Dear Dr. Evans,

I recently adopted the sweetest dog, but there's a problem. Brandy is on her third home, and I'm beginning to suspect why. When someone is home with her, she is affectionate, playful, and relaxed. When no one is home, however, she goes crazy. My neighbors say they can hear her howl the whole time we're gone, and we usually return to find the trash rummaged through, the couch legs chewed up, the rugs balled up like she's trying to dig through them--you get the idea. We've tried crating her (she sleeps in her crate overnight with no problems) but we come home to find her frantically trying to chew and claw her way out. She greets us as if she thought she'd never see us again. It's very sad and, I'm sure, very hard on her. Is there anything we can do to help her? I don't want to be a prisoner in my own home.

Dear Prisoner,

It sounds like Brandy has a bad case of separation anxiety. It's a fairly common behavioral problem, especially among dogs that have had more than one home. I agree, it's a very tough condition for all involved.

You may find that you need your vet's help; many of these poor things need pharmacological help. But there are many ways a sensitive owner can help an anxious dog.

First, keep Brandy off-guard by interrupting the cues you give her that she's about to be left alone. If your usual routine is to put on your jacket, find your keys, pick up your bag, say good-bye to her and leave the house, change things up a little. Find your keys, pick up your bag, and sit down and read the newspaper. Or just get up and leave the house, having stowed what you need in your car when Brandy wasn't looking. Or go through your routine, leave the house, and come right back in. By sending her mixed signals, you interrupt her getting progressively more anxious as she realizes she's about to be left alone.

Next — and this is counter-intuitive — you need to refrain from rewarding her anxiety. When you are about to leave, don't comfort her. It's only natural to be solicitous when your dog is winding herself up, but it only ratchets up the terror. Instead, matter-of-factly give her a favorite chew toy or a Kong stuffed with frozen peanut butter and leave without interacting. Likewise, when you come home, ignore the frantic greeting, whining, and jumping up. Do not engage her until she is calm and relaxed. Then it's fine to pet and talk to her.

Positive-reinforcement training can help build your dog's confidence.  A dog who can sit on command or go to her mat even when stressed is better equipped to learn new behaviors than a dog without the habit of taking cues from her people.

Also, make sure you protect her from herself. Invest in locking garbage pails; keep her away from electric cords or anything that can hurt her if she chews or swallows it. Keep her away from windows, where she'll get constant stimulation. And since a tired dog is a good dog, make sure she has a vigorous walk or play session before you leave. Investing in a dog walker for times you are away might be a big help, but make sure the walker sticks to your leaving and returning routine.

Finally, there are prescription medications that can help, but they are most effective when given in conjunction with behavior modification. You might want to look into a dog-appeasing pheremone collar or diffuser.

I hope poor Brandy can learn to enjoy a little down time by herself. Good luck.

Dr. Lynn Anne Evans of the Barrington Veterinary Clinic has been practicing veterinary medicine for 26 years. Do you have a pet question for Dr. Evans? Please email life@eastbaynewspapers.com, with "Dr. Evans" in the subject line. The Barrington Veterinary Clinic is located at 260 Waseca Ave., Barrington.