On another forum, someone posted about problems they were having with their 6 year-old Viszla becoming destructive while they were gone (including going through a plate glass window when another dog went past; apparently it is neither dog nor people aggressive so perhaps this was excitement?). It escapes when left in a crate. The dog is fine when they are home.

Several people, including a vet, said separation anxiety.

Several people, including myself, asked how much exercise and training the dog got.

It gets....1 hour at the dog park every week! And it wrestles with their other dog (5 years old).
WOW
Anyways, he had originally posted that the dog got plenty of exercise. Obviously it's exercise is paltry and I suggested several things he could do.
(What bugs me is this is a triathlete board....hello, you run and bike all the time, but....just leave your dog be? I can't tell you how many fat dogs I see at races owned by fit active people who would have a fit if their race result wasn't in the top 20% of their age group or if their body fat got above 10%. ARGH)

I also asked about the mental exercise this dog got, and suggested several short training session/day, mentioned marker training and the fun stuff you could do with that, or doing fun tracking or agility in the yard or playground.
APPARENTLY, the dog gets adequate mental exercise because he has....wait for it....CHEW TOYS!

heh heh heh

It's not really funny, I feel bad for the dog.

But my question - I know there isn't a lot of info here - I just assumed the dog was bored out of it's mind, and needed way more mental and physical work.

Assuming it is separation anxiety - could a dog w/separation anxiety in this situation be cured by actually getting a life that wasn't mind-boggling boring? Can mental and physical work help it?

In short?

Damn straight!

What I figured!

The 'separation anxiety' thing bugs me too, b/c then it's like a medical problem, as opposed to a get off your ass and actually take care of your dog problem.

It astounded me. My dogs had busier lives when my tibia was fractured.

(oh, I shouldn't say that. I fell last night running (so embarrassing) and I just called Telehealth Ontario and they think I tore something or fractured my right kneecap. FRIG. I'm supposed to go get xrays. please please please be okay....)

Exercise both physical and mental. My dogs are all high drive and very intelligent, I have to constantly be working on ways to exercise body and mind. I also recommend melatonin. Use the vegetarian brand and the usual dose is 3mg for 35-100lb dog, 1-1.5mg for under 35lb and 1-1.5mg added to the 3mg for over 100lb. This should be done with behavior modification and given 3 times in 24 hrs. I used it for my dog that had thunderstorm issues and it took about 9months of melatonin and behavior modification but now he is almost ok with storms, just chirps a lot but doesn't urinate or destroy crates. I have also used it with some success for fear or dog aggression cases.

Kinda like a lot of kids with "ADHD".

Most of the time it's a matter or boredom and no outlet for energy.

Some dogs (and kids) truly have issues, but "seperation anxiety" is a catch-all, wastebasket diagnosis that often excuses poor dog ownership.

You were spot on in your assessment, IMO.

Alyssa, exactly.

Heidi, I did suggest Rescue Remedy - I was a little unsure about doing so, b/c I do think most of the problem is the dog has no life, basically.

I totally agree about mental exercise. I suggested mental work - basic training, marker training, fun targeting games, that kind of thing - as well as things that would be a combo of both - fun tracking, fun agility - suggested he go to a park and play around the playground equipment. Those suggestions are what prompted him to say that his dog got mental exercise b/c it had chew toys.

....I honestly didn't know how to reply to that.

Hi, Speaking about separation anxiety, I have a GSD puppy, almost 5 months old. This is my second GSD. My first one I couldn't leave alone until she was over 2 years old. She would actually hold on to me if I would try to leave her. I use to take her with me everywhere I went. We had out own business, so she went to work with us every day. She would wait in the car for us, with no problems, when we went to dinner or a movie. Unfortuately the law has changed and we can't leave our dogs in the car anymore due to the stupidity of dog owners and parents with their children.

I never crate my dogs but I do have a room for my puppy that I leave her in when I am in the house doing things. The weather is nice now and I do leave her in the car when I go shopping for short periods and she loves it like my other dog. We are going into summer and I am thinking I will leave her for short periods in the room to see how she does. She will be 8 months old by mid June. The room has a door to the backyard with an enclosed backyard but I am a little nervous about leaving that door open since she is still a puppy and likes to chew sticks, etc.

Anyone out their that doesn't use a crate have any good suggestions how to start leaving a GSD puppy alone or do I have to wait until she is 2 years old again?

 Quote: Anna Anderson

I never crate my dogs

I have to ask why.

 Quote: Anna Anderson

... The room has a door to the backyard with an enclosed backyard but I am a little nervous about leaving that door open

I agree.

 Quote: Anna Anderson

She would wait in the car for us, with no problems, when we went to dinner or a movie. Unfortuately the law has changed and we can't leave our dogs in the car anymore due to the stupidity of dog owners and parents with their children...
The weather is nice now and I do leave her in the car when I go shopping for short periods and she loves it like my other dog.

Huh?