German Shepherd Puppy Separation Anxiety After Move?

Hi Matthew, Thank you so much for writing in. I’m so sorry to hear about the difficulty you’re having. As you’re no doubt aware, German Shepherds are particularly popular in roles in the police, military, and as guard dogs, and over the centuries, their herding instincts have been maximized through selective breeding to create a dog that is always alert, and always on the lookout for action. As pets, this can sometimes mean having a dog that struggles to switch off. What’s really tricky is that the timing of your move has also coincided with when he’s entering his “teenage years”, which is when a dog’s behavior and personality can really start to push the boundaries, especially with males. In your previous home, Rocky was likely developing a bit of a routine, and had an idea of what was normal and what wasn’t. Suddenly, he’s been uprooted from a location where he had a house and a yard to the confinement of an apartment, where he isn’t even on the same level as the ground. I imagine this has been quite an adjustment for you, but it’s going to be almost catastrophic for him. Rocky feels as though he is simultaneously trapped inside, and responsible for protecting the property, without being able to properly see the outside. This is going to be really confusing and frustrating for him, and I am afraid there isn’t going to be a quick and easy solution here. If Rocky had grown up in an apartment, he still may have struggled with the confinement of that sort of home, but having been raised in a house with a yard, he probably feels as though his whole world has been turned upside down, and the only thing that feels normal is when you come home. I would love to be able to tell you that there is an easy solution to the problem, but I’m afraid that this is something that is going to take quite a lot of work. My advice is to head to Pangovet.com and make an appointment to speak one-on-one with one of our vets, or speak to Rocky’s regular vet for advice. I’m sorry I can’t help you further with this, but this is a complex problem that is going to involve an even more complex solution. I wish you the very best of luck. Dr Karyn