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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Our Sugar Magnolia had AWFUL separation anxiety and she ate furniture as a result of it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She did get better, and she did eventually stop eating anything in the house (although she would still dig holes to China when someone traveled).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the time our finances were severely restricted and I turned to the humane society who had an animal behavioralist on staff and phone consultations were FREE.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I called her several times a week for a couple of months to report on symptoms and progress and talk it all out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am GREATLY simplifying but what helped Maggie most were:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT face=Calibri>1)</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A distraction that kept her busy for at least 10 minutes when we left.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A Kong stuffed with peanut butter was her favorite.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The behavioralist told me that almost always the destruction happens in the first 10 minutes after you leave while the dog is in panic mode, after that they calm down although sometimes they get nervous about what they’ve done.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT face=Calibri>2)</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Someone to talk to.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have a neighbor who is home days over the back fence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And a dog door.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We told Jill about our issue and Jill would go out back and call to Maggie, especially if she heard her crying.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She’d toss treats or small toys over the fence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Maggie figured out she wasn’t completely alone.</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><FONT face=Calibri>3) A routine. We were told that at least one of us had to come home at the SAME time every day. NOT early, and ESPECIALLY not late. It helps build confidence that you always come back we were told.</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT face=Calibri>3)</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Forgiveness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I remember coming home after a month of no chewing to find she’d eaten the arm of my rosewood futon while my husband and I had gone out to get dinner.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I dropped onto the couch and started to cry.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She came whimpering up and I told her “oh Maggie, I love you no matter what you do.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She curled up and put her head on my knee. </SPAN>It was the last piece of furniture she ever
chewed.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Good luck and please know you don’t need a lot of money to fix this.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You (and the dog) need time, patience and love.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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