I have a 9yr old rescue Miniature Daschund who just hates being left alone. It's always been the same with him apparently his old owner told us. He always wants to be around people. His old owner tried him in a cage but he damaged himself and the cage whenever he was put in it. We have tried easing him into being alone but putting him in a room by himself for some minutes (then building the time up) with a Kong filled with food, a chew and a food-dispensing ball toy. He will play with them for a few seconds until he realises that we've left and he then stops playing/eating and starts destroying his bed and scratching at the door and floor to get out. As soon as we return he's perfectly fine and starts on the food or just has a sleep. We bought a plug-in pheramone thing which is supposed to smell like the dogs mother and pacify them and help them to relax. It doesn't help Ollie relax and he seems oblivious to it.
I hate to think of him being so upset by being left alone and would really love some advice to make him a calm and happy dog. In every other respect he's just lovely. Jolly, playful, healthy etc but we need help with this one problem area.

It will be a logn slow process tio deal with his seperation anxiety, after all this is a habit of 9 years that has becoem ingrained and the dog is actually distressed not just acting out.

First he will need time to settle with you.  It will help that if you keep all interations with him fairly cool, especially if about to leave, no goodbyes or lavish greetings.

A referal from your vet to a reputable behaviourist who could help with implementing a regime for weaning him ovf over dependence on you and increasing his confidence when alone will be needed.

Thanks for the info. We've had Ollie for neaarly six months now and have had a very good behaviorist come in and she sugggested the pheramones and Kongs etc. Do you think it's worth trying another behaviorist or do the mainly use the same techniques?
Thanks very much for replying. Cheers.

Well you need to make it a process building up the time he is left, pretending to leave but coming straight back etc.  there is a whole system of things that you cna do to desensitise him to yoru leaving and the lack of yoru presense.  The DAp and the distraction toys are only a start.  Dogs with severe seperations axiety can't play or settle because the fact of being left basically puts them into a panic attack,a dn the behaiour you ahve noted of him tearing up his bed is an attempt to releive this stress.

Was this behaviourist found through Vet referal?  Your dog may even need drug threrapy to help condition him, but speak to your vet and do some searches on the web on Seperation Anxiety.

I wonder if you've thought of Bach Flower Remedies?  They can be incredibly useful in certain situations.  Chicory is generally recommended for dogs that constantly follow their owners around, get underfoot and suffer from SA.  It's readily available and inexpensive. 

Good luck