issues with an older GSP

I have a twelve year old GSP named Gracie,she came into my life eight years ago when she was four.
the last couple of years she has started acting out when we leave her alone when its storming out,ie,she would get into the trash and have it scattered about.

the last year it has gotten worse as she started chewing on furniture or shredding the cushions,thank goodness it is not new and was almost to the point of needing replaced but I wasnt quite ready for it at that time.
I know she has done something when she meets me at the door and is panting heavily and will bolt past me to get outside.
when she comes back in,she will sit at my feet and shiver likes she is freezing because she knows she has done wrong.

I do not nor have I ever beat her for it,but I do withhold her treats for the rest of the day.
she still acts like she is six years old and seems to never run out of energy,we play for an hour or so every day and spend as much time outdoors as we can when the weather is fit to do so.

I take her with me as often as I can when I go to the airport and to the farm when I have to take care of things there and she is allowed to run at her hearts content.
she is not hurting for play/run time.

two weeks ago we found a product made by a company called LICKS that offers a calming treat,the first time we gave it to her I thought we had found a miracle in a bottle as it had stormed fairly bad here and she was very content when I walked through the door and nothing had been touched.
today I came home,only a light rain here and no thunder,she had shredded the arm of a used love seat I had bought cheap to replace the last one and she has chewed the daylights out of the trim on our bedroom door.
I am at a loss as what to do with her,she has never been kenneled but that is my next thought to do but I am unsure how she will react to that when we are gone,I dont want her panicking and tearing herself up in it trying to get out after we leave.

I need to mention the last three days when she is let out to go potty for ten minutes before I leave for work,her routine has changed as she now walks around to the side of the house and hides under the camper and I have had one heck of a time getting her to come back out even when offered a treat.
I havent noticed any behavioral changes other than that and she is not exhibiting signs of pain anywhere.
I know age is part of the problem and I am at an absolute loss as what to do,I have had dogs the past forty years and have never seen this in any of my dogs previous to this one.

I am not ready to put her down as she is still very active and seems to be very healthy other than these anxiety issues.
HELP!!

Can you gate off an entry way or mud room in your home so she can not get to the furniture or most of it atleast? Thats where I would start. We keep our golden retrievers gated in the entry way so they dont get the house dirty and hairy.

thanks for the idea Bass_attack,but we do not have a mudroom or an entry way where we can do that.
if it were spring again,I would build an outside kennel that she could stay in.

Ok, first of all what is a GSP? I figured out the dog part. What you are describing I have witnessed almost to the exact “T” with a couple Labradors. Puzzling thing is they acted that way from the beginning, not later as you are experiencing. Age? Dogs and people do become somewhat senile.

german shorthair pointer

Take her to your vet. Maybe something physical. If not there are some pretty good anti-anxiety medications out there. Also exercise before leaving.

Has she ever been introduced to a kennel crate? Ie:a travel crate
If so, put her in that crate when your gone but make sure it’s in a “happy place” like in your kitchen or bedroom if she’s been allowed in those areas.
Sounds like she needs to be contained, not roaming, but contained in a place where she feels comfortable or has had positive experiences.
I’ve owned a number of GSP’s over my time and each one has shown a need for security/comfort
Hope this helps

bullcans,yes she has spent time in a kennel crate,only for a bit though,and that was when we were traveling field to field when hunting pheasants here,the longest time was about an hour when we stopped for lunch.

she seemed to do okay in it but there were always five other dogs for her to keep company with in other kennels next to her.
I only work twenty minutes from her and am thinking more seriously about doing this,and am toying with the idea of a webcam on her to see how she reacts to it,if and when I see a problem I will buzz home quick to release her if it doesnt go well,hopefully she does not have any problems.

I guess growing up on a farm and always having to take care of animals in one form or another,I dont like seeing critters caged up,and this is the first dog I have had troubles with.

after much studying on pure breds,especially GSP’s,its an auto immune nervous system disorder that they have no control over,that is why she does not get punished other than snacks getting taken away.
from what I understand,it is normal in older dogs that are high strung.

we got to play a lot tonight while I was at the airport where I work part time,we were just visiting friends there and she is wiped out and sleeping next to me as I write this.
man alive,its killing me to think she is getting to the age that she could go on me at any time as I just put down my faithful lab sam just three years ago this coming Christmas,he was fourteen and I had him since he was a pup.

I have personally put down every dog I have owned,and I will tell you its not getting any easier,in fact it gets harder every time I have to.
this stone cold heart of mine must be getting mushy these days.

Another thing I forgot to mention that has worked for me on a couple of dogs has been to keep the TV on or a radio.
Sometimes the noise seems to calm them.
My wife swears our current GSP loves the “Game show” channel!

Any changes In your life that may have contributed, another pet pass away, kids going back to school, etc. New couch, new carpeting, etc?
Exercise works well, Anti anxiety chews (we use “happy traveler”)
Try a Thunder Shirt when its storming.
Separation anxiety with a dog can be difficult to reverse.
Good luck