Signs of seperation anxiety?

[monochroma]

Just wondering what the most common signs of seperation anxiety/lonliness/abandonment issues are?

Tessie's beginning to worry me.

See, on the 7th of last month I lost my mum - the Alpha bitch. And two years before that, we lost her packmate, my darling Mickey who had been with her all her life. And 18 months before that she was present when Gemma was pts in the kitchen.

She's getting very clingy which means she's getting stood on and told off and then apologized to. She's getting very vocal too (though that could be because she's going deaf and can't hear herself very well). And while she's very, very good when left alone for a few hours she gets very wound up when we return home.

And unfortunatly, because of circumstances being what they are, I've had to postpone the rehoming of another dog - the only real way out of her problems I can truly see.

The vet doesn't know what to say, we don't have money for a behaviourist and I'm now beginning to worry that her behaviour will influence any rehoming process in a negative way.

Talk about a rock and a hard place.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Another dog would probably help take her mind off things?

I take it you've tried things like not making a fuss when you go out/come back in, lots of quiet, calm times?

Try not to apologise or over-fuss her, I know it sounds hard-hearted but it will fuel and reinforce any anxiety she was feeling already x

 

[CAYLA]

The most common signs would be the tell tale signs you are greeted with when u arrive home, such as destruction, passing of urine or faeces or both, movement of objects in the house, howling/barking, mass over excitement when u arrive home both vocal and physical, or becomingglued to u when u do arrive home.
Do you practice the "having her spend time in her own company when u are in aswell as out"? as in not having access to you at all times when u are in or being able to follow u everywhere?
I agree another dog may help, aslong as it's not a one with seperation issues it's self

 

[monochroma]

We don't make a fuss when we come back, just a calm 'hello' once she's stopped hooning around like a lunatic. It's not distructive or fouling, it's just high-pitched puppy-barks and careening about at full speed.

Once's all that's calmed down, she tends to stick to my dad and worries when he dissapears without letting her know - even if I'm around, she still starts to act up. If she know's he's gone she's fine staying with me but she tends to cling and not let me out of her sight.

I had to shout at her today, something I rarely do, because she nearly tripped me up when I was moving hot fat

She actually practices 'alone' times herself, she takes herself off into the garden alone and just sits and watches the world go by. I stood for half a hour watching her doing nothing but stare into space because she didn't know I was behind her (I then left her to it and she came in about 10 mins later). Other than that, I think dad's a bad influence because he's got seperation issues when it comes to her (which annoys me because it's undermining if I make a breakthrough

)

Tbh I think she's a confused little dog at the moment, I still firmly believe that getting another dog will be best for all of the family - especially her. Her pack has dropped sharply over the past few years after all.