Seperation anxiety? How to stop my dog whining?

[RidgebackLover]

My dog only whines when my family and I leave her outside when we've gone. We normally just leave her indoors when we go out, but occasionally we take day trips out on sunny day and so our dog needs access outside to go toilet when we're gone, so we leave her in the garden with food, water and her bed.

Our neighbours have told us that she whined for about 3-4 hours whilst we were gone a couple of days ago and when we left yesterday we had to return to collect something about two minutes later and she was whining. We don't want to coop her up all day in the sun with no access to toilet, so what should I do?

When we return home every time our dog gets really wound up for a minute or so then settles down, we used to get her even more excited (which we now realise is a BIG mistake). Is it seperation anxiety?

She doesn't show any destructive behaviour or anything, she just whines and howls, which is a problem. Someone suggested to us shock collar treatment, though I'm not convinced that it's a good idea.

 

[Bridget]

Some people believe that leaving the radio on while you're gone helps dogs with separation anxiety. My first dog had terribly separation anxiety and would destroy the entire house and bark, and with her I found that leaving her a piece of old dirty laundry helped calm her down because she can smell my scent. Maybe a few drops of an herbal anxiety remedy before you go might help too?

 

[Bon]

SHOCK COLLAR? ,,, no!

.. my dogs a year old, he whines as much as he wants to!
.. pain in the bum really, he's an attention seeker.. if he wants attention, he'll make sure you hear about it.

Your dog might be attached to you and your family too much, and always wants to be around you. Have you tried something to take her mind off the fact that youre not around? (dog bone, treats, new toy.) ? anything really. youre dog seems very attatched.. like my dog lol

Oh, have you had her since she was a puppy? if so how much fuss did she get as a puppy?