How to help my new shelter dog with severe separation anxiety?

You would need to consult with an in-home professional dog trainer. They can help you the best. If the anxiety is severe then you can talk to your vet about using a medication in conjunction with the re-training. You may also want to consider using some Adaptil (pheromone) products: https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/site/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?s=adaptil&hierarchy=&sort=score%20desc

Poor Cleo! There are many things you can do to help get Cleo feeling more comfortable and help control her anxiety. It’s great that you are being proactive about preventing issues in future! Visit the following links for some good tips on training http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=0 ,https://healthcareforpets.com/videos . Also visit the following link to learn more about Adaptil, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in dogs, and can often be useful in cases of anxiety http://www.adaptil.com . I’m assuming this is what your vet was referring to, or something similar. It reminds puppies of a mother dog, and helps them to feel more secure. Soothing sounds in the back ground can be used in addition to this. Try something like the following : https://www.amazon.ca/Through-Dogs-Ear-Canine-Companion/dp/1591796423 I strongly recommend you speak to a trainer who uses positive reinforcement or a veterinary behaviorist to help give Cleo her best chance at becoming a well adjusted, happy dog. See the following link for more information on that http://www.dacvb.org/resources/for-the-public/ . Good luck!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Don't worry- you are not alone in this separation anxiety issue Oren seems to be having. This is very common but can be very frustrating for everyone involved- including Oren! Anxiety can be very energy draining, so I am not surprised to hear about the exhaustion experienced when you get home. A few tips, though, can help with this. Keep the crate area very comfortable and inviting with lots of soft blankets. Spray a bit of Adaptil Spray (pheromone spray) you can purchase at your local pet supplies store around the crate area and blankets 15 mins before you leave. Take a kong toy and stuff it with low fat peanut butter or low fat plain yogurt and freeze it overnight. Take it out 10 mins before you leave and offer it to Oren to keep him entertained and busy while you are in the process of leaving and while you are away. Playing music or the radio can help as well. Claiming chewables with L-theanine in them daily can help lower anxiety levels naturally. SSRIs prescribed to Oren by his veterinarian can help with cases that do not improve even with behavioral modifications if Oren continues to have trouble with separation anxiety. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Hello. I would start with an over the counter anxiety product like Zylkene. I would also start using a dog appeasing pheromone in the home ( room diffuser ) or it comes as a collar. The pheromone can calm an anxious dog without drugs. Adaptil is the name of this product. If this does not help over the course of a couple of weeks, you will need to talk to your vet about possible behavior modification therapy & the use of prescription medications like Trazodone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It appears, from the information you provided, that Videlia is almost two years old. It would be helpful to know more about her in order to give you an answer. Have you had her since she was a puppy, or did you get her recently? Is this behavior new? If so, has she had any traumatic incidents recently? Has anything in her household routine changed in any way?

Good on you for introducing them slowly! I would use a DAP diffuser. This releases pheromones that help with anxiety in dogs. You can pain this with a Sentry calming collar for the dogs. When in contact with their skin, it also releases pheromones. This may help with their anxiety around the kittens. If this method doesn't help, I would take them into the vet to discuss using anti-anxiety drugs. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

From your description, if Miel is showing this crying behavior when you aren't around, it can be sign of separation anxiety. She is anxious when you leave and is afraid you may not be coming back. This can be a common problem in dogs. I recommend crating her when you are gone. The crate will provide her a small space where she can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train her to get used to a crate. Start putting her in it when you are home and sitting nearby so she doesn't think you are abandoning her, and slowly increase the time she is in it. She can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that she has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to her in the crate. That will keep her occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety and pair that will a DAP pheromone collar that releases pheromones when in contact with his skin. If these methods do not help her, then I recommend having her seen by a vet to discuss the use of anti-anxiety medications. Good luck, I hope this helps!