replaced with different behavior. It never cured him, only broke him out of the cycle temporarily. The key was being able to redirect his energy away from hims

replaced with different behavior. It never cured him, only broke him out of the cycle temporarily. The key was being able to redirect his energy away from himself. Once I was able to spot the cycle and "break" him out of it, usually with a sharp sound, I could then redirect him to something else, his favorite toy, or to chase me around the couch. It was the breaking of the cycle that seemed the most effective. It did take a few months of medication before redirection could work. His issue was likely a combination of genetics and poor upbringing. We got him at age 2....and was his fifth (and final) home. As you could imagine he never got over his separation anxiety even 13 years later. Excuse me while I go and remove whatever just got in my eye ;)