My dog is destructive and anxious after moving. How to ease anxiety?

Question

My 5 yo dog has been acting out a lot lately. I've had him since I was 16 and now I'm about to be 21. For most of his life, I lived at home with my family and my other dog at home. When I moved out from CA to AZ I took my dog with me. He hasn't transitioned well at all. He's been destructive which he never had before and he constantly has been acting out and I don't know what to do. I can't have him destroying my apartment. Is there any kind of dog anxiety pills I can give him to help calm him? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 5 years and 1 month old | 46.6 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

It could be that Buddy is experiencing separation anxiety, especially if he does this behavior when you leave the house, and I would recommend trying a non-drug route before going to see the vet to get anti-anxiety pills. I would recommend crating him when you are gone. The crate will provide him a small space where he can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train him to get used to a crate. Start putting him in it when you are home and sitting nearby so he doesn't think you are abandoning him, and slowly increase the time he is in it. He can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that he has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can also fill a Kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to him in the crate. That will keep him occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety, and that will help him both when you are gone and at home. If these methods do not help him, then I would take him into the vet to discuss putting him on anti-anxiety medications.

My dog is destructive and anxious after moving. How to ease anxiety?

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