Dog has separation anxiety

[TiReDmUmone]

Hello
So I rescued a dog from a shelter and we noticed soon after that he had separation anxiety difficulties around toileting in the house and excessive barking
It was decided to use a crate as he shredded a rug , towels we closed doors and he ripped frame off the door and the letter box off
Due to his excessive barking I've had complaints off neighbours which I completely understand
So I decided to try him out of the crate I came home today to poo on the floor which I can deal with
The blind had been ripped down and shredded and he was barking
I've tried leaving stuff for scent , a kong a puzzle toy the tv on and he won't touch any treats as soon as he knows we're going out he is never left longer than 2 hours and this is very rare
I've rang vets and they said get Adaptil colar which I've ordered but I have a feeling it won't work
I don't know what to do I've also contacted a dog behaviour expert waiting on contact from them he is walked aswell before we leave

Which shelter did you get the dog from? Some, such as Dogs Trust, offer free behaviour support for life.

This is something where you really need professional help. I don't know which dog behaviour expert you've contacted, but be aware that there are a lot of charlatans out there who will make problems irretrievably worse.

Ideally look for a behaviourist who is APBC or CCAB accredited - they're the gold standard qualifications. Avoid anyone who advocates pack leadership / alpha dog / dominance theories like the plague as it's both outdated and dangerous advice.

If you'd like to say which behaviourist you've contacted I'd be happy to have a look at their website and check for any red flags.

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages it is dogs trust that I got him from and I've had calls from them
He went to the vet on Tuesday and has been prescribed Clomicalm I hope it works for him hate him being so distressed but also vet bill was 287 pound and monthly medication 110 pound I'm giving it a try it's just a lot of money if it doesn't work 😓

Try a thunder coat - or just a normal dog jumper.
Our dog used to suffer but eventually calmed down with strict routine

Most vets will give you a prescription & you can then buy the medication online where it's much cheaper. I was given a list of online vet pharmacies by the charity I got my rescue dog from. We also foster for them so I'm always asking questions which they gladly answer & the dogs trust should be on call for advice. Our dog has terrible anxiety. I've also found great support on Facebook where image joined a couple of groups for owners of dogs with anxiety or who are reactive (barking at other dogs & strangers).

Sounds like you've tried a few ideas but maybe you need to start afresh? We will seek professional help from a dog behaviour specialist if need be but our dog is improving. Some days are better than others & some days he goes completely backwards. As for leaving him, we did the 'leave him for a minute then double the time' method. Go out of the house as if you've gone to work & leave the house for one minute. Don't make any fuss before you go out & be calm when you return. If he's done anything naughty, clear the mess but don't tell him off as this doesn't work. Just be as relaxed as you can. You can then double the time & repeat the going out/returning routine, (if you dog can handle this). If that is successful you can then double the time away again, then double again etc. I've got a house full of people at the moment so we are planning to use this method once my dear adult darlings have disappeared again & we have peace & quiet.

You're not alone in dealing with a nervous dog & while I've never been a fan of social media, it's been a great help with my anxious old boy.