Seperation Anxiety - Page 1

Not sure where to post this but I am  hoping that someone has some suggestions for me.
I adopted a 8 month old female German Shepherd from a Rescue group 3 months ago. Well, little did I know that this puppy has severe seperation anxiety. I have tried a long list of things such as, pheromones sprays, pheromone plug in, calming collar, mists, 4 different kennels, leaving her out of her kennel in my room where she feels safe when I leave (not recommended), xanex, Calming meds from the vet., leaving the radio or Tv on, putting a clock on her kennel to mimic her mom's heart beat  and a Thundershirt which lasted less t hen 24 hours. I also exercise her a ton! Take her on bike rides so she can run like crazy, take her on long walks, bought her a doggie backpack to tire her out.
I have tried putting my blankets with my scent in her kennel, she tears it up, same thing with any bedding.
None of this stuff has worked to ease her anxiety....She has chewed through her plastic kennels, gotten out and I have come home to chewed carpeting (x3), wrecked vertical blinds (x4) etc...
I have tried plastic kennels, she chews holes in the sides to get out, I have tried the xl metal caged kennels, she flips them to get out. 
I have put 4 concrete blocks to hold down the metal kennel, she can move them to get out and bend the door to open it.
Yesterday I doubled kenneled her while I went to work, I put one of the plastic kennels inside the metal cage thinking that it would surely keep  her confinded. It didnt, I came home to ruined carpeting not only from her peeing on it but also tearing it up trying to get out of the patio door, as well as she tore down my 4th set of blinds.
This puppy is getting expensive and she is causing me anxiety with leaving her home alone. 
Anyone have this same problem or know of something I didnt try that works for this type of behavior?
I do do obediance training with her as well. She is a wonderfull puppy when I am  home it is just when I leave she has such anxiety.
 
I honestly do not know what else to do with her. I have been very patient with her to get her to adjust to her forever home and have done everything I know of to try and ease her anxiety. Nothing is working....could maybe getting a cat work or a calmer dog to be her companion?

Thank you~!

I do have to say that the Rescue shelter said that she was a shy dog so I knew that when I picked her up. She is getting better with her shyness with men and flyswatters (found this out by accident).  I am trying to build up her confidence etc... The only thing I know about her background is that she is from OH and was going to be euthanized at 7 months of age untill the rescue shelter in WI (where I live) picked her up. 
She loves kids, women, other dogs and she is NOT aggressive in any way with food etc.

I think you are very new.  Look at the top of this site and you will see a PM In Box.  Click on it and follow the directions.  I have posted something there for you to read off this list.  Good Luck.

PLEASE, just be patient , and adopt another dog, she needs a companion...good luck

Adopting a second dog is NOT the answer!!!!! You do not get a second dog until the first is trained and exactly how you want it.

I am PM ing you.

Melissa

Sometimes, having a second older - lower energy (alfa) dog is good, someone she can mimic and follow, but that usually works when you already have one, not sure if it would work in your case...also get a kennel for outside like 10 x10 x6 feet...being in a house is a priviledge and should be treated with respect...
sorry u have to go through this... :(

I had a dog that had separation anxiety.  The dog ate a whole couch among other things.
I came home one day and the couch was destroyed with upholstry staples on the ground.
I was so worried she ate some staples I rushed her to the vet for xrays.  No staples, but fabric from the couch the size of your fist.  If she was not able to pass it they would have to do surgery.
She passed it and was fine.  What worked for me was a second dog.  The minute I got that second dog she was able to be left out and not destroy anything.  She had company and someone to play with.  It may not work for everyone, but it did in my case.
Like someone else said make sure it is a lower energy, calmer, older (not senior), but already an
adult dog.  She is still young, if she had a playmate it may help keep her mind off missing you.

You actually gave this dog Xanex?
Jesus!

I think the rescue did a number on you, this was not a good match period.
And now the dog has even more baggage to add to its load.

This is not separation anxiety.
It is a very real fear of confinement.

Did the rescue give you any information about the dogs history prior to being put in the rescue?

I would return the dog to a different rescue group, one who has real knowledge and one who cares a little more about the animals they are supposed to be helping.
Again this is not the right dog for you and your lifestyle.

I feel a great sadness for this dog.


Moons.

Yes the vet recommended the Xanex. It didn't work so I  am not giving her it anymore.
Something truly happened to her as a very little puppy that has something imprinted in her brain.

It truly is a case of separation anxiety as she will go in just fine now in the kennel when I am home. I even sit in there with her to calm her down and we only leave the kennel when she is totally relaxed. 
The first week I got her she would follow me into the shower afraid I was gone. 
The rescue group didn't k now that much about her as they only had her for about a month before I got it and I doubt t hey saw the separation anxiety when they had her since there were allot of other dogs to play with.

Moon, I never mention anything about my lifestyle etc in the post.  Unfair of you to assume I am doing something to make this puppy to make her so sad. She constantly give me kisses etc.  I thought I  did a wonderful thing by adopting her to a forever home and  have gone above and beyond what any normal person would do for one dog. 
Please don't assume anything about my lifestyle unless you truly know me, what I do  for a living and what kind of life I do live.
I am reaching out on this forum for help not to be criticized.

wow does that story sound familiar Heather.  Yrs and Yrs ago when i first started training I picked up a rescue that had the same issues.  I had the crates with the warranty, after Baily demolished the 4th one the company refused to replace it, plastic ones yeah she chewed through them.  Had to have surgery after she ate a cherry wood antique dresser, to remove the splinters from her mouth.  Left her in the bathroom for 15 min to run to the store she ripped all the linoleum up, ate the door handle and ripped the front off the bathroom vanity in one piece all in 15 min.  Baily was the same way fine if I was home.  I tried the meds from the vet no results, I had an older well trained fema certified SAR dog that didn't help either.  It was rough and I am a trainer so I was very frustrated.  How long have you had your girl?  I had never had a dog that had a fear of confinement before, never dealt with one when I was training.  I assumed seperation anxiety bc when she got out Baily would do things like chew the tops off of my perfume bottles and roll in it.  One day I had to run something to my son's school I just left her out bc I was in a hurry and forgot to put her up, i came home found her laying on the couch not a thing disturbed.  Baily was fine as long as she did not feel confined. Try leaving her out and going outside for like 5 min then coming back in, if she hasn't demolished anything tell her what a good girl she is and gradually increase the time, see if that helps.  Sounds pretty iffy but just might work.  Change up your routine before you leave that might prevent the anxiety from building.  I would love to be of more help, I can't really tell you why it stopped for me, just one day it did after about 2 yrs, and I didn't live in an area I could put up an outside kennel at the time.  Have to say that rescue was the most expensive dog I ever owned. LOL good luck. 

  Number one is :
       Dog does not have seperation anxiety.

   NUmber two:
    That is the reason it was given away

   Number Three:
    Return the Dog asap
    NUmber Four:

    If not able to return the dog to Rescue, you  will be forced to do number  FIVE
    I thought once, with my experience , that I could solve a gsd here, bred by a breeder who is quite well known, and the Brass Lion store , gave her to me, because they had spent close to 9,000.00 over 5 yrs to try to fix her.

   I thought I could, of course, fix her. I called the breeder, and her words to me...

   "You are wasting your time, take her to the vet and let her rest in peace. I bred her
    and this should have been done years ago.  NERVE dogs like that cannot be dealt with
    and will never fit in a home or be fixed and live a horrible life of medicines and pain.

   Dogs cannot talk to you and tell you how they feel all doped up with meds. The terrible
    anxiety they feel inside is not normal and they cannot tell you and it is not fair to assume you can train it out.  Cannot be done. And for what purpose do you try,?  Your own not the dogs .
   Something to think about.

    YR