Hey guys and girls ! Its been a while since my last question/comment but I've been monitoring the boards and have done tons of research on my current issue with Addie Mae. She has been such a good girl right up until we leave.

So here's the deal. I have moved from Port Orange to Cape Canaveral Florida to do helicopter training with my roommate, Kenny. We've heard complaints from our neighbor in the condo below us that Addie has been barking and whining and she has even called the cops on us multiple times. I am barely gone from home maybe 2 hours a day and the same goes for Kenny, yet when one is gone the other is home. However if we both decide to go away for lunch or dinner or grocery shopping Addie seems to have issues with us being gone.

I have done everything over the last few months. I have bought her fancy toys to keep her busy while we are gone. Leave the television on. Leave television off. Moved her around the condo. Window view. Put blankets over the kennel to make it more den like. I have taken her for runs before we leave. She goes into the crate whenever she does something naughty or if she just wants to chill out. She also eats her meals in her crate. She doesn't seem to dislike her crate by any means and isn't afraid to go in it.

However the barking and whining still continues so I resorted to getting her a no-bark collar. It vibrates when she barks or whines and she does NOT like it at all. I've stood outside the door for hours and haven't heard any bad behavior coming form inside. However, now when we leave she poops and pees in her cage (something she has never done). I have a feeling she doesn't do it on purpose because she does everything possible to push it out of her cage including hiding it under her stuffed toys and kicking it out of the cage. She is on a regular toilet schedule as well. Today she pooped, peed, and pushed her plastic crate liner out of the crate.

Any ideas to help her? Thanks!

What you are describing is separation anxiety. It's a common problem, especially for huskies.

The problem with no-bark collars when they are used on a distressed dog is that they can make things worse, because they do nothing to deal with the distress, but they add something unpleasant (the vibration) to a situation where the dog is already unhappy. I would stop using the collar.

Separation anxiety can be fixed with lots of gradual departure exercises. Start by leaving the room for a moment, then go back in and give her a treat. Do this lots of times in a day. Then slowly build up the amount of time that she is left for. If you search the forums, you will find lots of threads with advice.

Hi David
how is it going with Addie and her separation anxiety issue ? Kira our 1 year old, also has this SA problems but she is coming around with the idea of being alone. We purchased DAP spray and diffuser and its suppose to calm her its a pheremone. Kira has been with us now almost 7 weeks since we got her from the shelter and has a rough start in life. She is far from over SA but she is getting better with alone time. We leave her a kong full of treats for her when we leave , spray DAP 15 minutes before we leave and have the diffuser plugged in all the time in the area where she sleeps. The diffuser constantly releases DAP ( Dog appeasing pheremone). I dont know if it works or not but all i can say is that maybe it might be helping a little and also she is gaining trust that we come and go all time and we will always be back. I have read that DAP has helped some but not others so no guarantees, but apparently its 70% effective. I also have read there is another spray called "Bachs rescue remedy" based on herbal mix of plants. dont know much about but its non toxic.