separation anxiety

[ChrisNYC]

my four-month old boy Charlie (from a nice shelter; was raised there from 4 weeks) follows me from room to room. When I leave him alone in his puppy-proof area, I've come back to find him barking and yelping at the door from inside (he never barks otherwise). When he is in the crate and thinks I'm going to leave, he often does the same. How do I cure this?

[KatMc]

mine follow me from room to room all the time. I could really use a bigger bathroom :D - so I don't know how to stop that. But as far as him crying in his kennel I think he will outgrow that. If you put him in there when you are home, you could give him treats and talk to him, that's what I have done with mine trying to get them used to being in there and realizing that I am coming back.

Good Luck,
Kathy

[JonandMichelle]

When you leave, don't make into a big deal. When you come home, don't make it into a big deal. A lot of people make this big fuss with their dogs when they leave. "Ohhh baby, Mommy/Daddy will be riiiiiiggghhhht back OK?" They do nothing but get the dog riled up. When they come home..it's the same thing. "Ohhh pookie, Mommy/Daddy is home. Ohh you poooooor thing you."

When you leave, just leave. When you come home, ignore the dog for a few. It wont kill fido if your not up his/er rear end giving kisses when you first come home ;) When you teach/condition the dog that comings and goings are NOT a big deal and they are GOING to live while your not there, the easier life will be. Good luck!!

[WorkinDogz]

The phrase "seperation anxiety" is used a little too freely.

A dog that truly suffers from seperation anxiety is an unbelievable sight to see :(

VERY few puppies actully suffer from this. It's more of them not getting their own way and being where they would rather be (under your feet or following you around) than real anxiety.

The vast majority of dogs can be conditioned to appreciate "quiet time" alone.

I've seen dogs who have chewed through water mains in the house; gone through windows, crushed door knobs with their teeth (teeth they don't keep very long...they end up breaking them off) etc. (This was all one dog by the way...lol)

Condition the puppy with time occupying things. Kong with treats in it; marrow bones etc.

It doesn't have to be a crisis; but...if you let the puppy out of the crate/room because he/she is whining...you're setting yourself up for big time failure.

Good luck.

[rottmommie]

my ex husband truly has a rottie mix that suffers from separation anxiety....this is the dog who will NEVER run away from home....
she has chewed completely through her hard plastic crate.....they left her for a few hours to go to work.....she has to sleep with them, there is no other option, she will destroy the house if they make her sleep anywhere else.....
they love her and put up with her tho....they havent tried to change this behaviour, I guess it is easier just to put up with it.....