Piper, is a Beagle German Shepard mix, that I used to take of care of, had extreme separation anxiety when first brought her home. She as already 3 to 4 years old when we got her, and clearly had at least one litter before we got her. She would howl and scratch at the door until we came back from work during the day. She would refuse to eat any food until she knew one of us was going to stay with her. It has been over two years now and her behavior is night and day in comparison. She is okay with (some) dogs as long as they meet in a neutral area, she eats at will and sometimes, I catch her sleeping when I come in! Moral of the story, I now possess a large pool of patience as a result of reconditioning and loving Piper. Every walk, dog park visit and feeding was an exercise in altering her behavior and reinforcing good habits. Literally teaching a middle-aged dog her new tricks. My walks are not just a way for a pup to poop but also to relieve any anxiety or stress some dogs have when their alpha is away. Making it easier and easier to leave them at home.