How do you deal with a dog that damages things due to separation anxiety?
So_Wat asked:
How do you stop a dog from chewing furnitures and walls when you’re not home? The dog has severe separation anxiety from the family. Most of the time, there’s someone home, but when everyone’s out, the dog gets really anxious and scared. There are literally puddles of drool all over the floor. The family decided to keep the dog in a big laundry while the family’s away, but the dog manages to bite off the door frames and the wall. They’ve had this dog for 14 years, and he’s just begun doing this. The vet told them it’s old age. Does anyone have any solution?
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How do you stop a dog from chewing furnitures and walls when you’re not home? The dog has severe separation anxiety from the family. Most of the time, there’s someone home, but when everyone’s out, the dog gets really anxious and scared. There are literally puddles of drool all over the floor. The family decided to keep the dog in a big laundry while the family’s away, but the dog manages to bite off the door frames and the wall. They’ve had this dog for 14 years, and he’s just begun doing this. The vet told them it’s old age. Does anyone have any solution?
November 25th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
They should seriously look into hiring a pet sitter. Especially in the summer when lots of kids/teens are looking for part time jobs.
This is a great time of year to hire someone to walk their dog, take him to the park, etc. 
Tink
November 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
The dog is reverting to puppy behaviour.Buy him a bone. Mark M
November 30th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
My suggestion would be to buy the dog a crate. His age might make it difficult for him to adjust to this change, but it will stop the destruction and might lessen his anxiety. We have a dog that did the same thing, and he has taken very well to his crate. It is like a den that makes him feel safe when we are not home. lifeuntiloctober
November 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Put him in a kennel, while your unable to watch him. It really is a humane thing to do, because while he’s destroying stuff he could eat the wrong thing. rie rie
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Tink had a great suggestion. You may have to resort to crating the dog while you are away…Good Luck… aj
December 4th, 2009 at 9:23 am
put them in a cage while you are gone uncaged them when you come home munciciman77
December 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am
If all this drooling still occurs while in a crate, you might want to check with your vet. They can prescribe something to help. Great Dane Lady
December 8th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Doggie day care…it really works, or leave the Tv on…..have a neighbor come over and walk him a few times, or there is melds but who really likes to be medicated. caloberrybask
December 11th, 2009 at 5:07 am
A fourteen year old dog is very old. At that age, training isn’t going to help. Unless he’s always been this way, severe behavior changes like that are often a sign of a medical problem like a brain tumor. If he’s that distressed, it might be kinder to put him to sleep.
Otherwise, the only safe thing they can dog is get a pet sitter or a large, sturdy airline crate. Get the plastic kind - too many dogs like this either break out of a wire cage or severely injure themselves trying. Leave a tv or radio on. Fill a rubber Kong toy with peanut butter to distract him. Dog_trainer
December 13th, 2009 at 5:28 am
easy..one words..CRATE..its not a bad thing…
there are also faremone options as well…its like a plug n air freshener,,,you get it at the pet store..plug t in and it puts out a relaxing faremone for animals..it works but a crat s generally cheaper..and that way they can only damage what you put insid the crate… front_page_hottie
December 14th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
He’s not too old to train, the problem is catching him in the act of being bad since he does it when everyone is out. You could try Crating - although it may be hard for him to adjust to at 14, but is he’s usually a calm, easygoing dog it may work. There’s also Doggie Daycare - even a couple time a week may help him behave the other days that he is home. Otherwise ask the vet about Doggie Prozac- I’ve heard of this being used for separation anxiety. tressa1220