Springer spaniels and seperation anxiety

Question
I have a 18 week old english springer spaniel who panics when left home alone.  I have tried confining him to an area as well as crating him.  Confining him led to him escaping and barking the entire time I was away.  Crating results in extreme anxiety where he barks, whines etc and eventually soils his crate.  I see signs of seperation anxiety in that he follows me from room to room when I am at home and he watches my every move.  He is OK when left with another dog, just not alone.  I have recently moved him from my parents to my place and starting to establish a daily routine of exercise and then crating.  Are there any good tips for breaking this pup of his anxiety?  Should I continue to use the crate for shorter periods with a positive end result, eventhough when he approaches the crate he refuses to enter of his own volition?  I am using the technique of ignoring him before I leave and when I get back dependant on his level of excitation.  I realize retraining is probably my best option in terms of distancing myself from the pup in order for him to become more confident on his own.  Any tips???

Thanks,
Kristin

Answer
Well crating him for short periods at a time when your in another room,is a good start-then start going outside for a few minutes,to get him used to you not being around,just start off with a few minutes,also ignoring your dog for five minutes before you go,and five minutes after you come back will make coming and going easier on your dog

Some dogs however on ocasion have to take medications if nothing else helps,but should only be used as a last resort or if the dog is hurt itself trying to get out