HELP with major seperation anxiety!

[rowan666]

my great dane x lab suffers from sever seperation anxiety! hes only 3 and had had 5 different homes!

ive stuck by him for 2years (got him whan he was 9mnths) but he HATES my horses aswell as tearing up my house leather sofas, shoes,coats,wood floor,carpets,kitchen etc etc and im at my wits end with him and so are the neighbours! i love him dearly but its not physically possible to be with him every minute of the day!!
aside from the major chewing issue he also barks LOUDLY and leaves me lots of piles of crap even if he jst bin walked!!

he gets walked 2/3 times a day but having to walk him seperatly from doing the horses when my other dogs can just tag along to the yard is really taking its toll! PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Spudlet]

Is he left with the run of the house when you're gone? If so, a smaller space may help as this can help dogs to feel more secure. Either a crate, or just one room. Also contains the damage they can do.

A DAP plug in might help as well.

Re the horses - I think you need to see a trainer on this because it's hard to give good advice without being able to assess if he's fearful, aggressive or what?

On leaving him - build the time up slowly, start by leaving him for only a few minutes, and work up gradually. A kong or big raw bone may help occupy him too.

 

[rowan666]

weve tried kongs, bones, other dogs for company and leaving him in 1 room dosnt work! we did crate train him and he was ok while we wer in the next room but he barks when we leave the house and the neighbours go wild! hes such a big dog (mastiff size)to be left in a cage really does seem cruel anyway tho our other love their crates! when he chewed the sofa at 1st he was only left for 5mins while i nipped to the shop 5 doors down for milk!!

 

[Spudlet]

Tbh, it really sounds like you need a behaviourist to help you. Perhaps if you post your area someone could recommend one?

 

[rowan666]

i dont think my funds would stretch to a behaviourist unfortunatly, i have already sought help from a friend who is a dog trainer but they wer also at a loss with this one!!

hes the perfect dog as long as hes not left alone!!

thanks for your help!

 

[Sandstone1]

Have you tried leaving the tv or radio on for him? You could try leaving him for 2 mins at a time dont make a fuss when you leave him or when you come back. very slowly build up the time you leave him.It may take a long time to do this and you will need patience. Maybe explain to the neighbours you are trying to train him to be left alone.
leave him a old tshirt or something that smells of you. A herbal calmer like wendalls or something ma help or speak to your vet.
Hope you get him sorted out.