Silly husband and worried dog mom
 

Long story short, Smokey's longer hair has been making his potty habits rough. He gets those "cling ons" that we don't see usually right away because it's hidden in his hair, then he'll sit and smash it all in, then in the bath we go. It's miserable for him and us, so I emailed our groomer and asked if we can bring just Smokey in for a much needed hair cut earlier than both of the dogs Feb 5th appointment. She said okay so I brought him in today, by himself for the very first time in 3 years. In the 3 years we have had him, he has never been without at least me, Chip, or Adam and that is because he has really bad separation anxiety due to the rough first 6 months of his life (long story). When I left him this morning and heard him barking at me, I started crying a little because I was worried about his reaction. The last time he had an episode was when we moved and he doesn't have them very often because he is always with at least one of us three. I called my husband, who is at work, on my way back home. So a few minutes ago as he's on his way home from work, he calls me and asks if he can pick up Smokey by himself... he's never picked up either of the dogs at the groomer by himself. He at first said he wants to spend some "Daddy and Mokey time alone" but when he came home I asked him why and he gave me a mischievous smile and said "I want to be Smokey's savior." REALLY?! He knows I'm worried about Smokey's reaction today and he's teasing me about it. Actually, I'm really hoping that this experience will help Smokey realize that we will ALWAYS come back for him and I'm glad that he is in a setting that he is very familiar in, which helps.

There are training methods that can correct these needy behaviors. It's just too upsetting on them to feel that way, and there may come a time when he will need to be with someone else or be kenneled.
Your hubby sounds like my husband. ;)

If you have any tips that would be seriously great. It hurts me to know that he's hurting. He was a mill puppy and after that was transferred from one place to another in his short 6 months of life. When we got him, I couldn't even baby gate him in the bathroom and walk the 10 steps to my bed, which was right in front of the bathroom door, to go to sleep without him immediately getting upset, having diarrhea. He was 7 lbs then and fully grown in height and length... he's now 15, so that tells you how skinny he was from losing so much weight from his diarrhea attacks. Our solution was to always have him with Chip or one of us, which works, but it's come to a point where I want him to feel independent and comfortable on his own... even just enough to where he doesn't get sick like that. He really has come a long way, since he came to live with us, but that is something that still needs some work.