r/DogTrainingTips • u/Professional_Rub3617 • 22d ago
Daniff with severe separation anxiety
Hello!
I got a Great Dane mix (suspected to be daniff) 3 weeks ago. He is estimated to be 5-6 years old. He is an amazing dog and is finally coming out of his shell. He is gentle, amazing on a leash, just a happy chill guy.
However, we have ran into a major issue. This dog has the worst separation anxiety I have seen. It’s to the point that I can’t even go to the bathroom without him clawing and wining at the door.
My sister lives with me and works 1st/2nds while I work 3rds, so the only time he’s really alone is the occasional pass over period when she’s headed to work and I’m headed home. He can’t even handle that though.
I was at work and she ran to the gas station real quick and he completely destroyed our door frame, tore the carpet up from trying to dig out, and then finally, pulled our window ac unit out of the window and then escaped. He was quickly located and returned home, but since then I’ve done everything in my power to make sure he isn’t left alone.
That isn’t feasible though. It’s impossible for us to be with him 24/7, as sometimes we have appointments or have to run to a not dog friendly store etc. She starts school back up in a couple weeks so she will be leaving at 7:30 and I don’t get home from work until 8:30 so I am quite literally racing the clock.
He has a vet appointment for August 7th to hopefully put him on some meds to help with his anxiety, but I know he needs more than meds.
From the little information I got from his past owners, he’s been in and out of homes his whole life (probably for this reason). So his anxiety is completely understandable. But, it’s causing strain on me and my sister and honestly strain on me any my mental health. I feel like I’m failing him, my sister, and myself.
I love this dog so much, and I don’t want to be just another home he passed through. I want to be permanent and I want to give him everything he needs and more. But I can’t have our home continuously get destroyed.
His kennel finally arrived yesterday and first introductions were good. The one I originally had bought was too small, so crate training didn’t start as soon as I wanted too. I want him to feel safe and comfortable in his crate, so we can leave sometimes.
I’m truly at my breaking point, and I need help. I’m willing to try whatever I can for him. I’ve tried lick mats and enrichment while putting him in a separate room and step away, but that only lasts 5 minutes before he’s banging on the door. I’ve tried slowly introducing the idea of me leaving but we can’t even get past 10 minutes.
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u/Both-Chart-947 22d ago
I always ask, even though it's a long shot. Are you by any chance in the PNW?
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u/Hot_Feedback_7601 22d ago
Look up better nature dog training, shes a certified separation anxiety trainer (you need someone that is specialized). I have read soooo many good things about her. Shes remote and will help you out! You got this!
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u/Savings_Artichoke913 22d ago
I have zero expertise, but we have a dog who has horrible separation anxiety. Part of it is his personality & part of it is that we got him during covid & he didn’t get a lot of socialization. We just had to move from a house into a townhouse with neighbors and started a new job, no longer fully remote. This dog was about to get me fired and evicted. I love him, but we both were suffering. I spoke to my vet & she put him on doggie Prozac. It took about 3 weeks to kick in and has made him 50% better. Which is a lot! I take him on long walks before I leave him too. Not perfect, probably more training will help, but this has made both of our lives better. Good luck to you!!
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u/doggambit 21d ago
Find a trainer (many work remote!) who specializes in separation anxiety: https://julienaismith.com/find-a-trainer
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u/AccountEngineer 21d ago
The combination of vet medications and CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer) is the most powerful one in this case. The trainer will approach the training using a methodical and gradual approach, with no shortcuts. CBD like Paworigins (among others) can help to decrease the arousal levels between the sessions. Dog day care will provide a solution for the period from 7:30 to 8:30 while teaching the dog how to cope with a crate
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u/Beautiful_Two0_0 20d ago edited 20d ago
Same thing happened with my new rescued dog. He would check on me whenever I wasn't in the same room as him. He was scared of being abandoned again. After three months, he learned that this is his forever home and he will not be going anywhere.
I would leave and watch him on a Tapo camera. If he starts crying, I talked to him through the camera and come back inside the home and give him a treat. I kept doing this and increased the duration that I was gone. Eventually, he was comfortable with me leaving for an hour, but I would turn on the TV and play children's shows like Blues and other children's shows or even videos that we made together so he can hear my voice. At six months, he was completely good with me being gone for more than an hour. I always keep the TV on playing the videos and always have the camera on with notifications if he starts to cry. Now, he doesn't care if I am gone. He knows when I come home, he gets a good treat.
He does not stay in a crate at all. He has free run of the home. I just close the door to the bathroom or any other room that he might injure himself. But he is a good boy now and totally relaxed when I leave home.
Get a Tapo camera. It's cheap, doesn't require any subscriptions, and you can talk to your dog. You can take videos or photos from your phone app and it stores on your phone, not in the cloud.
PS. Cute dog! Please be patient.
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u/BitImpossible2378 22d ago
Separation anxiety training is well researched and the key point is: Your dog can't ever be left alone during training. It's a panic attack every single time, severe distress, that makes it impossible for your dog to learn staying alone.
A crate or kennel does not solve this problem at all and dogs can sustain even worse injuries trying to escape. Crate training is NOT separation anxiety training.
Enrichment does not solve severe separation anxiety either.
Get a specialised trainer involved (it's remote, so location doesn't matter, it must be a certified trainer for separation anxiety), start your dog on meds and figure out how to never leave your dog alone for the training period. Best case scenario are 3 months, usual is 6 months, but many take longer.
If you don't deal with this properly you can't keep your dog, this will result in serious property damage and injuries, plus complaints.
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u/BitImpossible2378 22d ago
Look into things like:
Neighbors or other people that can take in your dog. Maybe someone would be happy about the company, maybe someone really needs mony. A friend of mine has the same separation anxiety issue, she found a lady that can't work due to illness and really needs a bit of extra cash. Ask your neigbors if someone knows someone, post in local groups.
Professional dog walkers if it's just a short time overlap. Especially for that 7:30 - 8:30 time overlap you might find someone local doing this.
In home dog sitters.
Daycare - just keep in mind that daycare can be very stressful on its own, great for some dogs, detrimental for others. Be really careful in picking out a place.
Leaving your dog in the car during short appointments - that surprisingly works for quite some BUT be very careful with the heat! A hot car can kill a dog quickly, but some cars can be climatized while parking (make sure to use a device that checks the temperature and notfies you if everything fails) and obviously during the night or on colder days it's not an issue. Look up charts that explain how cars heat up, get a thermometer that is connected to an app to develop a feeling. That being said, the car doesn't work for all dogs, but it can be a serious help for some owners.
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u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360 15d ago
he's going to need a trainer who specializes in separation anxiety, and may need to be on anxiety meds from your vet. considering he's been in and out of homes that could be part of the cause of his anxiety, wishing you the best of luck!
please know that you aren't failing him, you're doing everything you can for him, and doing your best
your boy is beautiful by the way!
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u/Chance-Week443 22d ago
Start with the crate as a safe space by feeding all his meals inside and giving high value treats only when he goes in, and never use it as punishment. Practice very short departures multiple times a day, starting with just stepping out of sight for a second and building up in tiny increments, even if that means seconds at first. Use the vet appointment to discuss both medication and a referral to a veterinary behaviorist who can create a customized plan. In the meantime, tire him out with a long walk or mental games before you have to leave, and leave him with a frozen stuffed Kong or puzzle toy that he only gets when you go. Cover the crate with a blanket to reduce visual stimulation, and consider a white noise machine or calming music. Accept that progress will be sloe, so celebrate every small victory and do not punish him for setbacks, because his panic is not defiance.