Seperation anxiety

[Jane Austen]

Recently my brother said that Duchess gets very whiny when I go out. I told him not to give in and pay her any attention until she is quiet but he said he couldn't. He took it for a while and then had her come over to be petted. She seems nervous and goes around the house pushing at things. (she generally pushs at things like brooms or empty boxes anything that will wiggle)
It seems this behavior has been increasing since I came back from my trip to California then a weekend away to Hyannis.
Another thing is I go away from the house just about every day for a few hours at a time. There is no way to avoid leaving her at home. She is safer there than left in a car.
Duchess is nearing 11 years old. I don't think there is anything I can do to ease her distress without "doping" her up. She watches me every minute so I can't just slip out. Any ideas? June

[gogogiraffes]

Could you leave her with a kong type treat? I give Gizmo part of his breakfast if I open at work with it. And he is great with it. You can freeze it as well. With stuff like peanut butter, squeeze cheese, stuff like that.

[Jane Austen]

That is an excellent idea. I will try it with something she really likes. I have left her with things that she loved before and she didn't eat it till I came home but if it was something she couldn't resist maybe that would keep her occupied and accept the fact I went out. June

[gogogiraffes]

Also make sure it's a treat she only gets when you're gone.

[Jespah]

Good idea with the treat Elizabeth, especially if it's something she has to work on, my dogs each get their rolling treatball before I go to work everyday. Now they can't wait for me to leave.

It's also good not to make a huge deal about coming home. It's hard not to be excited or greet them loudly with hugs and talk, but that just makes it harder for them in the long run.

Good luck with it - it can be a difficult issue.

Deb

[CorgiMum]

Here is some information about separation anxiety, particular to corgis. Hope it helps Jane.

http://books.google.com/books?id=SaJK-zt3JqQC&pg=PT64&lpg=PT64&dq=corgi++separation+anxiety&source=bl&ots=0LNiofEMtk&sig=PhVspQx56l5UgCeFzzNVfJKT01Y&hl=en&ei=Y7wnStWBA5iktAPqqbhG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#PPA1,M1

[Jane Austen]

I appreciate all the responses to this thread. I knew that it was not good to make a big deal of leaving but I didn't know not to make a big deal of returning.
Where Duchess is an older dog (11) I didn't expect to run into this problem, she has been with me four years now. June

[MVons]

We put classical music on very softly and Chester seems to calm down. Though when it was opera I did have to tell Chester enough when he barked when I shut the door.

I try to wear Chester out before leaving so he is happy to go sleep.

He has to go in his crate when I need to use the bathroom, so he doesn't know if I'm going to be gone 5 minutes or 5 hours. Except if he sees me put the cooler in the car.