Separation anxiety success story - there IS hope

6 months ago I was considering rehoming my dog because of separation anxiety. He destroyed our apartment, barked for hours, and injured himself trying to escape his crate. It was miserable for both of us.

What finally worked (combination approach):
- Fluoxetine (prescribed by vet)
- Slow desensitization (started with 1 second absences, I'm not kidding)
- Camera so I could monitor and not push too far too fast
- Frozen stuffed kong right before I leave
- Relaxation protocol training (Karen Overall's protocol)

Today he napped for 4 hours while I was at work. The camera showed him sleeping peacefully. I ugly cried watching the footage.

If you're dealing with SA - it gets better. Its the slowest, most tedious training in existence but it works.