He should adjust in time to losing his companion. However long that takes is questionable though and he will continue to be angry and feel neglected and reflect that anger with destruction just out of loneliness. It may improve with time and may not. You have to ask yourself is this fair for your dog? I would spend nearly all my time with him when I was home taking walks, etc. and if you can't do more than 2 hrs. it may be best to find a better home for him where he has a better environment. If his new home is a better place where there is a yard to run, and owners that can spend more time with him he will gradually accept the new home and owners. I know that is hard but may be the best. When your living situation improves you may think about owning another dog.
Other than that, working 2 jobs leaves the dog alone too much to be fair so you need to get someone…the same person all the time... over to your apartment to spend time with him if you don't want to give him up. He can bond to that person and that will help the loneliness somewhat. If you decided to give him up, the new owners could come over frequently for walks and visits before you gave the dog to them so that the dog would consider them friends before adoption, that would help the dog transition. I would not give that dog to an inexperienced owner though. That could end in disaster. It will do the same things with the new owner although it should get over the transition quicker because it will be in a better environment. Also, was your husband the dog's leader? You now have to be a positive leader for him because it sounds like he lacks leadership.
Separation Anxiety
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Hi!
My 2 year old basenji, Bailey, has separation anxiety. He gets very anxious when he’s home alone. The vet suggested getting another dog, but a calmer dog, to keep him company. Does anyone have experience with a companion helping ease separation anxiety.Thanks!
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It may or may not work. Hard to know until you try it. Could you "borrow' a compatible dog to see if it helps? My first separation anxiety boy wasn't any better with company, but then the company was a bitch who didn't like him! My second one was an "only child", but we managed to get past the problem. Both of these were adopted as adults. The pups I raised didn't have any issues.
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My first Basenji (male) had terrible separation anxiety. He hated being crated, and would howl and cry if left alone, even for a few moments. When a good friend became terminally ill and asked if I would take care of his female basenji and give her a home, the separation anxiety disappeared. The two of them were fine together. I could leave them together, curled up on the sofa, and never heard another peep from him.
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My first boy was so anxious, we had him alone for 8 months. He was a mess! He pooped, peed and threw up in his kennel on the daily. We got him his sister and it all stopped! After that we have been a 2-3 basenji household. Life is much better with more basenjis.
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We got our first basenji 23 years ago, a pet. I loved her dearly (I was 40 and had wanted one since second grade!).
I don't think she actually had separation anxiety, I called it 'Play with MEEEEE!' syndrome. I was home all day, as were our kids, and she just did things constantly that got our attention if we weren't paying attention to her. Some of the things were destructive.
When we were all gone, she went into her crate, and was no problem there, as there was no one home to pay attention to her.
When she was 2, we decided maybe another would help get her attention away from us.It was the perfect solution, it took care of almost all her destructiveness. I guess she just needed someone, dog or human, to play with her. Sugar and Spicer!
I've said since then that she was the perfect 'first' basenji and taught us what we thought, not only how bad a baasenji could be, but also how endearing.
Then there was Ibis, who made Sugar look boring. She had separation anxiety, plenty of dogs to keep her busy, and all methods of dealing with her SA did not work. Oh well, she is the one basenji my husband and I cried as she was put down, at 16. After her, my life is so much easier.
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Another dog would likely help with the separation anxiety but could also introduce other issues. Assuming you're not keen on a second dog, have you tried dog day care? Even once a week might help. Sometimes they just need to understand they can deal with things on their own.
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@beth Try behavior training before you add another dog. This is going to take a bit of repitition over the better half of a morning, and a few days of follow up training -- but it works.
Do whatever preperation you normally do to leave. Tell your dog that you will be "right back" (insert whatever command word/phrase you want to use). Then exit and lock your door. Walk around the corner of the building, then return. Praise your dog as you greet them. Wash, rinse, repeat, gradually increasing the amount of time you are gone. Start at a few moments, then trips to the store, etc.
This reassures them that you will come back,. but you are actually teaching your pup the routine ques. It alerts the dog that you are preparing to leave (without them). Slightly different for when they get to go with you. Your dog will learn the difference ("Hey, if she picks up the leash, I get to go, too!").
I (personally) use bribes as a tell-tale. I give my pup a kong filled treat, or a frozen neck bone (her favorite) to chew on if she's staying at home. If I call her and pick up the leash, she's coming with. But she's ok, even on the rare occasion that I'm gone for 6 hours!
