Adopted dog destroying home & crate. Could it be separation anxiety?

Destructive behavior like this when you're not home is usually caused by separation anxiety - some dogs will chew things when they're bored, but if there is significant destruction and it only happens when you're gone, anxiety is much more likely. If you want to know for sure, I would suggest videotaping her the next time you go out - it's usually very easy to see on the video if this is anxiety vs. boredom. There are a few things you can do to try and help her. You can try crating her, but be aware that many dogs with this problem are more anxious when they are confined - she won't be able to do as much damage to your home, but she may injure herself if she panics trying to escape. I would strongly recommend leaving her with a special long-lasting treat of some kind every time you leave the house, like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter or something similar. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Composure or Zylkene to help decrease her anxiety. If you don't see improvement within the next 1-2 weeks, you should talk with your vet about the problem as she may need prescription medication to treat her anxiety, at least for a while. You could also request referral to a veterinary behaviorist for additional help if the problem is severe.

This does sound like Rexxy has some separation anxiety. Some things that you can do to help him are to make sure he gets plenty of exercise, especially before you have to leave for an extended period of time; put him in a crate/kennel before you leave to prevent him from being destructive while you are away; and you may want to consider talking to your vet about medication for anxiety. This may help his transition and make him be more calm in your absence. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

It's possible Ares has a bit of separation anxiety going on. if he's destroying things even under the supervision of your roommates, it might be time to look into crate training or keeping him housed in a kitchen or laundry room that has few destroyable items in it to prevent him chewing on stuff. If he's feeling anxious, a pheromone collar (they have dog versions of Feliway) can help by releasing a calming pheromone that may help lessen his anxiety while you're gone. Offering chew and puzzle toys that are safe for dogs is also a good distraction to help keep him occupied with that instead of something he shouldn't chew on. If that doesn't help, looking for help from a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person is a good next step.

It sounds like poor Jack has severe separation anxiety. Some dogs will adapt well to their crate and it will help with the anxiety, but other require additional help in the form of medication. I recommend having him seen by a vet first thing on Monday. You can discuss with your vet his anxiety problems, and the vet can talk about medication options to help him deal with his anxiety. Unfortunately some dogs just need that extra help because their anxiety is so severe, and it sound like Jack could be one of those dogs. I hope this helps!

This is a very hard behavior to correct - separation anxiety. You are going to need the help of a professional trainer (one that will come to your house) and maybe even some medications from your vet. You can try to correct the behavior yourself but often times you end up making it worse. I suggest you call Saga Humane Society for a referral to a trainer. Here is a link to an article about separation anxiety in dogs: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety Hope this helps.

Hello. It sounds like Andie has separation anxiety. This can happen to dogs of any age, but often occurs with younger dogs. There are some good tips on aaha.org under the pet owner section. At home, try and make his routine constant, dogs thrive on routine. When you get home, try and ignore him for 15 minutes so he doesn't just look forward to your return the whole time you are gone. I would also seek advice from a trainer and if those things don't work you can try behavioral mediations. I also like solliquin for anxiety, it's a natural calming aid and can be purchased from your vet. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Shesh has moderate to severe separation anxiety. This is sometimes made worse in a kennel, though for many dogs the kennel makes it better. I recommend talking to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication for him. I notice he is 25 lbs so I’m assuming he is not yet full grown. For a puppy, one of the most important things you can do for anxiety and decreasing destruction is exercise and training. A husky puppy needs about 1-2 HOURS of hard play or running per day. Spending 10-15 minutes per day on training (tricks, etc) also prevents boredom, tires them out, and decreases destructive behavior. Best wishes to you and Shesh.