What do you do with a dog who will use every cruel and evil tactic in her massive arsenol to keep you from leaving her in the morning?

It's unfair. She uses guilt and cuteness and the "I'm so pitifually lonely" face. She'll run outside and stand there, not going anywhere, but staying out of reach so I can't just LEAVE her. I'll coax her in with a treat, but she grabs it and then runs back outside, using the same trick. She grabs my pant cuffs in her teeth and drags across the floor as I try to walk away. She stands in front of the door so I can't open it without pushing her away physically and then gives me the most hurt and reproachful look you can imagine when I do. She stands on the couch and just gives me the saddest eyes and whimpers like a lost puppy...

So I get it. She doesn't want to be left alone all day. Is there anything I can do to ease her lonliness and boredom?

She has tons of toys and things to chew...I'm not sure what else to do.

Have you tried sneaking out yet? Maybe if you treated your dog more like a toddler, it might work. Out of sight, out of mind perhaps? Also it might be a very good idea to get your dog a companion. Another dog to play with. If your dog isn't so bored and lonely, she will be much happier.

She's got you pretty well trained, hasn't she?

You have to assert your dominance. She fits in with your life, not you with hers. Give her a chance to do her business before you go, make sure she has water to drink, AND GO.

The treat business is soon sorted out. Grab her collar before surrendering the treat. My goldie is an expert at "snatch and run".

Once she realises she isn't going to get her own way she will stop wasting the effort.

you could try leaving the radio on when you leave.
it would give her some background noise, instead of just being alone in a quite boring place all day.

Lulabel and Lady are both Shih Tzu's. They do fantastic together but still don't like to be left home alone. They tend more towards the revenge thing though. Having the two of them is much better though then just the one. They are such a interactive breed that you really should get her a friend. Stick with another female though. You will find that the laugh factor on your part will increase 10 fold with two of them. Lulabel thought that we got Lady for HER so she has always taken care of her. She trained her to go outside and everything. Maybe a kitten would work for you.

They're social (pack) animals. All their instincts tell them they belong in a group. You're her 'group', so that's why she's clingy. I hope you get another dog. I know it's troublesome and expensive. And some dogs can adjust.

Others have serious emotional problems and will, for example, destroy the owner's property, chewing up things as if vindictively. But it's really just another ploy to get its owner to take it everywhere.

So you could try leaving the radio on, or the TV on a nature channel. Or you could leave the dog with a neighbor (an elderly or shut-in might be good) during the hours when you are at work. But don't punish the dog, because it is only following its instincts.

Oh! I should have posted on this but I forgot. It may help other dog owners. She doesn't do this much anymore. I've discovered that if she gets a good 1-2 hours of play at night and at least one trip to the park or to visit her doggy friends a week she's much more content and willing to let me leave in the morning.

I know what you are talking about though, Babthrower. I once fostered a dog for a friend in a bad situation for a few months. It went from having a human around all the time to being alone 10-12 hours a day. The dog literally ATE the house. She dug up floor tiles, dug the stuffing out of the couch, and even somehow dug a hole in the WALL. Fortunatly Luna has never resorted to being destructive to get her way...although she WILL let me know if I am late changing her puppy pads by pooping right in the center of my favorite chair. Lord help me, I have a fastidious dog!

I can not quite remember where I seen this information, but it gave some ideas.The article said that to a dog when you leave they fear that you will not come back.And the advice was that you begin by just walking out the door for a minute and come back in to reasure them that you are comming back.Then you make it for a little longer each time then they will put 2 and 2 together and realize that when you go out the door you will be back.And I think the radio or Tv is a great idea!!