anxiety stricken cocker

Question
QUESTION: We have had our cocker for over a year now, but before that he had 5 diff homes in 2 months.
He has always had a problem when left alone. We crate him when we are going out (could be 15 mins-2 hours) and no matter how long he is crated, he salviates so badly that he is soaking wet! We thought that he would get over that the longer he had been with us, but he hasn't. We feel bad for him.
Can you help me, is this a common trait for cockers, what can I do to stop it?
I have even tried to not crate him and he has pooped on the floor and is still soaking wet from the mouth down

ANSWER: Where does he sleep?  Is he only anxious when left alone?  How much exercise does he get daily?
What's he like when someone is home?  How many people are there in your family?

It sounds to me like he's never been taught to be alone and I can help teach you how to do that.
There are also aids like Rescue Remedy which can help calm him.

If you'll answer my questions and give me details, then I can offer suggestions.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When we first got him, he slept in his crate in our room beside our bed (we tried having him in a different room, but he cried until we moved him, he NEEDS to see me) and now he sleeps with us on the bed.
He will get anxious if he can not be by me. When guests come to the house (especially male guests) he will not calm down (barking or pasing) until I sit somewhere where he can be close.
He gets a fair amount of exercise, we walk him 2 times a week, but gets most of his exercise with playing with the kids.
We have 3 children aged 7, 5, and 2. He is protective of the 2yr old.
He has gotten better when I leave the house and he is staying with my husband or the baby sitter. He used to jump the baby gate to get to the door after I left, or would go and poop downstairs.
What is Rescue Remedy?
I hope this info can help

Answer
It's actually good, Allisa, that he sleeps with you.

However he's not getting nearly enough exercise.  A half hour daily is the absolute minimum.
A tired dog is a good dog :)

So if I'm reading this right - he's okay with the family - he's okay out on walks - he's "fairly" okay when you leave if someone is home

Here's the first thing I'd like you to try.  When you leave, have your husband use his short leather leash and attach it to him (belt loop - whatever).  Where he goes, dog goes with NO chat !  Have him try that for 15 to 20 minutes after you leave.  I want to know what happens.
Your 7 year old is capable of doing this too.

The message to the dog is "someone is in charge" and that's pretty calming to an anxious dog.
It's actually called the "umbilical cord" exercise.

The next time guests come - ask them to walk right by him without even eye contact.  Have him on leash attached to you and do NOT talk to him.

The leash is a powerful tool.

So let's start there...keep me posted on what happens..and then I'm going to teach you to teach him to be alone.  This has to be done when you're home.  This poor little boy had an issue and rather than his first "5 homes" addressing it and correcting it, they just dumped him.

I'd also like your husband and 7 year old to start taking over feeding him.  Make him sit before the bowl goes down.

He views you as his only pack leader and changing that will begin to help him feel less anxious when you're gone.  The umbilical cord exercise will also do that.

So there's Step One !  I need to get a report on how that goes and then we'll progress to him being alone and how to teach him that's okay.


Rescue Remedy can be purchased at a lot of pet stores or health food stores.  It's an herbal sort of "prozac".  You just put a few drops in his water or food.  I'd try it.  Totally safe and is quite helpful for some dogs.  You can also use the dropper and put 3 or 4 drops on his tongue.
Delores