Expert: Jill Connor, Ph.D. - 2/8/2012

Question
After my 13 year old greyhound Ella passed away about 6 weeks ago, my remaining greyhound Charley (8 years old, rescue), seems to be experiencing some separation anxiety and I would appreciate advice on how to help him. Charley has never been a confident dog and has a general fear of people, loud noises, men, parked cars and sticks of any kind. I have tried to desensitize Charley over the last 5 years I've had him, by taking him and Ella to regular park visits, trips to the local pet store as well as daily neighborhood walks and general patience and love. Although he has shown great improvement on outings and is playful and funny at home, he is still not a confident dog outside the home and fears strangers, especially men. I have not noticed any other behavior change in Charley since ellas' death except when he is alone in the house. To prepare him for his time alone I walk Charley for 30 minutes before work, i have a friend stop by in the afternoons to let him out, i leave a DAP diffuser plugged in, TV on, and i have been taking him to work twice a weeks to ease him into being alone for long periods of time. I have taken care to gradually increase his time spent alone and to make my exits and entrances to the home calm and meaningless by breaking up my "leaving routine" with sitting on the couch or pretending to read, which settles him right down. Once he is settled, he gets a treat, i scatter some more on the floor and leave quietly and he couldn't care less. The video camera i set up indicates that he is fine until about 10 minutes after I'm gone at which point he begins to checks the window, howl, pace and whine for 2-5 minutes in intervals of 10-20 minutes. I am at a bit of a loss as what else i can do. The astronomical veterinary expenses from Ella's illnesses the last couple of years before her death, as well as a profound sense of loss on my part, means i really do not want another dog right now. Do you think Charley will improve with time or am I doing something wrong? What other steps can i take? thank you for your time.

Answer
Well you've certainly approached this with a level head and what appears to be a great deal of knowledge regarding dog behavior.  Desensitization is basically almost impossible; what you are doing is counter-conditioning.  And you seem to have done a fine job with it.

I suggest that Charley is feeling the full responsibility of your home without the stronger personality of Ella to help him feel calmer.  Confining him to a smaller space (the kitchen with soft bed, water, safe toys) is what I suggest you do.  Start this confinement using a Buster Cube: this is a "toy" that dispenses a portion of the dog's food as he rolls it around.  At first, sit on the floor and roll it in his presence.  Once he gets the idea, he will be happy to see it.  Confine him with the Buster Cube for a half hour or so over the course of a few days when you are NOT going to leave the home any longer that day.  He will then experience the confinement as a positive thing.  This will help him to NOT feel "responsible" for the entire environment as he slowly adjusts to being an "only dog".  Getting another dog is not the answer and could cause additional problems.

Within several weeks, you can attempt to leave him at large again in the house for short periods (an hour or two at most) on weekends when you can set this time aside to check on his progress.