Desperately need help with severe separation anxiety!

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welshies

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My welsh springer suffers from extreme separation anxiety and i am absolutely despirate for help! What does everyone recommend? He is 5 years old on Monday and has never really been left. I have always been told welsh are not on there own dogs but it is pretty rediculous, we can't even leave him to pop up the village shop. He literally screams the place down! and i mean scream, not a bit of a cry or a whimper, it likens to the shreak of a new born baby! Plus he gets soooo distressed, the few occasions we have tried to leave him it takes ages for him to stop crying and shacking when you return, we worry he will make himself v ill if it was for too long. The main reason this has to stop now is my dad semi retired last year and now works 2-3 days a week. Before he retired he ran a shop and took pooch when he needed to when mom wasn't at home and always worked out great. Now he works part time somewhere else he is able to take him for the 1-2 days it clashes with mom working but (now we finally get to the prob sorry) we are due to get a new pup (hopefully) the end of march and dad gets the impression a pup wouldn't be poss at work!!!! How gutted am i! But it is going to happen, i am not giving up the pup due to such a stupid thing that needs soring anyway, it's not just work we aren't able to go anywhere without him any way! The pup is his daughter so is making me even more determined! My mom only works 5 hours a day and it would be for a max of 2 days a week, not too much to ask i don't think. The daft thing is all he does when he's at home is sleep! It would be great to get it sorted before little n comes home as he has enough bad habits to teach her without this one (only joking he's good really)! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! thanks
 
What have you tried? Dante still has Severe Clincal Seperation Anxiety but we are working on it. One thing that did work for a while was a DAP diffuser.
 
we have tried the usual leave him in another room for longer and longer and then go out side etc but he knows when you've gone and when your just outside. We have used a DAP when he was a pup, didn't work for him unfortunately. We tried hot wanter bottle, clothes smelling of us and a ticking clock when he was a pup but still nothing worked!

One thing i have been looking at is Cesar Millan the dog whisperer, think he is amazing and all makes sence.
 
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I'm sure people will have better suggestions, but he might be better when he's got the company of your 2nd dog?

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I did think that too, literally everyone i have spoken to said the other one was better when they got another but i don't want to reply on that.
 
If he knows when your'e just in another room try leaving the house in the car and come back in 5 mins initially, then increase it gradually by 5 minutes every time, and don't greet him when you get back so you coming back is no big event in his life. It will be a slow process as he's had constant company for 5 years. The second dog should help, though I warn you when my neighbour got a second dog it it howled the place down alongside the first one!
 
I have had St Johns Wort recommended to me, failing that I was advised to go to the vets for Colicalm. I didnt want to go for the hard drugs, but I sometimes feel it might be the only way with Dante - maybe see what your vet says, they might have some more suggestions without resorting to that.

Ive tried everything you've mentioned too. To fix Dante I have to start again right from the beginning and teach him how to be alone, requiring 24 hr attention.
 
maybe the drugs will enable him to 'break the habit' for long enough for him to be able to think about actually that radio is nice sounding etc.

I certainly wouldnt want to use anything long term but it might be worth a try if you approach it as a means to get dog off their habit (bit like smoking)?
 
I had a collie bitch that suffered extreme seperation anxiety. She would complety destroy the house. She dug her way through our kitchen door where the wood was a good 4inches thick. Her paws were cut to shreds but she was in such a state trying to get out to find us that she didnt notice. She also squeesed herself through a tiny bedroon window on the second floor and broke both her front legs when she landed. Even that didnt stop her trying to run through the roads. There were loads more situations where I thought I would not be able to take anymore. I even thought of rehoming her and I hated myself for thinking that.

Lucy was an extreme example of seperation anxiety and it did start when she was about five years old. We did eventually get through it and she lived until she was ten years old (she died in a freak accident) and turned into a very happy confident dog who would be happy being alone all day if she was left.

Please dont think about getting another dog just yet. Put all your time and energy into the dog you have at the moment. It is highly likely that the new dog will copy the behaviour of the resident dog and you will have double trouble on your hands then.

Your dog is not being naughty, he just loves being with you and does not want to be away from you but he must learn to be confident on his own.

I tried everything but there is no quick fix unfortunatley. You can use drug prescribed by the vet but these have to used in conjunction with training. Have you tried a training create? You are not at the stage where you can shut him in it but dogs that are insecure usually feel safer if they have a 'den' to go into. You can cover it in a blanket to make it into a den. Also you could try just puting your coat on then sitting down, also jingle your keys then just go and make a cup of tea, anything to take away the association that coat on/keys jingling means being alone. I used to go out for a couple of seconds a few times and gradually increase the time, but it must be done slowly.

You can also use Bach Flower Rescue Remedy in the dogs water.

Im sorry to go on but this issue is very close to heart given how much I went through with Lucy. She was my sweetheart and I am so thankful that I never gave up on her.
 
how is he in the house?
are you 'top' dog?
the way dogs sometimes look at it, is if they are top dog, you are the one that needs looking after?? eg, its like you have a young child, baby etc that goes out and locks you in?? how worried would you be???
they need to know you are boss.
never make a fuss of him when you leave a room, or enter and that includes eye contact, also never feed him when you are eating, and also eat someting small while making his dinner.
this should make him respect you as boss. In a pack the top dog alays eats before others.
Also does he want to meet/ greet people that come round before you do??
 
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