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leighla
Support Cancer Research
Member since 5/05 16353 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Severe separation anxiety...
Brodie is 8.
He's almost 90 pounds.
He's destrying my house. Some of you are facebook friends and have seen the destruction.
Vet put him on thyroid medicine last month for low thyroid. That's when this behavior started.
Took him off meds, no change.
He keeps digging/biting his way THROUGH my bathroom doors.
Tried Rescue Remedy. Tried leaving the AC on. Tried leaving the TV on. Tried crating him.
Today he broke through a steel crate that I reinforced with clips and ties and then he proceeded to break through my new bathroom door.
Vet did bloodwork, everything is okay.
Anyone else have ANY ideas?
My parents think I should give him away. I cannot do that to me or Logan.
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Posted 6/21/10 10:33 PM  |
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rose825
Best Friends
Member since 6/05 10228 total posts
Name:
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
have you talked to the vet about trying him on other meds. I know people joke about it, but prozac may help him. 
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| Posted 6/21/10 10:48 PM |
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RadioLau
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2179 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
LOTS AND LOTS of exercise. Plus don't make a big deal out of leaving the house or coming home. Interactive toys to find food, etc. Did I mention exercise? This has really helped our situation although it wasn't as severe as yours.
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| Posted 6/22/10 8:34 AM |
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PumpkinGirl
:o)
Member since 10/08 1838 total posts
Name:
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
Cesar always put dogs with a lot of energy on treadmills.. might be worth a shot if you don't have a lot of time for long walks before you leave.
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| Posted 6/22/10 10:22 AM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
My dog had this when we moved into the new house. I leave on QVC (people talking all the time) or HSN or the classical music station when I leave the room so he is comfortable with that when I leave the house.
I got a dog sitter who comes for most of the day when I'm gone
I also invested in kongs. As much as I hate to give my dog these because the stuff you use is gross, it WORKS!! It takes them a while to eat it so they get distracted with you leaving and usually they are tired when they are done and don't freak out
I also give my dog benadryl (on our vets recommendation) we tried prescription anxiety meds but it made him more hyper
Also long walks and playing in the yard before I leave if I can so he is tired
we also started going outside for a few mins at a time and coming back in and reassuring him it was ok if he was freaking out, but I read that's actually bad because you are reinforcing the bad behavior
we have tried so many things and its just so hard! Good luck I hope some of my suggestions work!
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| Posted 6/22/10 10:30 AM |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
lauren, I'm sorry you're going through this
I can't say that I blame you for not wanting to rehome him...Brodie is a good dog but clearly going through something psychological.
So, not a dog expert but figured I'd offer some ideas:
(1) meds --- see if some sort of prozac might work for him..has the vet expressed any other suggestions when his blood cameback "normal"
(2) doggy daycare --- I know Brodie is a special dog and won't go to any typical kennel but maybe you can find someone willing to care for him during the day when you're at work. Cost-wise I'm sure it's not the best solution but might work.
I know this is the last thing you need right now...i hope you can find a solution and quick
Please let me know if there is anything you need.
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| Posted 6/22/10 10:31 AM |
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MockingJay
Ring out the old...
Member since 9/08 1312 total posts
Name:
Ring in the new!
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
Posted by RadioLau
LOTS AND LOTS of exercise. Plus don't make a big deal out of leaving the house or coming home. Interactive toys to find food, etc. Did I mention exercise? This has really helped our situation although it wasn't as severe as yours.
ITA!!! It sounds like this dog has severe anxiety. He needs to exercise to run out all this pent up energy. Do you have a big backyard?? Maybe just even playing fetch for a while can help him. Like REAL fetch- with that tennis ball thrower
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| Posted 6/22/10 2:25 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
Posted by leighla
My parents think I should give him away. I cannot do that to me or Logan.
I'm glad to hear that. He needs you to help him overcome this.  It will be daunting to work on this but it sounds hopeful because this is a new development. 
How much exercise does he get now? That's definitely the first place I would look to, to help him overcome this. A tired dog is a cure for a lot of things, anxiety and unwanted behaviors alike.
We are dealing with this too, with our new dog and I found these tips online, which has helped us:
- Exercise before you know you will be leaving the house. Nothing beats a leashed walk. Letting a dog out into the backyard probably won't be enough. A walk provides discipline and mental as well as physical exertion. (Where are you? I have a great dog walker in Smithtown)
- Arrivals and departures must be normal. No making a big deal. Ignore your dog for 10 minutes per arrival or departure.
- When you leave, provide a busy toy like a Kong filled with bananas, apples, carrots, etc and frozen. You can shove a baby carrot in the small hole, fill it with fruits or veggies, place it upside down in a glass and fill it with water, freeze. Tug-a-Jugs and Buster Cubes are also pretty good.
- Do not reward anxiety, ever. Don't soothe an anxious dog. It is looking to you to be it's rock, it's leader, and if you provide attention when they're upset, you're essentially reinforcing them and telling them you like it when they're scared.
Hope this helps!
Message edited 6/22/2010 6:42:07 PM.
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| Posted 6/22/10 6:38 PM |
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CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)
Member since 5/05 19978 total posts
Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
Dog sitter...or doggie day care maybe?
This is a kind of out there idea but a doggie house in the yard - at least for now? 
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| Posted 6/23/10 10:13 AM |
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leese
Sarge!
Member since 5/05 1965 total posts
Name:
Leese
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Re: Severe separation anxiety...
I have found for myself -- a walk before I leave him has cured a lot. Of course, he is a bulldog that has a sprint of energy and then sleeps 11 hours, but that walk does wonders.
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| Posted 6/23/10 11:03 AM |
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