[Laneco]

Dogs are very much creatures of habit. For 8 years, her habit has been to peer inside the house which made her feel like part of the pack - at least she was in sight of her people. Without that stimulus, she is reverting to a seperation anxiety behavior wherein she chews/climbs/claws whatever she has to do to get back into visual contact with her pack.

When people have the day alone, we work on our cars, maybe clean the house, or curl up with a good book. A dog spends the entire day wondering where YOU are. Anything that distracts them from that anxiety (chewing, digging, barking, etc) are all fair game. I'm not really a fan of leaving a dog alone all day while I'm at work, it' against their nature as they are definately not solitary creatures.

A few days a week in doggy day care might help her. Give her a sense of belonging during the day while you are gone. Back at the house, your dog needs to relearn some behavior. She has been allowed to (and has a NEED) to stare into the house. We've got a dog that has a real issue with that. Though constant correction over a period of several months and about 50 gallons through a spray squirter helped with the worst symptoms, she would still periodically stare in the window and whine/moan. We put window coverings over the windows (french doors) and that stopped that problem. This might be a first step. Give back the patio, but block the visibility into the house. Perhaps when the visual stimulation becomes a no-go for her, she may be more apt to drop that behavior - but be warned, if you don't give her something to do, she'll find another outlet, like digging, barking, etc. Think "re-direct." Don't displace one bad habit with another bad habit.

You've admitted to not being a dog person. No problem, alot of people are not dog people. But the bad news is that I'm not sure your wife is a dog person either. In that case, let the dog go to someone who IS a dog person. You said this dog is great with kids, maybe her best home is a new one with a pack of kids and a swimming pool - good times!! An 8 year old lab that is good with kids can be very easily rehomed.

Not trying to be critical, just something to think about. Sometimes the best choice for the dog at this point in your life/your wife's life is another home.

angela