Separation

Question
I have a 6 year old female boxer. We have two kids ages 6 and 3 and one other male boxer age 7. The female Stella is having some issues. She is extremely destructuve and has serious separation enxiety. We have left her in the house time and time again with the other dog and she will always get into something and tear/shred it up (blankets, trash, pillows, shoes, papers, etc). We then put her on the side yard and she jumps over the fence and either escapes or runs around the back yard and she barks non stop. At times my other dog was left on the side yard with her, but since the other dog is older, I didn't want to have to leave him outside (because he can stay in the house and behave himself). So then we started to chain her on the side yard (the only thing we could do, because again she would jump over the fence and roam the neighborhood). When on the side yard she would hyper ventilate and foam excessively from the mouth leaving a 1" muddle of drool at her feet. Since it has been colder and to stop the barking. We have bought her a crate that stays in the garage. She has the same behavior she drool excessively and never calms down in the crate. When we take her our of the crate she is completely drenched with drool and smells. I don't know what to do, we have given her toys in there she ignores them. It breaks my heart to see her so unhappy. I am at the point now of making a decision if she would be happier with someone who is home 90% of the time or to stay with the family that loves her and she has been with her entire life. I am unclear how the crate experience affects her, or if it just looks worse than it is. Please help!

Thanks

Answer
Hi Brian. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I've had a pretty bad virus on my computer and just now got it back up and running. (Cross my fingers)

First of all, I have to suggest that you take your girl in to the vet for a check up. Something may be wrong that is causing her to act like this. If everything there is ok, then I would highly suggest obedience training. I really think that a good trainer could evaluate her better, and tell you what's going on. I really think that you love this dog, so I would definitely try these two things before you decide to give her up. Boxers can be highly destructive, and have some behavioral issues. The thing is to get obedience training for them. It really does help. She needs something to do, a job of some sorts. It will keep her occupied. A trainer will be must better at helping you with that. I hope that everything works out, and let me know if I can be of anymore help.