Separation anxiety

[RinTin12]

Hello All,

It's been awhile since I last posted and through our research into breeders and different lines of GSDs my husband and I came across this wonderful rescue named Mac. He's 4yrs old and been fostered since August when he was dumped at the shelter after his original owner decided they couldn't handle him anymore. We visited him today and he plays like a puppy with the kids and absolutely LOVES the tennis ball. He's a bit on the thin side and has been great with housetraining, other pets, kids, and socialization with one small catch...HE HAS EXTREME SEPARATION ANXIETY according to the foster mom and if left alone for any period of time will be destructive as well as try to escape. She said this is not an issue at all as long as he has people around him at all times. We really connected with Mac and thought he would be a great fit with our family being that hubby is home full time and he'll get lots of play and exercise with us and the kids. We also felt that no one else will likely adopt him just for the fact that he has that anxiety which is sad because everyone deserves a 2nd chance.

My question is though is how should we best prepare (if possible) for this type of challenge other than the obvious of not leaving him alone and are there certain things we can do to try and ease this for him? She did say that he takes medication (ritalin) once a day to help but still has some issues. I have never dealt with this type of challenge and want to be best prepared and knowledgable about it beforehand as possible. Thank you all for any advice or tips in advance and hopefully I will have a picture to post soon.

[Mac's Mom]

Hi RinTin, I think its great that you are asking these questions before you make the commitment to give this boy a forever home. And I absolutely agree that he deserves a second chance. But this might actually be his first chance. Poor training may be the cause of his challenging behavior. It sounds to me like you & your family are willing to put in the time to properly train this boy. I recently adopted a 4 year old who had no training...not even housebroken. And with consistency and patience he learned very quickly and is a wonderful dog.

There are so many people on this site that can give you good advice on how to work with the separation anxiety issue and support you during the transition into your home. When I adopted my dog, many people explained to me how being abandoned by their family, going to a shelter and then a rescue or foster really can effect a dog's behavior....maybe even cause the anxiety...I don't know.

The only advice I can give you regarding the destructive behavior when left alone is to put Mac in a crate while you're gone. And leave him alone at first for only short times...then gradually longer.

Good Luck! And thank you for considering adoption.

[BowWowMeow]

I'm surprised the foster family did not put him through Patricia McConnell's SA protocol. It works! Rafi had severe SA when I adopted him and I did the protocol with him. It took 7 weeks but it worked and it's still working, even when he stays other places.

Here's the little booklet. You have to follow it to a tee for it to work but if you do so it will work.

I'll Be Home Soon-Dog Behavior Problem Solving Booklets at Patricia McConnell

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by BowWowMeow

I'm surprised the foster family did not put him through Patricia McConnell's SA protocol. It works! Rafi had severe SA when I adopted him and I did the protocol with him. It took 7 weeks but it worked and it's still working, even when he stays other places.

Here's the little booklet. You have to follow it to a tee for it to work but if you do so it will work.

I'll Be Home Soon-Dog Behavior Problem Solving Booklets at Patricia McConnell

Are there resources you can find online for free?
The reason I ask is sometimes we're approached by owners who want to give their dog up due to SA, or sometimes SA develops after a person adopts a dog.
I'd like to know where to look for the best resources online without having to order something?

[Shaina]

Im sure you know, but it will not be easy. My lab was only allowed home alone in a crate for the first two years of his life. He ate my carpet, linoleum, door frame, and disturbed my neighbors in my apartment complex when he was about 1. He screams in a crate, so in an apartment that just wasn't an option.

He can now be free roaming in the house when I leave, but he still whimpers a lot.. EVEN when somebody else is home with him, no matter how much he loves them!.. and this is after two years of intensive training. He is not "bored", and he does not need exercise... he is just neurotic, and our next step is going to be prozac if he can't adjust to me leaving for work every day.

I hope that this boy fits into your family well, and as long as you can use a crate (and Id use a hard shell crate, not a wire crate, as destructive dogs can get out of them and injure themselves if they really try) and some patience, it DOES get better. Just be prepared to have to deal with some hurdles!

[Oskar der Drachen]

I'm looking at the same kind of thing with my Bear at the moment. I must have done a good job of the bonding with him, because when I leave he *really* has a fit. My lady wife says he tries to throw himself through the doors. It's just me though, anyone else can come and go as they please and he could care less.

Now grain of salt time, she is studying for a CPA at the moment and is sensitive to ANY disturbance. He seems to be better if he is outside. I constructed a half-yard enclosure & dog house. The house is in the middle of the section, and when I am going out he and the other two dogs are in the back half and can't see the front of the house.

I have ordered the book, and it should be here shortly. I will read and carefully follow the instructions.

Mean time though, any tips?

I have done the go out for a short time and back again thing, and this time I was only away for less than an hour. He is not hugely affectionate when I return, but definitely is smoochy. Not MORE smoochy than other times however.

So, from the hivemind, any techniques you find useful?