Separation Anxiety in rescued staff.... need help desperately.

Roxie came to live with us 8 days ago, she is a 7-10 month old that was rescued from a canal, where a lady was trying to drown her and another dog. She was in a foster home for 5 weeks, that had another staffie. Since I collected her she has stuck to my side. Jf I leave her in another room she cries and panics to get to me, she can open doors and jump stairgates. I shut her downstairs whilst I got dressed and she chewed up 3 kids toys and weed and pooed, in 10 minutes. The fkrst time I left her, shut in kitchen whilst I did scholl run, she got out of kitchen, went upstairs and messed on the landing and in bathroom and got in bathroom window, knocking and breaking everything on the sill. She had got the runs and my walls and everything were covered. This happened again when I did skl run. Im gone for 15 mins tops. I asked for advice and was told to get a crate, and put her food/toys in and leave door open, did ghis for 24 hrs then had to go to doctors appt. I was gone half hour tops, she had chewed her way straight through the bars and got out. Repeating the messing all over the house. Obviously realised the cage wasn't safe and got rid. Was recommended a thundershirt, got her one, put it on her when I was home for couole of hours evefy so oftdn. Then put it on while I went for a meeting, again sas away half to 3/4 of an hour. Also tied kitchen door shut so she couldnt get upstairs. When I got home my kitchen was ransacked, shed been up on the worktops, smashed everything on draining board aswell as having the runs everywhere and had chewed everything she could get. Always leave radio on, loads of toys and bones, dont make a fuss of her when I leave or come bak. Have stopped her sitting next to me all the time and tried being in a different room go her. Today I hac to take my kids to a party. Have bought these drops u piut between her ears that are ment to reduce anxiety, used those, took hef for 2 hr walk and left her for an hour, got bak and she had chewed a massive hole in the kitchen door. Got no idea where to go from here. I cant leave the house, as I cant shut her in because the kitchen door has a 4ft by 2ft hole in. So worrisd that she will hurt herself and the impact this distress is having on her. Im sure its separation anxiety, and the fact shes become an
n only dog. Trying to do the leaving the house for 2 seconds n getting ready tomgo out them not leaving, but obviously ive only had her few days and I try to stay home but I do have to do skl run and attend appointments. I have no one who I can leave her with. Any suggestions will b much appreciated. Thanku

I really wish I could help - all I can say is it is early days and you all need time to settle. I had toilet problems with Moo and instead of crating I used a very tall baby gate over the bathroom covered in newspaper - they are special made for dogs that jump them x

Thanku, ill look into those. That may help x

You've tried all this in 8 days?
she chewed through a metal dog crate?
she is clearly highly stressed from being moved around lately and is still settling in.
You need to stick to one thing, like a proper crate, large enough for her stand up and turn around in.
feeding and watering her in the crate, giving her kongs in the crate closing for short periods leaving the room and re-enter when you have a few seconds of calm.
5-10 mins a couple of times a day, pop her in a room and then re- enter she will soon learn nothing bad happen and then as time goes on you can increase the time etc. Kongs are a really good distraction.

Have a look here, well done on the rescue http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/separation_anxiety   

Do you have a 'ritual' that you follow when going out (most of us do subconsciously)?  Shoes on, coat on, telly off, pick up house/car keys etc. then leave the house.  These can all be signals to her that you are leaving her and can lead to her getting stressed before you actually go.  Try breaking up this routine.  Put your coat on and watch the telly or read.  Put your keys in your purse or pocket, then prepare a meal, anything really that's out of the norm.  This will eventually break the link between these small acts and the act of you leaving the house.  Try leaving the house (or room) just for 5 minutes, vary the time you leave her, slowly build up to 30 minutes.  Try giving her a kong (as previously mentioned) to play with when you leave and take the kong away when you return.  Don't make a fuss of her either when you leave or return, but when you leave just say to her 'See you in a bit', or 'I'll be back' (ALA terminator).  Reward her if she's been good.  Leave the radio on a channel that has more talking than music, make her crate a den by covering it with a blanket so that she will feel safe.  Try exercising her before you go out, if she's tired she may well sleep.  This is all not easy and will take a lot of patience and time but I'm sure with perseverance you'll both come through it.  Above all do not punish or scold her as this may well reinforce this behaviour.  Have you tried googling 'separation anxiety in dogs?'  There will more than likely be a wealth of information out there

Chiara wrote:Have a look here, well done on the rescue http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/separation_anxiety    

Please read through the link provided above, some very useful hints and tips there.

I've also found some more information on separation anxiety from a rescue centre (this is where Rocky came, from they are very good at advice here) in the link below:

http://www.woodgreen.org.uk/pet_advice/393_leaving_your_dog_on_his_own

Hiya I have got her a kong, and the treats that go inside, shes not interested, but am stil giving it to her couple of times a day. Have been doing the getting ready but not leaving, she does become anxious everytime but i realise it takes a long time to change a behaviour. The crate she had was plenty big enough for ther to stand and move around in, with a blanket over top. She ripped the bars apart with her teeth, a friend welded it and she ripped another hole in it. She was left in it twice, for no more than 15 mins and she got out both times. I can post a pic if u dont believe me. I only went on the skl run. Have made progress with the sleeping. She now sleeps in the next room on a duvet. Sprayed anti chew on the doors but she still chews them. She even does it when I go to the toilet. The only word I can use is frenzied. Say goodbye c u minute baby girl, and ignore her on returning. She hasnt been left for more than 20 mins since she made the hole in the door. By the time I get to my car shes sat on the draining board barking. She ripped the whole cat flap out of the back door while I was out for 10 mins. So scared that if I cant cope anymore noone else would take her on and she would spend hef life in kennels or even pts. Shes so perfect with the children and in everh other way, shes become part of the family. Im a single mum so if im not home noone is. I havent even been able to do my weekly shop. Thanku all so much for ur advice, ill check out the links now. Have googled it and read loads, mostly the advice u have put above. Not giving up on this beaut, shes had a proper bdf start. Thanks lovs from Roxie and I xxx

Kathy I am defo going to try the treat box idea. That link u gave me was rly helpful. Think I need to get more inventive with stuffing the kong, the treats obviously arent doing it for her!!! Going to get started on that in the morning. Thanku xx

An article of clothing with your scent on it may also help. Suki had bad seperation anxiety as well. We would leave her for increasing periods of time alone starting with 3-5 minutes and building up from there. She is good for 8-10 hours now as long as she is exercised before we go

Thanku will try that too x

Have a read around the basics for new owners section as well since there are allot of great tips for other issues you are sure to encounter. You've got a hard road ahead but well done on the rescue and with patience it will all pay off

[url=Hi and welcome from us and Suki]Hi and welcome from us and Suki[/url]

Have a read around the basics for new owners section as well since there are allot of great tips for other issues you are sure to encounter.  You've got a hard road ahead but well done on the rescue and with patience it will all pay off

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/basics_for_new_puppy_owners

Lots of patience give the dog free run of the whole house leave her in a room for short periods of time gradually build it up everytime she doesnt mess give her a treat .

Thanku ive started doing that and it is starting to help a bit. Today she stayed asleep on the sofa whilst I popped upstairs. I know its going to take a very long time and lots of patience. The thing im struggling with most is what to do with her in the mean time when I have to pop out, to doctors etc, when she cannot possibly come with me. Dont want to undo any of the progress, but cant stay in the house for next 6 months. Im a single mum.

I don't have anything to add to the great advice above, I just wanted to say well done for rescuing and I hope things get better for you and Roxie, bless her she's had a hard start to life and it's going to take a while to settle. Lots of respect for you for taking her on and lots of love to Roxie

Mia barks if left in a room for an extended period of time as she was kept in a crate locked in a kitchen all day long before i got her. It took her 2 years to trust me she was badly neglected. Hope she settles through time.