Anxious pup on seek & destroy mission
1 Our and dog he is has about been to turn a healthy and wonderful pet. He loves people and other dogs. When my wife and I leave home, he suffers from severe separation anxiety, barking incessantly, as reported by neighbors, pacing nonstop and scratching at the doors to the point of them showing signs of damage.
Our vet suggested various ways to retrain the dog starting away and with increasing short trips in length, as well as distractions such as the television or music.
He also said that in worst case scenarios, we may need to consider medications to reduce the dog’s stress. Do you think that would be necessary and if so, which drugs would you suggest? Is there any chance that he might also outgrow his nervousness? If not, are there any other things that we could consider?
It seems as if you are on the right track, especially in speaking with your veterinarian about options available to you. All the suggestions that you have listed are things that I have often advised and that work for the most part. Every dog is an individual and has to be considered as such and what works for one in a certain time frame another. may Music not and necessarily television work can dis- for tract some dogs well, whereas others are so anxious when their owners leave that they can damage the home and even hurt themselves. I had a puppy once that ate through a plastic crate only to find that when he finally destroyed it enough, he completely ripped a sofa apart in just a few hours! One idea that was not listed is making sure that the puppy has enough exercise to tire him out and enough toys to keep him busy. How long are you and your wife away at a time? If the time is substantial, you might want to consider putting the dog in a dog day care facility where he can have companionship and exercise. While there are associated expenses, leaving a young dog alone for long periods of time is not fair to the dog.
I am not a fan of suggesting that a puppy or young dog be given an anxiolytic drug before trying all kinds of ways to retrain the dog and let them feel secure. There are various medications such as clomipramine, fluoxetine and others but I suggest that you do not give in to that just yet and I am sure that your veterinarian can advise you properly should that need occur. I will also add that some pups simply outgrow this. Lastly, the one thing not mentioned is getting your dog a companion. Another dog or pet might easily resolve what you are experiencing. Just remember that occasionally two pups can be worse than one in that the mischievous behavior could magnify, but most likely they will just play a lot and your troubles will be over. Good luck.