@jinxed_1980:
My lovely Beau has developed a naughty habit… I came home from a festival and apparently he destroyed my blinds trying to follow me, then he opened a sentry bag that was on the dinner table and pulled out a brand new loaf of bread and he and our gorden setter, Walker, ate the whole loaf. Also when I leave him he leaves bowels in my daughters bedroom floor. How can we only have had the little guy about 2 weeks now and he already has seperation anxiety? Is it because I'm a stay at home mom and dont get out much? He watches me like a hawk and has to be where I am. If my fiance' is home he is a good boy but he paces and will just sit in the window waiting for me to return. I think he might be scaired of the dark too. Can dogs be scaired of the dark?
It is not at all uncommon for rescued/adopted dogs to develop separation anxiety.
When I adopted Ruby (as a 2yo retired show dog - never been an only dog), she bonded so strongly within a week that she wouldn't let me take a shower with the curtain closed…had to always see me and would follow me wherever I would go. She had to be crated for her own safety whenever I would leave the house...she would be frantic if she actually saw me walk out the door...once I was gone about 15 minutes, she could be let out of her crate, but she would still search for me for a while or if she heard any noise at all. Luckily, she was crate trained...but I also made her crate a super happy place, special treats (marrow bones, liver, kongs, etc.) so that she wouldn't watch me leave. One thing we also did was have my brother feed her and walk her...so that she would develop a stronger bond with him and less dependence on me.
Ultimately though, her real end to her separation anxiety came when we added Brando (another retired show dog - 1 mo. difference in age). So you can do what I've been doing...add a basenji a year (I'm up to 3) :D:D:D...that should do it. Oh, right, you have other dogs already! :D:D
Oh, and regarding being scared of the dark...yes, Ruby was afraid of the dark at first...wouldn't go pee or poop at night...would hold it until daylight. We put lanterns outdoors at the edge of the dog pen so that she could see what was on the perimeter of the property, pointed the outdoor flood lights into the dog pen...and would also walk her in the dark. Eventually, she was fine without the added light.
