Separation anxiety issue

[ReadingMama]

Our new 3 yo shih tzu/lhasa apso mix is a great little guy. He does have some separation anxiety though.

If he's in the backyard and is ready to come in, he will use his big underbite to peel the paint off the metal back door. My husband forgot to put him in his crate when he went to work the other morning and Bob did the same thing to our son's bedroom door. He seems to think he can chew his way through doors!

We keep him in a crate when we leave the house because we've only had him for a month and don't know how he'd do with free reign. When we get home, there's a big puddle of slobber under the front of his crate and another puddle inside his crate. Apparently he's chewing on the metal grate on the door of his crate. And he must have been doing it for a long time to produce that much slobber!

Any ideas for how to help him? It can't be good for his teeth, and I don't know if he's ingesting what he scrapes off. The metal on the door of his crate is starting to oxidize from being wet. Could he get sick if he scrapes some off?

[ReadingMama]

Anyone?

[lonegirl]

Separation anxiety takes time and patience. Sometimes it involves having a new leaving routine. There are many meds/supplements out there to help as well. http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00314.htm

[litanyagainstfear]

I'm not a dog owner myself ATM, but I've heard frozen Kongs (there are lots of recipes available online for inspiration as to what to use as filling) can help keep a dog busy in a crate. It might be a little messy depending on what you use as a filling, but perhaps it would work to distract the dog and fulfill the desire to chew.

[dbsam]

When we first brought home Harry, and for years after he arrived, he had horrible anxiety issues. He could not be crated, would claw and chew through the drywall if a storm came up, etc. I would recommend a vet behaviorist. Our behaviorist helped tremendously. We had Harry on various meds and supplements over the years - some worked and some made things worse. Over time things improved and he was taken off all meds. I occasionally give him rescue remedy and recently started him on melatonin at night for his dementia. (I wonder if melatonin would help with anxiety.)

A pp suggested a kong - my sister used one with her beagle and it worked great. It didn't help Harry - but Harry is not food motivated at all.

Good luck. It might take time but it will be worth the effort for your dog and your family.

[ReadingMama]

Wait, are we talking about THE Harry? Harry of the infamous behavior posts? I remember us sharing crazy dogs stories here at some point!

We tried the Kong. It works while there's still peanut butter in it, but once it's gone, he's back to whining ans drooling. I put about a tablespoon inside the Kong and froze it overnight. Should I be using more? Bob's only 17 pounds.

I got some nontoxic bitter-tasting spray for surfaces. I sprayed it on our outside sunroom door because he scrapes the paint off the metal door. We'll see if that works. I'm so smart that I tested the taste of the spray myself....

I think we probably are going to have to see a behaviorist. I can't believe how much he slobbers and drools when he chews on the door of his crate. This morning half of his beach towel in his crate was wet! And he was only in the crate for 2 hours!

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by ReadingMama

Wait, are we talking about THE Harry? Harry of the infamous behavior posts? I remember us sharing crazy dogs stories here at some point!

Yes, THE Harry. If he could overcome his anxiety issues - any dog can! He's stayed with us much longer than anyone, especially the vets imagined. I'm afraid I might need to make the decision soon to put him down. (and I'm sure some people think I s/h already) He's just such a little fighter I'm not sure he (or I) am ready and I am in the position to be able to run our lives around Harry's needs so I do not mind. I up with him now...had to let the old doggy out at 2:00am and give him another melatonin for his CDS.

Good luck with Bob!

[ReadingMama]

I remember now--we wrote about the joys and adventures of old dogs. We rescued a stray, really old, cranky Jack Russell 2 years ago. Mac still has his issues, but now my mom has him. He had to move out because my grandparents and their dog had to move in with us for health reasons, and Mac and their dog didn't get along. My mom just lives across the street. Mac's much happier living with cats than he was with dogs. Maybe micromanaging other dogs stressed him out!

Good luck with Harry too. I think it's awesome that you are so committed to this old guy that you are willing to arrange your life around him now rather than do what is convenient (thought not really easier) for you. If he still has a quality life, it's no one else's business!

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by ReadingMama

I remember now--we wrote about the joys and adventures of old dogs. We rescued a stray, really old, cranky Jack Russell 2 years ago. Mac still has his issues, but now my mom has him. He had to move out because my grandparents and their dog had to move in with us for health reasons, and Mac and their dog didn't get along. My mom just lives across the street. Mac's much happier living with cats than he was with dogs. Maybe micromanaging other dogs stressed him out!

Good luck with Harry too. I think it's awesome that you are so committed to this old guy that you are willing to arrange your life around him now rather than do what is convenient (thought not really easier) for you. If he still has a quality life, it's no one else's business!

Yes, I remember your posts about Mac. I was afraid to ask how he was but am glad to hear he is doing well at your mother's house.

We thought Harry was old when we found him...now he is ancient. He's been a handful and is still a tough little street dog. But he's also been a great part of our family and taught us all lessons in compassion and patience.