Separation Anxiety in our dog! Help!

Question
We have a 2 year old female neutered mixed breed. 27lb. part Jack Russell, that we know.
We rescued her from a very bad situation when she was 9 wks. old and she has never left my wife's side. We started noticing that she completely flips out when we leave her alone. To the point know that she has done some major damage to our home (i.e. carpet and front door).
We took her to our vet and the vet perscribed Xanex to calm her down a few hours before we have to leave the house, but we have not seen any progress with this drug. I was told that Benedryl could help take the edge off and help her sleep while we are away.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Michael

Answer
Benadryl is for allergies and itching.  I doubt it would calm a dog.  Have you obedience trained her?  If she isn't in charge, she may accept being left alone better.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

Crating her would eliminate the destructive problems.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.