Separation anxiety.

The kennel is a portable one I use on holidays and is in my living room. X

My lovely Maximum Dog was a rescue who had had several homes and several names before he came to live with me at only five months old. When I had to go abroad on business for a week, he was lovingly looked after by someone he knew well – walked regularly and lengthily and given his meals at proper times. One one occasion during this separation, this dog, who would "steal" the cats' water, never mind their food, and not only gobbled canapés but also ate pillows, cushions and sundry other furnishings, refused a huge plate of rump steak. He got over it once I returned but he always hated it if wasn't there.

Ruby Do you think maybe your little dog knew she was going to be sick hence her watching the door she could have been hankering to go out to do her business poor thing,has she been Ok since then she may have eaten someting outside you where not aware of,Poppy does try to eat grass sometimes and it causes sickness we have to be so aware as to where she is sniffing when we are out,hoping your little girl is feeling better.

I think it's more likely she's eaten something and was trying to go outside to be sick, poor little poppet, particularly as vomited more than once.
I wouldn't worry too much, hopefully a 'one off'. Is this the first time she'd been left for a longer period of time?

Our last dog was a rescue who suffered horribly from separation anxiety. It might be worth talking to your vet. You can now get calming sprays and things you put in a diffuser to help their anxiety. I just looked up the name and I think it's a product called Adaptil which is available through pet shops too.

We used these with our little dog and it definitely helped. There's also Bach Flower Remedies which are worth a try (sold in chemists for humans but they work on dogs too!).

Some people find using an indoor cage makes the dog feel safe if they are used to it. Perhaps that what you meant by kenneling?

Our dog used to be sick when she was upset and she used to lick her paws and bite herself, it was very distressing. She found it very difficult as our family got smaller when the kids went off to university. We tried not to leave her for too long and to give her plenty of walks and diversions. As this has just started you may be able to stop it getting worse if you deal with it now. There are dog behaviourists and psychologists out there too but you may think that's a step too far at the moment.

I hope she improves. They do love us and they don't understand why they can't always be with us.

Thank you for your replies.

The door watching was done on a separate occasion to being sick. If she wants to go out she will get down from lap/settee and sit and look at me and not move until I get up and take her outside. I am with her outside at all times and she did not eat anything that she shouldn't. (We have an outside light so I can see her at all times.) She was sat on my lap looking at the door for my son, not wanting to go out. And yesterday I took her straight to bed after I had said hello to her so no sitting down was done.

We have moved 3 months ago and I have been home a lot due to being ill so I think she has just got used to me being around all the time. Yes, I have a portable kennel which we use on holidays so she is used to going in it so I put her in there for a short time to make her feel more secure and it worked. Today she is a lot better and is eating and drinking again properly.

I have looked on sites for help and will take tips and try different things to help to get her over this time. Thanks again.

All the best with her, rubylady. I loved my little dog so much. She died early last year and I still miss her even though her desperate desire to be always with me was sometimes hard to manage. They do love us so.

ruby I'm so glad your little girl is feeling better may have just been an off day for her,we had one a few months ago with Poppy and next day she was back to normal (bit like us really) I must say our little one is stuck to mr glamma like velcro and moans when he goes anywhere without her even if I am still in the house,she is certainly a "daddies girl".x

I echo Anni on this one. Our beloved cocker died just shy of a year ago from bone cancer in her mouth! DH and I still miss her dreadfully as she was the sweetest of girls, BUT, separation anxiety was such a big issues with her that we had to take her everywhere with us!! She was good about being left in the car, but this threw up issues in fine weather, so we had to have sun deflectors in the windows!! We only had three separate weeks away where we couldn't take her (France) in all her 11 years when she went to kennels to accompanying howls! This year we managed three consecutive weeks without that awful feeling of guilt! Will we replace her? not sure, probably not!