# Puppy wih severe separation anxiety. Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968 "2024-02-01T13:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968/41 "2024-02-02T14:05:44Z")
Thanks for your detailed, thoughtful post. Allow me to respond to your suggestions one-by-one: > [@TruCelt](#): > > His primary concern was whether or not he needed to find food for himself. I started feeding him more often, and that problem dissipated. Wow, I never thought of this. She _was_ malnourished when we adopted her. We feed her once in the morning and once at suppertime, and she snarfs it down like she’ll never see food again. She’s put on weight and is no longer stick-thin. so I think she’s getting enough food, but do you think going to 3-4 feedings a day would help with the separation anxiety? > [@TruCelt](#): > > I really hope you haven’t adopted a malinois? Nope. She’s a “hound mix,” but we have no idea what she really is (and don’t especially care). FWIW, she seems perfectly comfortable with our lifestyle and doesn’t chew anything she’s not supposed to when we’re around. After her 4th walk of the day (around 8 p.m.), she’s zonked for the night. > [@TruCelt](#): > > A large stuffed animal can often help. She does have plush toys but she tends to play with and disembowel them. Getting her a big one as a companion sounds like a great idea, since she’s very loving and cuddly. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968/42 "2024-02-02T23:22:51Z")
We have found a good way to deal with a doggy’s separation anxiety is to bring another doggy into the house. Obviously, that won’t work for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968/43 "2024-02-03T01:03:15Z")
Yeah–2 dogs is a good situation, although now they both go nuts when we get home. But they chill when we’re gone, and they love doggy daycare. We’ve never had 2 dogs before–it’s pretty awesome. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968/44 "2024-02-03T02:15:42Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > We used the same training technique as the dog trainers. Leave for 1 minute, then come back with treats. Leave for 5 minutes, then come back with treats etc, until he did not need the treats and did not destroy anything My daughter did this too, with one added feature: before she went out the door, she had the dog shake paws with her, first the left, then the right, then the left again, then the right. It helped cement the procedure of leaving and returning, somehow. She still uses it to this day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puppy-wih-severe-separation-anxiety-help/996968.md?page=2)