Expert: Kaza - 1/11/2009

Question
Is there any kind of way to calm a female bichon, when I leave the house for work are any thing she literally screams and last year she mutilated her own tail none of the vets knew why ; she will destroy things if you leave her out to roam the house when you leave.

Answer
Hello Claudette

Firstly we need to address what the root cause is of her separation anxiety, then we can suggest how to treat this.
I suspect she was always very much loved (and a little spoilt ) by you, we all do it. What you need to do is this :
1) Buy a crate
2) Learn how to crate train
3)Leave her in crate for very short burst of time say 5 mins then return and take her out.
4) Build this up to larger bursts of time until you can do it for half a day, then you know you have cracked it.

In the meantime whilst you are retraining the little one use DAP around the home to calm her, also add a little lavender to her bedding and some chamomile tea to her water, all of these will calm her. If she makes loud noise then use the radio and set to a station that has plenty of music Like jazz, they do seem to like that.
Leave it on and remember that when you return complete all your own tasks BEFORE greeting her, this way she has your full attention when its available for her.

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