Awesome Website
 

check out this link to read all about Separation Anxiety. There is also a section on how to be a Pack Leader. I only have three words of advice.
Cesar Milan Books

Separation Anxiety in Dogs, My dog has Separation Anxiety

It's an herbal homeopathic liquid that you can get at Whole Foods (if there is one near you) or you can get it online. Contains essences from plants that have supposedly been known to help with reducing stress and anxiety. It's suppose to take the edge off...and there is one version for humans also. Make sure you get the one that says "for Pets."

This dog is clearly having effects from the mistreatment it had with it's other families
I think you're going to have to crate her for a while ..... when you are out
this will keep her movements down to a minimum and it will in turn clam her a bit more
The other thing you can try is first with you in sight distance place her in a pen with food and toys .... this may set up some boundary that she might accept for now
keep her in the pen for a good while if you can
then graduate to keeping her in the pen in the next room so she can hear you
you want o slowly graduate to where you can leave her for a few hours at a time

Great thanks and do you happen to know what the DAP plug in is?

It's a cartridge that you plug in the wall similiar to those room fresheners. It's dispenses phermones that are similar to a mother dog. Supposed to make the dog calm down. Humans can't smell it, but the dog can.

Thanks! I aprreciate the help! :thumbup:

really good advice... but I heard with the whole door trick to start at getting your purse and shoes on all of the stuff that you do right before you leave put it all on then go to the door... then stop take it all off sit down next to your little one... then do it all over again until your baby is ok with you just getting your stuff ready to go... then you move on to the next step such as just opening the door then you shut it and take off all of your stuff.. until your baby is comfortable then you can go out of the door... just what I have heard and saw... another trick is get a toy like Gina said a kong works great... and fill it with a treat and only leave it or let them have it while you are gone... ;) good luck to all of you!! i know its A LOT of work!!! but our babies are SMART!!! and they will catch on sooner rather than later ;)

We went through some of this with our rescue Yorkie and the only thing that worked is time and patience. She is MUCH better now and it has taken eight and a half months to get where we are today. It's a trust issue, they need to learn that you WILL come back and WILL NOT abandon them.

I had the same problem with my Lhasa Apso he went through anxiety very bad. I would come home and he would be sick in his crate and shiver and shake and his fur was wet from mouth to bottom of feet from panting so hard. I then decided that it was not going to work so I baby gated him in the front hall so he could see me leave and then see me when I was coming home that seemed to work, no more panting and no more getting sick. Sometimes if they can see you leave and then watch for you when you come back home I think makes them feel better. I hope this helps a bit.

Talked to the Doggy Behaviorist
 

Ok, I spoke to my connection, the behaviorist and boy was I glad I did. There are 5 things that need to happen all at the same time to help our babies get over Sep Anx. There are a few other things that go along with it and I am doing ALL OF THEM. It's hard but gotta do it!!

1. Desensitization- got through the motions of what you do when you leave (getting ready, makeup on, getting keys, jacket, shoes) the moment you see your dog react (follow you, cry, pace etc) stop and sit down, wait 3 min and start again. Do sets of 3, 3 min apart. Then wait 10 min and do again. Keep it up day after day until slowly your dog could care less about what you are doing. THIS TAKES WORK AND PATIENCE.

2. Positive association when you leave- give your dog something AMAZING when you leave. Something special, only given when you're leaving. We are trying something new-kong with cream cheese frozen. We tried it last night and it worked, he did not know we stepped out of door until he ate all the cheese. That's why we are freezing it, will take longer to get through. He has never had this treat and the newness is helping (not much yet).

3. Pharmaceutical support--all up to you. We are starting with DAP plug in and I also got some herbal supplements (neither have made a difference so far) and am THINKING about the prescription meds. She recommended Comicalm (sp?) and guaranteed me it would not hurt Snick. I believe her, just scared of the cost. They have seen a 65% recovery w/o meds, and a 30% (95% total) increase of recovery with meds.

4. Increase mental and physical exercise. Snick is now getting 2 walks a day as opposed to one. Mental exercise includes “Nothing is for free” training methods. Make your dog WORK for their food, no free feeding, no free treats, make him sit for everything. Etc. You can google this to learn more.

5. Clarify relation with your dog—BECOME PACK LEADER!! You decide when it’s play time, you decide when he eats, you decide when its time for him to come cuddle on couch, you decide when for everything. Don’t let your dog control you, you are the leader and your dog will respect you for it. I am guilty of this, I catered to Snickers and now I am paying for it.

A book that was recommended to me by the behaviorist was “I’ll Be Home Soon” by Patricia McConnell. I have ordered it off Amazon for 10 bucks.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

Woo Hooo!
 

Nice Work Vivian - way to go on being a Pack Leader!

Awesome, thanks Vivian! I printed these up and will let you know how they work. :)

Hi! Just a quick note, I didn't read every response 100% so if someone else mentioned this I apologize. My boys have seperation anxiety and used to eat/dig holes in the walls. I started leaving a radio on for them everyday. I used to get written up by the condo assoc for them barking while I was at work. Ive done this for about 2 years now and they have improved sooooo much. I think the radio drowns outside noises and gives them something to 'hear' so they don't feel so alone. I have not been written up in 2 years now, and they stopped destroying the house when I was gone. Try a radio or tv while you are out. Hope that helps!

YES!!!! Great advice! I do this too (but with the tv). Especially when there are thunderstorms. My little one is so anxious during thunderstorms and when the 4th of July comes around. It breaks my heart... :(:(:(