them in her home while she is gone  - no problems.

Gordie is not afraid of new experiences just of being away from people. He improved for a long time but has gotten increasingly more anxious - especially since our older dog died in September.  He barks, howls, slobbers, cries.  It breaks your heart.  Our current trainer has suggested a citronella collar - not to help with the anxiety but at least to curb the cycle of barking and howling and to be able to take him camping so that we could leave him in the RV to do things. We have tried the calming herb collar (just makes my allergies react).

Those of you who have had experience with dog anxiety, do you have ideas or suggestions for us? Summer is coming and I want to include Gordie.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Poor Gordie-I hope you can find a solution-It must be hard not to include him. Good luck!