OT-separation anxiety in dogs

My dog, who has spent her entire life outside, has now decided she wants to be in the house. She is determined to get in. Currently, she is trying to dig/claw her way through the concrete footing in the garage.

My vet recommended putting her on clomicalm which didn't completely alleviate the problem, but did help. At least until last night.

From what I've read about this, if medication doesn't help, there aren't many options.

Have any of you had this problem? Were you able to deal with it successfully and if so, what did you do?

I'm running out of options.

Maybe there is another underlying medical problem. Could have had a minor stroke and it did something to her brain.

Change in behaviour! Must need a drug! I will never understand this way of thinking.

I think there is a cause and solution and "better living thru chemicals is not it."

Nancy: I feel your pain, we had a chow that started having issues and would not leave my side, literally! It started after our other dog passed away. Then she was all alone, unfortunately we had to have the vet put her down after months of trying everything. Our pets are part of our family so it was like losing one of them. Good Luck I hope you can find a solution.

I had to think about this a little. Apparently there is a reason you do not want her in the house. That's fine with me. So I guess what I would do is let her know it is unacceptable to ATTEMPT to get in. I would scold her and make her stop that behavior. Consistently. If all else fails I guess you know the alternatives.

I have a 14 year old black lab that stays out side and in the last 3 years he has been deaf. In the last four months he barks at nothing and up till that time he didn't bark unless he saw some thing. With warm weather coming I don't know what neighbors are going to say.

My brother and his wife had a dog like that. He steadily got worse. They ended up giving him to an older lady that farmed and rarely left home. She absolutely loves him - he rides in the tractor and everywhere with her.

Hate to think of it, but giving the dog to someone who is fairly home bound may be an option if nothing else works.

Pure speculation here, but I have always had a dog since childhood....so, is the dog aging, like over 10? Some tend to prefer the indoors as they age. 2nd, cold weather has same effect...you may find the dog will stop wanting indoors as much after it warms up. Other thoughts concern a tramatic event, perhaps being left locked up, or something scared the dog while outside, or something else outside normal.

Anyway, my 2 cents, best of luck with your pet.

Like all the TV ads say "see your doctor"
Yep and all they want to do is push pills on you and do multiple repeat tests with the same results. "everything looks ok"
Don't matter if human or animal all Docs are getting to be the same.

I think if you combine Mick in IL and Dave H's comments you have a good answer. Either get another dog or leave her at the farm. I would rather consider it a lifestyle issue than an opportunity to medicate a pet.

Thanks for all the answers, but none of them fit well.

I cannot have her in the house. Like I said, she's been outside all her life and I just spent $$$$$$$ renovating the house and cannot afford to have it torn up if she has an anxiety attack. Even if I did let her in, she would have to go out while I was at work.

Did some reading on the internet about this issue. Its very hard to deal with.

Thought about getting a "companion" dog for her, but according to what I've read that generally does not help the condition and in many cases makes it worse.

The dog is somewhere around 11 or 12 now. Her doghouse is in the garage. I keep the garage warm during the winter, so being cold is not the issue either.

Taking her to the farm will be just about the last resort. She is very "needy" and won't eat unless I am sitting there. Even though I leave food for her when I go to the farm, she won't touch it until I get back. She's also on liver support meds now, so not sure the farm is a workable solution.

I know somone will say it's cruelty but hear me out before making judgement. I am a lifelong upland bird hunter that has salvaged some dogs and owners partnerships. Some call it a shock collar,I prefer to call it an E-collar. Don't mess with the low end units,they are unpredictable and will ocasionaly deliver more or less stimulation (again I don't like to call it shock)than intended or fail outright. Tri-Tronics builds a good line at a reasonable cost. You should watch some instructional videos and read what professional have to say before starting with the device. In summery,you trick the dog into believing he is turning the collar on and off by his behavior. Never use it as punishment. The amount of stimulation is adjustable and the majority of animals require no more than a barly preciptal amount and a few are not good candidates because the least bit of stimulation upsets them and some others will not respond to any amount. I will repeat it once more,do not buy one before researching the subject. Reason being,you must be commited enough to first train the dog to commands such as come,sit,stay,no,kennel and most of all,good boy. I have worked with owners that were so happy with the dog after the preliminary sessions they opted not to use a collar after all. Duh! They just had never spent enough time with their dog and many animals are so eager to please,all you have to do is let them know what will make you happy. I'll bet some of you have dogs lay around looking worn out ontil you say"are you ready to pen some cows"at which point they litterly start dancing. Chances are he would fix your coffee if you asked. Of all things I have assisted with the single thing that has pleased more people is getting the dog to stop and/or come when told to. That alone may one day save his life if headed for a busy road or a frightened stranger with a club.
I know that might be more than you asked about Nancy,but I felt some might find it helpful. I sincerely hope you and your pooch work it out soon. It sounds like both of you are stressed.

Let Her in for a tour and then make her go out maybe she thinks there is something in the house like a cat a mouse a snake She might be trying to help you.

Been there done that....I had a chow as well. The ultimate cause of him being put down was not the anxiety, but he did have separation anxiety bad.

Kris A NC (now IN)

I too am an upland hunter. Have owned and trained dozens of dogs. I do not see an electric collar as a solution. This is not a training thing, it is an emotional change. Not sure of the breed but some are more needy than others. However, she apparently handled the separation until she got older. Frankly, she may just be lonely, or scared to be alone. Dogs are one of the few animals that will foresake its own kind for the love of a human.

I had a similar problem when one of my 2 kennel dogs died leaving the other alone. She wanted in the house in the worst way and howled when alone in the same kennel, where she had lived for 10 years. Even hours out of the kennel running around the farm and yard and gardens did not help.

A companion dog might work but it sounds like the dogs must be alone in the grage many hours a day....not ideal, and boring even for a dog.
Sadly you may need to find her a new home. In my case the remaining dog had serious health issues and passed away a few months after the first dog died.

I am now dogless for the first time in 30 years. I'd like another dog but it will have to be an outside dog, and that means 2 or zero.
So the kennel sits empty.

Sorry if I sound like a jerk, but you just answered your own question. She is very needy and won't eat unless you are there. Bullshucks! She WILL eat when she is hungry and what you are doing encourages her behavior. Treat her like a normal dog and she will start to act like a normal dog.

Tough situation. Sounds like not much chance to cure the present dog and not a good situation to bring a new dog into with you gone from home many hours a day.

Let us know how you work it out.

Nancy, a couple thoughts. I second the person who said there might be a medical issue. I don't know how large a dog she is but 11 or 12 is pretty old for say a lab size dog. She's quite elderly and dogs are subject to many of the same conditions elderly people are including dementia. But the darnedest little things sometimes cause big problems. My parents dog developed glaucoma and when the pressure would get high she had in effect headaches that would cause he to be hopelessly restless moving around bumping into things etc. Treating her eye with drops brought the pressure down and controlled the problem. Eventually the worst one was removed as her vision had gotten so bad it was felt she could no longer even see shapes. You could walk in front of her and she wouldn't notice--so why keep a problem eye. She's also deaf now. And being deaf she wants to know where people are--she's insecure. If your dog is having sight/hearing or well, I'm sure for dogs smelling problems it probably makes her more insecure. Perhaps a pen outside so she can see you drive off. If she's lived outside in a dog house all her life perhaps she'd rather do that now than in the garage--you can get a heating pad made for dog houses. And practice leaving her for short periods of time if she requires getting used to it. Perhaps a large crate inside the house that you feed her in could become a home when your gone. And if considering having her inside make sure there is a routine for bathroom breaks so she knows when she goes out what she's out for.

This will all take a bit of figuring out but she's your dog--the dog you signed on to take care of. Like an elderly parent or young child it isn't always fun and easy but it's part of the relationship. I know you can't be there 24/7 by her side but work with her and don't forget to consider hearing/vision problems. If she's a 35 lb dog it would seems 11 or 12 is a bit young for these problems but it's still possible.

Bathroom breaks are interesting. My parents dog and them have come to the mutual decision that as soon as dinner is finished they are to take her out to pee. She walks out, pees and comes right back to get a treat. My dog who's only 6 was having some problems leaking pee. I was very concerned, a young male dog shouldn't have these problems (females are more likely to have these issues and urinary tract infections too). Conclusion, he's so focused on checking the back yard for invading pests when he goes out he doesn't think to pee. So when I noticed him licking because he was leaking a bit I'd take him out on leash to a mulched area where he likes to go and tell him to "do his business". He needed to so bad he did. Now before bed he goes out off leash with my supervision and I remind him to "do his business and he empties his bladder then I'll say "Ok, good dog go run" and give him a couple minutes to secure the back yard before calling him "time for bed." I haven't had a problem since. Point is make sure she knows she's out for that purpose so she'll go before leaving her for work or her going to bed at night.

I'm not saying this is you as you obviously care enough to ask but many people get puppies because they are so cute and fun. The are like animated teddy bears. When they get to be lanky rough playing 8 month olds many are given up others chained or kenneled outside. Eventually they are fed but otherwise forgotten. When they are old they are gotten rid of. Frankly I find the elderly dogs the best dogs of all. They are usually calm, gentle, trusting and just want to be with you. They sleep a lot and when secure in a familiar environment sleep or nap from 7am to 6pm easily--my last lab/retriever mix I checked on with a web cam during the day--he laid on his mat beside my bed ALL day and even as he became too deaf to hear me come in a short whistle and I would hear him get up and slowly walk down the hall to greet me. He passed 3/13/10--4 years ago and I'm tearing up now thinking of him.

Had the vet check her over and run blood tests. Everything ok. Yes, she's getting up there in age. She's had some episodes of this in years past, but they didn't last long.

She's always been very timid and spooky and hates thunderstorms. I am investing in a "thundershirt" for her. From what I've read, they can be very helpful.

Wrong. She got down to literally skin and bones, 11 lbs lighter than she was 2 yrs ago. She's a mixed breed and has always been slender, sort of like a greyhound, so 11 lbs was a lot of weight for her to lose.

She is now starting to put weight on and look like a dog should look. While some may say I'm spoiling her, I really don't mind the time together. I just wish she would eat when I'm not there.

This is a mental/emotional issue that afflicts literally thousands of dogs. Separation anxiety is now the #2 reason dogs are euthanized.

There is lots of research and info available and basically, its very hard to correct. That's why I want to pick everyone's mind to see if there's something out there that might help.