Severe separation anxiety in foster dog

[peedin]

My friends are fostering a GSP. The dog was a stud in a puppy mill. The dog has had brain surgery and has been with friends about 3 weeks. The dog has developed severe separation anxiety. He has bonded tightly with the husband and falls apart when then husband goes to work. Like running and barking for hours. Trying to climb the gate. Dog is not yet fully crate trained, The dog is now on 3 anti anxiety meds. Wife works from home and this is getting insufferable.

Do dogs ever outgrow separation anxiety? Is this dog adoptable? Do people want a dog that is on 3 meds for anxiety?

[OzarksRider]

Why did the dog have brain surgery? How old is he? Why is he now in foster care? Why is he still on anxiety meds if they aren’t working? Is he worse without the meds?

Yes, dogs can overcome separation anxiety, but that doesn’t mean that this dog will. Still, three weeks is not nearly enough time to know whether he will calm down. And if he is adopted, he will likely go through the same separation trauma again. Dogs need stability, and it sounds like this dog has never had that.

I feel so sorry for the poor dog. He must have had a miserable life.

[trubandloki]

@OzarksRider

Why did the dog have brain surgery? How old is he? Why is he now in foster care? Why is he still on anxiety meds if they aren’t working? Is he worse without the meds?

Yes, dogs can overcome separation anxiety, but that doesn’t mean that this dog will. Still, three weeks is not nearly enough time to know whether he will calm down. And if he is adopted, he will likely go through the same separation trauma again. Dogs need stability, and it sounds like this dog has never had that.

I feel so sorry for the poor dog. He must have had a miserable life.

I feel like you answered your own question about the meds. Many of those types of meds take some time to determine if they work or not.
Three weeks is barely enough time to know if meds are helping or not.

I assume the neuter happened because most rescues do not adopt out intact dogs.

[chestnutmarebeware]

They also need to make sure that they aren’t inadvertently adding to his issues by making a fuss over him when they come home, or when they leave. Or by letting him be a velcro dog 100% of the time when they’re at home.

Teaching the dog to stay alone (in another room, for example) without panicking for tiny periods of time that gradually increase as he becomes more confident is a skill he needs to be taught. Finding a super-high-value chewable item that he only gets when he’s alone in a crate, can distract him too.

[OzarksRider]

@peedin

The dog has had brain surgery

@trubandloki

I assume the neuter happened because most rescues do not adopt out intact dogs.

I’m confused–OP says the dog had brain surgery, but didn’t mention anything about a neuter. I was wondering if the reason for the brain surgery might explain the excessive separation anxiety. But yes, you’re right about the meds. Some of those take several weeks to take effect, and three weeks is too soon to judge.

[JBCool]

On COTH, neutering/gelding is often referred to as brain surgery. I am with trubandloki in assuming that is what peedin meant since he no longer needs his testicles and it was mentioned immediately after the fact that he was a puppy mill sire.

[trubandloki]

What JBCool said.

Though I know lots of people who are not horse people who call neutering brain surgery.

[peedin]

Brain surgery=neutering. He did have a rough life. A backyard puppy mill. He was kept in a kennel. They are working with their vet regarding meds. They spend time doing “husband leaving, dog remains calm “. One day husband had to come home early from work because the dog was so frantic despite the wife and their other dog being there. The two dogs get along fine. They play outside and go on walks together.

I’m not looking for solutions because it’s not my place. I’m wondering about the long term prospects for this dog.

[OzarksRider]

@JBCool

neutering/gelding is often referred to as brain surgery.

I had never heard that!!! It really is true that you can learn something new every day! Thanks for clearing that up.

[luvmyhackney]

My foster now permanent dog wasn’t this bad but I didn’t let her escalate to this level either.

I basically taught her place and gradually made it longer plus me going out of sight and coming back with longer durations.

I’d always give high value chews and then leave for brief periods.

When she started looking for me my husband would either use Place or attach a leash and sit on it so dog had to lay quietly by him. Then once settled either left dog alone or put back in place.

It’s hard and time consuming plus will always rear it’s head when dog is stressed or change.

[cilla1]

I adopted my greyhound even if they told me he had separation anxiety (not very high level). I worked on his anxiety from day One but what really helped was that we already had a really calm and balanced dog who didn’t care at all to be left alone. Once the grey bonded with the other dog we didn’t have any problem (plus we gave a yummy kong evey time we left, we did all the right procedure when we got home, we began leaving them in another room etc etc).
Maybe this GSP would do better with another dog in the house too.

Thanks for the brain surgery explanation LOL