Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

help! my pug is 9 and lived with a buddy for most of his life. we moved into a new house recently but without his buddy. we plan to get him a friend, but not just yet. we are going to get a shelter dog, but we want to be a little more un-packed before we get a 2nd dog. We can't leave my pug alone in a room otherwise he chases after us and cries. he is so lonley. I feel so bad.

its not an option to get his old buddy to our house.

I have to work and so does DH. I think for now until we figure out a plan, I have to take Max to his buddys house when we are work, which is a total PIA because I have to take him on my way to work and on my way home and hes very nervous in the car. its about an hours ride. but its a much better option then leaving him home. (our original plan was to have a dog sitter come in for 2hrs in the middle of the day. he would only be alone 2-3 max per week)

Any suggestions???

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

when we thought our dog had separation when we went out for the night our trainer suggested something to us-
kongs filled w peanut butter and frozen to keep them busy while your gone

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

Our dog gets separation anxiety. Our vet had a bunch of suggestions
- leaving the radio on when we're not home
-special toys that are only given when we're out
- not making a big deal of leaving or going. She actually wanted us to ignore the dog for a few minutes when we came home. She said if we made a big deal it was reinforcing her anxiety.

Hope that helps!

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

Our puppy was really bad with this when we first got him, he has gotten much better but we still do all of the following since it's still there:
-special toys he only gets when we are not home including a kong filled with liver paste and a piece of chicken treat, a ball that dispenses food (we take this away from his breakfast so he doesn't gain weight), a hide and find squirrel toy, plus we give him two cardboard boxes a day because he loves to shred them with a small glob of peanut butter and a very small treat attached to it
-we don't make a big deal out of leaving
-we don't greet him at all when we get home until he is calm as to not feed into the neurotic behavior of our return
Good Luck...it's very difficult

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

We're dealing with this too. A second dog is not necessarily the answer, as ours doesn't pay attention to anything other than that her people are gone. They don't play when she's anxious. So consider that you might still have an issue even after getting a 2nd dog, with the added issues of new responsibilities.

I did research online, there's tons of information out there if you Google, and they all pretty much say the same thing. We're working on it now ourselves and finding slow progress with very short absences, using a "safe phrase" - ours is 'be right back', ignoring her for 10 min before and after planned absences, not praising her while she's upset.

For us, treats and toys don't work at all, and neither does leaving music on. We weren't seeing any progress until both DH and I got serious and we were both 100% consistent.

You should look into doggie day care also. I know a dog walker or doggie day care is not convenient and costs a lot, but it's worth trying for a few weeks.

Good luck!

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

wow! thanks for all the suggestions!! I def make a big deal out of leaving and coming home so we will stop that right away!

and as for now, he has been going back to his buddys house while we are at work, because it would be to long of a day. I had intended to hire a dog sitter to come in for 2 hours in the middle of the day on days DH works (2-3 days per week) but since he;s still not ok with being alone I bring him to his friends house. Which I think is not a good idea at all because its sort of reinforcing him not being alone! but i have to work and can't leave him this week its only 2 days and next week its ony 1

I have been going outside for 20-30 mins and not bringing him and being in an area he can't see me, and I listen to hear how he's doing.

And DH does the radio thing! it works because he can walk out of a room and he won't follow him! so I will def keep doing this.

I'm afraid to leave him with any food type thing because he is always chocking on things where i have to clear them out of his mouth.

thanks again for all the help and I never thought to google it!!

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

Once my dogs think we're gone they don't cry, it's only when we're leaving.

Is it possible he just sleeps when you're gone?

Re: Seperation Anxiety - any advice?

Message edited 4/8/2010 10:00:37 AM.