Update on Jujube's Separation Anxiety

A while back, I wrote about Jujube's separation anxiety. Since both Yun and I work full-time, we didn't have the luxury of implementing a slow desensitization problem for her. But I think despite that, she might have gotten used to our routine. And maybe her case isn't too bad. We haven't seen any signs of major destruction (I only lost a pair of house slippers and some underwear, which isn't too out of the ordinary for dog owners), and we haven't seen any signs of accidents in our absence either.

What appears to be helping her separation anxiety is Snoopy:


Everyday when we come home from work, she greets us with Snoopy in her mouth. Because this seems to be the only time she clutches onto her toy, we guess that the toy helps her.

It's super cute! She clutches the toy in her mouth, her ears flap up and down, and her tail wags to and fro.

Separation Anxiety

Jujube has bad separation anxiety. She gets anxious, whines incessantly, paces, and paws at the door. For the past few days, I tried to do some slow desensitization with her, but I know it's not enough for her. I had to go back to work today. What can I do? I have to go to work, but yet feel so guilty about it.

Two days ago, I practiced going out and returning calmly. Ignoring her both when I left and returned, trying to make the whole ordeal as much of a non issue as I could. I would leave for like 5 seconds. I worked it up to however long it takes me to get the mail. I did this like 20 times. I'm not really sure she got any better.

The good thing is Loki got better. He would used to bark at her for whining and being so unstable. But through my repetitive in and out, Loki started to ignore Juju's whining.

Yesterday, I left to grab a bite at McDonalds; it couldn't have been more than 10 minutes. I put her in the exercise pen. By the time I returned, she had contorted the pen into some odd shape that left her with hardly any room at all and she spilled her water bowl.

After that, I tried an even lesser demanding desensitization exercise. I put her in the bedroom and closed the door, just so that she would be physically separated from me in the house. Wow... that still made her just as anxious as before. Whining, pacing, pawing. I even spoke to her, so she knew I was there. I repeatedly said, "Calm down," in my most soothing voice. And opened the door only when she finally gave up the whining and slumped down next to the door. We did that 10 times over. I think that's the level that a proper desensitization program for her would have to start at. Even going in and out of the house is too much for her.

I know she needs a slower rate of desensitization than I can give her. But what can I do? I have to go to work. Yun agreed to stop by during his lunch hour. That's the best we can do now.