I did take it one tiny step at a time. Once he stopped barking. Because he couldn't stop. It was a severe severe case.

I feel fully justified. I approached it on a few different fronts, with guidance along the way. The first one was doggy daycare that offered structure to his day that mimics what mine will be on the weekends. He was able to socialize with people and other dogs, whom he loves, and be away from me in a positive, structured environment. When home, I worked very slowly on separation issues. There are many avenues we tried first and ways I was willing to accommodate him, and did. I did try ultrasonic collars first, as citronella seemed cruel due to their intense sense of smell and how it lingers, as he needed to stop barking so I could at least start the training (aka me literally just opening my front door, stepping out, then stepping back in). At that point, he was still succeeding in crate training. I got him up to 10 minutes alone before he slid completely back in a very scary way when I went to get the mail. I have no idea why as it made no sense. It was at that point when I spoke to a behaviorist that suggested the shock collar. I was already thinking it was an option. I moved to a static/shock collar as a last resort as when he slid back, as he started hurting himself. I would rather have him be shocked to create aversion to barking so I can restart the behavioral training than have him risk starting to injure himself again and being unworkable with the barking. At that point, I then restarted the behavioral work (also continuing to give him kongs, bones, purchased puzzles and so on as a distraction and treat for my absence). I also did independence training, which is when I rewarded him for not being clingy (aka oh you are sitting alone, here is a bone). Once the behavioral work kicked in and he became more confident, we paired back daycare. The collar was only on in my absence by the way. At that point, I turned the collar off, but put it on and worked on extending his time alone and increasing the fun activities that exist in my home in my absence. Now, he can go 6 hours and loves the shit out of his puzzles and activities. Heck if I forget to do it, he gets bent out of shape. He couldn't even go 6 seconds when I got him and, again, you speak of quality of life...but he literally was returned to a shelter because of his anxiety. That wasn't an option with me, going back to the shelter, but I couldn't have him this upset all the time. He didn't have a quality of life there. Now, he has run of the house, his anxiety has decreased due to the modifications, he is collar free, and he has all the bones, kongs, walkies, puzzles, and loving he can handle. The vet also suggested a collar and behavioral treatment and mentioned that drugs are an option but aren't always successful...that my method with doggy daycare, behavioral training, and so on would work. He suggested bones and suggested the kong (which I already had).

He probably was scared scared the first, and to my knowledge only, time he has been shocked. Dogs running around outside off leash probably has the same response when shocked. He probably wasn't happy...but being quiet enabled me to come back into the room. It enabled me to be able to re-initiate behavioral training which has given him the coping mechanisms.