[pyrnet] Re: separation anxiety

["karen leblanc" <karen_leblanc@hotmail.com>]

Is there any experiences out there with regard to Pyrs and separation 
anxiety?

I have a four year old female that has it.  She is a shy dog, was a very 
timid puppy and my breeder warned me to work with her a lot, to socialize 
her as much as possible.

She is better as she has matured but is still very destructive if left in 
the house while we are gone.  I currrently confine the dogs in the basement 
to a 12 foot sq. 6 foot high chain link pen whenever I leave the house.  I 
had to board up the top (she climbed the fence) and the bottom (they pulled 
the chain link from the bottom frame and climbed under).  They still chew 
the wood but I just try to stay ahead of them, replacing what they damage.  
I covered their favorite chew spot with the metal door of a Vari-Kennel, 
sturdy metal is the only thing that contains them.

I started them on clomicalm, began training techniques such as leaving them 
in the pen for short periods during the day, while I was at home and while 
away.  There was an improvement, but I still would not leave them loose, 
they chew and scratch doors and windows, rip curtains.   Interestingly 
enough, they got better after I boarded them during two vacations.  They 
were destructive at the boarding kennel the first time until we sedated them 
mildly with Acepromazine.  The second time, we started out with the 
medication and they were not destructive at all.

I'd love to hear if any other Pyr owners see this, and how they deal with 
it.

Thanks, Karen


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