At my breaking point with my dog’s severe separation anxiety — need advice

TLDR: My 2-year-old Goldendoodle has extreme separation anxiety and cries nonstop anytime I leave, even for short periods. I’ve done professional training, used crates, frozen Kongs, comfort items, and worked on independence with no improvement. This has already forced me to relocate once to be considerate of neighbors, and it’s happening again. I love him deeply but I’m overwhelmed and looking for advice from other doodle owners who’ve been through this — especially regarding meds or next steps.

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Hi everyone, I’m posting here because I’m hoping to hear specifically from other Goldendoodle owners who may have dealt with this.

I have a 2-year-old Goldendoodle, and every time I leave the house he cries, yelps, and screams the entire time I’m gone — even if it’s under two hours. Today I stepped out briefly and came back to a message from my Airbnb host saying neighbors complained because he was vocal the whole time.

This has been ongoing and has already caused me to relocate once because I wanted to be respectful of neighbors and avoid repeated complaints. Now I’m facing the same issue again and feeling stuck.

I want to be clear that I’ve tried all the standard advice that’s usually given: • He’s been left crated and uncrated • I leave frozen Kongs and enrichment • I leave clothing and items that smell like me • I actively work on independence and boundary-setting at home • I paid over $1,000 for professional training earlier on

Unfortunately, none of these things have helped.

At this point it’s affecting my ability to work, leave the house, and feel stable in my living situation. I love him so much, but I’m overwhelmed and worried about how to move forward in a way that’s fair to both of us.

For those who’ve dealt with severe separation anxiety in their doodles: • Did medication help? • Was a vet behaviorist necessary? • Did anything actually make a long-term difference? • How did you cope while working or living in shared housing?

I’m not looking for judgment — just real experiences and guidance. Thank you for reading.