My dog has severe crate anxiety and destroys his crate. What to do?

Poor Crash! In most cases, dogs who tear up their crates and try to escape from them during the day have severe separation anxiety. This is a serious problem that will require professional help to treat, so I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a detailed treatment plan to work on his anxiety. This may include prescription medication to help keep him from panicking while you work on training him to be more comfortable by himself during the day. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org If you don't have a behaviorist nearby, you could also consider working remotely with a trainer who specializes in this problem, such as Malena DiMartini: https://malenademartini.com/

Poor Brownie! You're right that this level of anxiety is not normal, and needs to be treated ASAP in order to improve his quality of life and prevent things from getting worse as he gets older. I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Brownie in person and help you put together a detailed plan to work on his problem - this will likely include training exercises to help build his confidence with being alone, management suggestions to help him be more comfortable while you work on the problem, and anti-anxiety medication to make him feel better in the short term. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Stixxs. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian to discuss the possibility of separation anxiety. This is a potentially serious condition where the dog develops anxiety and destructive behaviors when left alone. If this is the case, it can be managed with behavioral modifications as well as medications. I hope this information helps!

What can I do if my dog already has separation anxiety? Treating an established case of separation anxiety will require the guidance and help of your vet. The road to recovery takes time and patience, but with the right tools you and your dog can both lead a less stressful life. It is very important that you visit with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will help you formulate a specific plan to help reduce your dog’s anxiety and build his confidence. Things your vet may recommend are: Behavioral exercises SPECIFIC for you and your dog. Anxiety-reducing medication. These medications will not cure your dog; however, they can alleviate his anxiety enough so that he is able to learn new behaviors. An examination to look for underlying medical conditions.

I am sorry to hear that this is happening. It sounds like she is anxious enough to hurt herself. When dogs are this anxious I do think that medication has a place in making them feel better. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. There is a new supplement out called Solliqiun that has a lot of promise. You may consider using that first, before medication. Also, there Is a pheromone product called Adaptil that is a calming pheromone. It comes in collars and plug in diffusers. I would encourage you to purchase this as well. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!