When to medicate for SA?

[taterbug160]

So I've posted some of our story here before recently. Had my dog 2 years from a puppy, but she's spent the last 2 years as an outside dog at my boyfriend's mom's house. Now she's back living in our apartment, and she's been here 4 days

Comments

[cottonmanifesto]

are you exercising her adequately?

[taterbug160]

Definitely. She gets a long walk in the morning, fetch with her tennis ball around lunch, and her longest walk in the afternoon, which is definitely helping her anxiety at night. We get about 10 minutes of whining, and then all is quiet.

It's just us actually leaving that we get barking, scratching at the doors, whining, and chewing.

[cottonmanifesto]

it sounds like exercise does help, so you might make it more intensive in the morning.

what you're doing as far as desensitizing goes is good, but it seems like you might have to extend it into you actually leaving.

[taterbug160]

You are right, and when we have left we've been gone for a longer amount of time then what I prefer. I'd rather it be short enough so that I can leave and come back with no destruction, rather than it being so long and we come back to something chewed up. Our apartment complex is super animal friendly, people on both sides of us have dogs, but I know if she's getting loud eventually they are going to get annoyed.

[miss_teacher]

Are you sure this is separation anxiety and not just destructive behavior?

What things is she doing exactly?

[taterbug160]

Pretty sure.

It's only when we leave, and she whines and cries and barks. Ignores her toys that are stuffed with yummy goodies, scratches at the door, pulls out and chews on her kennel liner, has tried to destroyed her bed but I think we came home in time to stop that. She's actually chewed my couch and carpet in the past.

She's definitely not destructive when we are here. She just lays in her bed unless we're walking or playing with her. Or unless people are walking by and she has a good bark at them.

What do you think?

[miss_teacher]

Here is an excerpt from Patricia McConnel's booklet I'll Be Home Soon: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety:

"Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious emotional problem, where the dogs becomes panicked when his owner leaves. Dogs with full-blown separation anxiety act as though they are in terror about your departure, and about being alone in the house while you're gone. There are many ways that dogs can express their panic at being left home alone, so the symptoms are highly variable. The most common are:

-whining and pacing as you prepare to leave and/or long after you've gone
-dilated pupils
-panting and/or drooling
-sweaty pads
-trembling or shaking
-Non-stop barking or howling while you're gone
-house soiling
-destructive chewing or digging, especially around the entrances and exits
-appetite suppression
-desperate and often injurious attempts to get out of the house or crate."

A few more pages in

"If your dog begins to look terrified when you get ready to go out, if she won't eat a piece of steak that you leave by

[miss_teacher]

So basically I wouldn't look at her destroying things are a sign she has separation anxiety, but see if she gets panicked when you start to put on your shoes, grab your car keys, things that signal you will be leaving soon.

[beatlemania78]

I own a severe SA dog as well, so I completely understand what you're going through. I would go to your vet and discuss your dog's issues with them. My dog would starve himself before eating a treat filled toy when left alone...breakfast skipped or not. No amount of exercise helped. None of the usual advice worked nor did desensitization attempts with a professional trainer. My dog also cannot be crated. Like I said, I understand

[taterbug160]

It's really stressful to both of us. I'm worried about her every time we leave. I'm worried about our poor neighbors, because I don't know if she ever shuts up. She's worried I'm never coming back again.

We are definitely seeking out some training. I just want a happy dog!