Separation anxiety

by Marcia
(Chicago)

My dog Gracie is just short of being two years in April she's a very sweet loving well behaved dog . we since moved into a new apartment two months ago and every time we leave, unless we take her with us, she cries she howls she whines she runs back-and-forth from the bedroom to the front door .any noise she hears she goes to the front door .we thought she would stop crying the minute we walked down the hall and got in the elevator but we got a camera and found out that the two hours we were gone she was running around panting never drinks any water ,jumps on the bed and lays there and whimpers and thenjumps down to go to the front door back-and-forth back-and-forth.


it just breaks my heart .we gave her some Benadryl that the vet suggested and that didn't help .we kept the TV on and I think it made it worse . yesterday I left to go to the doctor for two hours came back in she was very excited to see me as usual.this time she just jumped from the bed And met me at the door . She goes back-and-forth but she whines, she howls at times just a little bit but not as loud as before

.is there anything anyone can suggest why all of a sudden she's doing this and if it's just a new place but when will this go away .I feel like I can never leave my apartment good thing I have a lovely view but we noticed her looking out the window from the 24th floor and she follows me everywhere when she sees that I'm putting my boots or shoes on. I hate to drug her like the vet suggested. help!

By the way when she travels with us in plane or car she's an angel.

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Mar 08, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		separation anxiety NEW
by: Lucille

my Simon is a rescue, 4 yrs old. Have had him only one month and found that putting his bed in a crate for him to sleep at night and to put him in when I leave helps a little bit so far - not barking when I arrive and less drooling. When he runs around jumping at me I ignore him until he is quiet. Then I give him a treat.
Feb 27, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		What finally worked for us NEW
by: Anonymous

We give our dog a small amount of Buspirone (prescription from vet). It doesn't eliminate the sep. anxiety, but takes the edge off. (Amitriptyline, trazadone, etc. left our guy "anxious plus stoned," making things worse.) HOWEVER, the key has been insuring our guy is fully occupied for the first 20 minutes after we leave. Once panic sets in, he can't snap himself out of it, but if distracted with food toys for the first 20 minutes, he adjusts to our absence.

Also, our guy needs free run of the house (we had to wait until he was age 3 and no longer chewing/swallowing inappropriate things). When crated or gated into a room, he panics and is very destructive.

These days, when about to leave, we ask our guy to "stay" on a stuffed chair in the living room while we make a kibble trail (4 feet between each piece) as he watches. The trail leads into the kitchen where there are several kongs and a food puzzle toy. We remind him to "stay" as we put on our coats, etc. As we go out the door, we shout "OKaaay" and he leaps off the chair and starts in on the food.

After eating, he spends some time upstairs in our bedroom (I think because it smells like us) and some time on the stairs looking out the window. We leave pee pads by the back door, as he sometimes pees or poops when nervous. (dogs with sep. anxiety pee and poop in moments of stress/panic, not as a protest).

Our guy will never be mellow about being alone, but the 20 minute food distraction plus leaving him free in the house has worked wonders.
Feb 18, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separation anxiety NEW
by: Marcia

Thanks for all your replies and hints.. I think we are getting her under control. Blocking the door so she can't hear us at elevator.
No music.
Tv on mute so she can look at it
Complete quiet and my robe on corner of bed where she jumps on and lays on.
Only a bit of whining but not much. But she is very excited when we come back which is fine. No destruction and goes right out to pee.
Feb 03, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		ITey reading The Dog Listener NEW
by: Rose

I used to have problems with one of my Cotons who would do protest pees when she was left. I was told about a book called The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell and ive found her methods very helpful. I hope you soon resolve your problems as it it can be very distressing for you as well as the dog. Good Luck.
Feb 03, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Don't give up
by: Gale

I know a little about what you're going through. When I moved 4 years ago, Luc went through a period of severe separation anxiety. When I look back on it, it's not really surprising. There were people constantly in and out of or old house when the Realtors came, there was all kinds of construction activity after we moved into the new house, and everything in Luc's world changed. His environment changed and I'm sure he missed all our old friends and neighbors.

It took months before he overcame his anxiety. One of the things that worked best for us was I practiced going in and out of the new house dozens of times a day. I'd just go out for a minute and come back in. He got so used to me leaving and he understood that I always came back. I also didn't make a big deal when I left or when I returned home. I also didn't leave him for long periods after I moved. When I went to work, I made sure there was someone available to come to the house during the day.

I've updated this page on puppy separation anxiety and have added things that worked for us. This doesn't only apply to puppies; dogs of all ages can benefit from these tips. I hope you find it helpful.

Just remember that there's no overnight cure - severe cases can take months before you see improvement. Don't give up! If you've tried everything, I would suggest finding a professional who specializes in this type behavior.

Good Luck!
Feb 02, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separation Anxiety
by: Debbie - RI

Hi Marcia,
Cody is 5 years old & we have been trying everything to help him with his separation anxiety. TV on, playing classical music, closing all blinds so he can't see out, medication, putting a piece of my clothing in his bed, anti bark machines, snacks in toys, etc. nothing works. He barked so much that when I got back from a doctors appointment, he had no voice & his tongue was hanging out. I feel awful leaving him so either my husband or son will stay with him when I need to go out, which isn't often. I have been taking him everywhere with me. I bought a stroller so he can be with me in stores.

So I can relate to what you're going through. He won't leave my side & he literally follows me all around the house.

Hopefully someone will be able to give us some good advice.
Feb 02, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lily
by: Charlie

Hi my Lily is just 2 and has developed a fear of the dish washer she runs and hide then pees on the floor upstairs and now if I leave her she'll pee on the floor too! She also pants a lot when nervous follows me from room to room I can't even go to the loo!!
However I do still go out most I'll leave her is about 3 hrs I shut her in the kitchen so if she pees I can wipe it easier , I leave the radio on too.. ( but never the dishwasher)
Sorry no advice just wanted to share that you're not alone!!

Feb 02, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separation Anxiety
by: Anne

When we adopted our Sandy (after we had Molly for almost two years) she had terrible separation anxiety. Even with Molly present (and Molly is one mellow pup) Sandy would become destructive. She ate my Kate Spade Kindle cover, boxes of tissues, and anything she could rip apart and would empty the bookshelves looking for something tasty. And she is very anxious in the car. We think it was all the changes she went through (twice in ASPCA and foster care).

At first we got a Thunder Shirt. That didn't seem to help her. Then we started turning on light classical music while we were out. Don't know if it's because Sandy was getting used to us coming and going and finally figured out we would be back, she started calming down. She figured out the routine. When the music comes on, she follows us to the family room door, hopes on a chair by the front window. or goes with Molly to our bed to sleep. No more separation anxiety. We still haven't gotten her to calm down in the car unless we move the back seats close to the front seat and put one of her pillows on the seat. She cries like a baby in the car. Still working on that one. We felt so guilty when we would leave Molly that we got Sandy for a companion. I guess it helps that there are two. If we are going for a while we take them to our local doggie day care facility to keep them entertained.

Feb 02, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Pippa does the same thing
by: Nancy

We have the same thing with our Pippa, it breaks our heart we have tried the same things. Our Vet gave her Amitriptyline. We saw no change. If anyone knows how to help PLEASE share!

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