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We adopted a 4-5 year old English Red Tic Hound from Adopt A Pet as a house dog to prevent her from being put to sleep. I think she has separation anxiety. We love her dearly but she is destroying our garage when we have to leave her alone.

At first she would just take my slipper, boot or something up on the table by the window. Now she is climbing on top of the bags of pellets and getting on the refridgerator and also the upright freezer and knocking everything down, chewing on our hats, gloves, boots, goes to the bathroom on the floor, etc.

We think she was abused and is basically a great dog. She also likes to take off when we take her out to feed our animals and doesn't like to come back.

We reward her with treats whe she potties outside or is a good dog. If she doesn't get a treat she tries to chew up something of ours.

Any suggestions on how to break her of these destructive habits will be appreciated.

Thank you,
Darlene

Try to find a confinement area where she will be calm and can't really get to things to tear them up. Provide her with chew toys. Separation anxiety is very common in dogs adopted from such situations. Time is the cure.

I have an article on Separation Anxiety (title is in alphabetical order) at the link below with my signature. Perhaps it will help.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

May rehomed dogs that have never been abused go through some adjustment phase that can be destructive.

A large airline crate would be helpful for you to confine her when you have to leave. Also, a Kong chew toy filled with great things like frozen chicken broth and plain yogart are also helpful.

Don't make a big deal of things hwen you leave or come home so in other words make your leaving and coming home routine- routine and without emotion. You can lavish attention on your dog once the emotions of your departure and return are gone, but adrenalin in this area does create stress and dogs chew to relieve stress- think of it like a human biting their nails when they are nervous. It's subconscious and a nervous habit.

A Dog Appeasing Pheremone diffuser may help in this case as well. It's found at most larger pet stores and it worked on my dog when he was going through that phase. "Rescue Remedy" can also be helpful in cases like this as well as a trip to the vet for a check up and meds if things are really getting destructive.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Thank you both for you suggestions. I appreciate it. Lately she takes 2-3 pieces of her dog food and leaves it in my sewing room as payment for a bite of something I am cooking in the kitchen.

Darlene