Has anyone out there had their dogs separation anxiety fixed or even just improved by introducing another dog?

Question

We have tried everything including medication (which she is still on), appeasing pheromones, behavioral experts and training, shutting her inside etc, and whilst things have definitely improved by around 80%, there are still severe anxiety attacks periodically every couple of months. These attacks are unpredictable and are not due to extended times alone or any other factors we can determine. As a result the house cops a massive amount of abuse ranging from scratched and chewed walls, window and door frames, to glass doors covered in paw prints and saliva. Not to mention the attractive bars over the windows that have resulted from her smashing her way through a second story window to escape during one of her anxiety attacks. Our success so far over an 18 month period is certainly encouraging as it has resulted in far fewer 'episodes', however our little girl is still so lonely and does still have her attacks. We are contemplating another dog to ease her loneliness as she is social, friendly and loves mixing with other dogs but have heard a few horror stories from vets and other friends that has put us in two minds about it. Can anyone vouch for this approach as a solution to the problem? Is it a viable option to continue her improvement and possibly further reduce the amounts of attacks she still experiences, and possibly even eliminate them altogether? Any other ideas for us? HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Well, we have an austrailian sheperd, and when we traveled, he would always intentionally soil the rug, rip up papers, and act all paranoid and freakish when we returned. Then we got a smaller, more energetic female dog. We've now noticed that he's become more calm, and there were noticably less "accidents" on the rug when we returned. We got the second dog because we thought she'd be great in our family, not because she'd calm down the first dog, but it worked out any way! I think that having each other to be a reasurance has helped make leaving the dogs easier for everyone! But please don't get a dog, just for the other one. Get a dog because you'd like an addition to your family, and are willing to commit to doing "double dog duty." Good Luck!

Answer 2

NO! another dog will not help.

follow Cesar Millan, the dog whispers way. It is the ONLY method that worked for our dogs sep anxiety. We started walking the dog daily, every day! Never yell at the dog. build its trust in you by not being mean to it. When you come and leave the house, do not pay the dog any attention. The more attention you give it, the more you are postively reinforcing the bad behavior. Never let the dog get into an excited state before you leave or return to the home. it takes time and effort, but this is the ONLY way to solve sep anxiety. Buy his books and watch his show.

Our vet put our dog on pills to keep him calm. I cried when I came home after giving him his first pill. He was in such stupor he could barely walk. i thought we killed him. I felt so bad and guilty. Pills are not the answer, and neither is another dog.

Answer 3

Yep.

We got a german shepherd pup  and stupidly took him everywhere we went.

I worked but my husband did not. So the pup was always on the go except for the rare occasions he could not and he destroyed quite a bit on those occasions starting with the last thing my husband touched and systematically worked backwards from there destroying everything he got his teeth into that my husband touched that day.

When he was 18 months old we'd had enough.

If I was at home and we were leaving I'd tell the dog he could not go but I'd bring him back a treat and he'd happily lay on the couch to wait but during the day when he was with daddy all bets were off.

My husband locked him up,yelled at him while showing him the mess he'd made and swatted him during the day for chewing. Once on a Sunday night he evan stole my glasses and ate them so I'd not be able to go to work on Monday morning. THAT was the last straw.

I decided that if he had a playmate it might help so he went with to pick out a puppy.

When he saw 11 yelping little furballs running toward him yapping he tucked his tail and ran but my husband and the breeder corralled them all while i pulled a 95#, shaking  dog out of the car and lead him back to 2 german shepherd puppies my husband liked. A male and a female.

Our dog showed the most interest in the little female but the male kept getting in his way barking at him,jumping and pawing the air and play growling. He was so cute we had to take him. Our dog pouted all the way home. He was having none of that puppy sharing the back seat of the car. He got mad when I held it. And finally the pup climbed in the back of the car to play with that big dog and he climbed into the front and sat on my lap the rest of the drive home. 45 miles.

When we hit our driveway I told my husband I had to go potty and we'd take the pup back and exchange it for the female who had the exact same markings as the male we'd bought and he agreed. We let both of them out of the car to stretch their llegs and go potty before we took it back. I went to the restroom and by the time I came outside ,not evan 5 minutes,the two had bonded. Our dog was offering the pup his toys trying to get his attention and actually showed teeth and growled at the 2 little shih tzus next door who were barking wildly at the puppy thru their fence.

From that day on the only thing either chewed on was each other.

I've put very little training into the pup. The older dog housebroke him and has taught him acceptable and unacceptable behavior. They're inseperable. They're now 6 and 4 and the older one allows the younger to play the alpha role still but when he steps out of line he'll grab him by the neck and toss him on the ground and hold him there until he's calm. All I have to do is say the pups name and depending on how I say it determines how harshly the older dog treats the pup as he runs him down and drags him back to my side.

Having 2 males we've been waiting for the day to come when they fought but only once in all this time has there been an issue.The younger one lagged on a walk in the woods to check out a ground  squirrel and the older one noticing he was not where he should be ran and grabbed him pulling him to me and they both came up on hind legs chest to chest with blood in their eye. Luckily it happened right in front of me and I reached out and put a hand on both dogs and yelled ENOUGH and that's all it took.

I buy 2 of everything so there are no jealousy issues. They both get attention at the same time. They get treats and or fed at the same time. They get walked together. They get disciplined together.They both go or they both stay home. They both have a great sense of humor and play tricks on each other constantly.

Buying another pup evan tho I now have twice the vet bills and twice the hair to clean up was the best thing I could have done but I have to warn you that it may not work as well for you. I am the pack leader in this house. Daddy is a play toy and treat giver.While they both mind him most of the time when they get tired of playing with him they will both leave the room regardless of what he wants them to do and go lay down. My dogs are walked at least 45 minutes before I leave for work every day regardless of the weather. They have several play sessions in the yard during the day that last anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour and they get alot of mental stimulation. One is neutered and the other is not. And I have spent many an hour on training and positive re-inforcement their entire lives.I rule with a firm but fair hand and they look to me for direction. Our dogs are well mannered and well behaved and we have put them in as many situations as possible to socialize them as often as possible.

They have never been kenneled or crated and evan at the vet they are not allowed out of my sight unless it is absolutely necessary.They are NEVER left unsupervised for long. We don't give them much opportunity to step out of line.

If you're one of those people who think that just going out and getting another dog and not put in any work will correct the problem you're setting yourself up for disaster cos you'll only have twice the messes to clean up and spend twice the money replacing whatevers destroyed. And you cannot just drop any dog in front of yours and expect to have the same results as I got. Dogs are not that different from people. They each have their own personalities and some just clash. Your dog will be the one sharing his home and toys and the time he gets getting attention so show him some respect and let him decide who he wants to share with rather than drag home what you think is the cutest and demand he accept it happily.

Answer 4

Most, if not all, separation anxiety incidents happen within the first 20 minutes after you leave.  Behavioral experts tell us to give the dog a stuffed Kong toy as we go out the door.  This keeps the dog happily occupied and puts an end to most S.A.  Another approach is to sit quietly, ignoring the dog for 10 minutes before you leave, then just go.  When you return home, don't greet the dog for 10 minutes then give just a casual hello; no big emotional scenes or telling the dog to be good, etc. when you're coming and going.  You have made great progress with your dog.  If you combine what you have already learned from your vet and behaviorist with the methods I have outlined above, you should see an end to the problem.  I think a second dog could easily double the damage.  If all else fails, have you tried doggy daycare?  Day boarding?  Hiring a dog walker?  Crating her?