Hi me and my partner chose to adopt our rottie Baz we've had him since the end of december. We were told he had a bad start he got abused by his alcoholic owner at one point,hes had a few previous owners before and after that one. We got him off a couple who had a few kennels of their own we went to see him and he had no bed he was lying in a kennel block on a concrete floor he had never had toys,never seen snow etc he had chewed all his paws until they bled as he was bored! and was locked in the dark for round about 23 hrs a day me and my partner knew we couldnt let him stay there any longer so we took him.Now hes had a few problems regarding being possessive with toys but thats sorted along with his other minor problems, hes a great dog walks perfect on and off lead, loves cuddles etc. The thing is now hes very clingy to me he goes with me everywhere he has to be beside me if i go out and leave him with my partner he lies and cries at the door etc and we've now noticed when we leave him hes hurting himself! i came back from work one morning to find blood all over my bed where he had ripped half his pad off his foot so took him to the vets and we thought it was an accident when playing with my other dog or he did it on a walk but i came in tonight to the same thing,bed all blood and his foot same way i think hes suffering from seperation anxiety and i was wondering what i could do to help him?if anyone had any ideas i would be most grateful as i love him to pieces but dont want and cant have him hurting himself constantly.

Hi Lisa

firstly, can I just say what a great owner this lad's finally managed to get - well done to you and your OH for giving a fresh start to a dog which has clearly had a horrible life.

You may well have your work cut out here - more because this dog has by all accounts had very little worthwhile in his existence until you came along and it's only to be expected that having "found" you he'll be extremely anxious when you're not there for reassurance.  This is made all the clearer IMO by the fact that he's distressed even when your partner is still with him.

Initially I'd try to get him slowly accustomed to very brief periods of being unable to linger around your feet etc - perhaps behind a baby gate with him on one side and you on the other while you prepare food, work on the PC or such like.  Ideally in a situation where he can see you and so find solace in that but not physically be with you.  Gradually work towards slightly longer periods and then moving from room to room so occasionally outwith his sight but he knows you're not far and wont be away long :)  A DAP plug in kept on 24/7 in the room he's most often in and left in while you go about your business should assist with his anxiety a little.  It may take several weeks just to make any obvious progress, but once his confidence is boosted by knowing that you're never gone long and always come back he should start to turn the corner and then progress become more rapid.  It is getting to that point which will need the most patience but you've clearly got all the right ways about you to do this for him :)

It may be that you would be best when leaving him alone to not leave him access to your bed - he's possibly "digging" there more than he would elsewhere because it will be the mostly strongly scented area for his "absent mum".  By all means leave him an unwashed and worn t-shirt or PJs of yours etc in for eg a bed or on top of a fleece inside the kitchen so he has the comfort of your smell but doesn't feel he has to disinter you ;)

I wish you all the joy and good fortune in the world with this special boy.
I HTH a bit, Teri

Just would like to say how great you are for taking this Bez on.

As he lived in utter misery by the sounds of it, he will be extra attached to you but the previous thread covered everything.
The baby gate is a pain at first but real good for dogs who feel the need to be joined at your hip.
When you have been upstairs make sure your BF ignores his moaning about you gone and when he tries to make a fuss [give you loves] when you come back in ignore him until he's lying down and calm. 
I know it sounds mean but being cool around him will make him more together in himself. It will take time my rescue took me 3 months to calm down.
Sounds such a lovely lad.

When you leave him do you leave a radio on? we find that if we go out it keeps them distracted and feels like company is there.
We found that the pups didn't like noise oputside so "the archers" etc with talking made them think we were still there.
We still leave it on now when we go shopping and no anxiety.
Your poor dog had such a traumatic time that he needs to know you will always come back again, and patience and time is the only way he will come to terms with being left. As a previous writer said a tee shirt, special toy? may help, but give the radio a try as well.

Good luck

Viv

my mum leaves her t.v on for her dog and that worked great!! :)

I would also add that perhaps you need to cool your relationship with him slightly in favour of your other half.  Have other half do some training, walks, feeding etc, and perhaps you totally ignore him when OH does this, but stay around for reassurance initially, so that when he is with him he is as happy as he is with you, that takes the pressure off you a bit.