Help, my dog loves me too much

[jeffhay2001]

Hi,

My name is Jeff from Vancouver Canada... I have a 5 year old Border Collie/Rotty/Black Lab named Haley... I have had her since she was 3 months... we have basically been inseparable from the beginning as we lived in the country and I worked with children in a camp atmosphere.. Haley and I were constantly together...she is a wonderful dog and extremely friendly... she's a licker!! Hands, faces, carpet
BUT now we are in the city... when I leave Haley alone now, she has started self-mutilating behaviours by constantly licking her anus... I have had her anal glands checked and they are normal... I believe the behaviour is simple anxiety that we are not together...

Do you have any other ideas or some strategies for me to deal with this behaviour... she basically licks her backslide and then when I come home, I am angry but strive to not show it... HELP !?! She constantly shadows me now when I am home, I guess worried that I may leave again... we go for 2-3 walks/runs a day everyday.... I love my dog but I cannot seem to figure out how to stop this behaviour...

Please let me know if you have some ideas as I am very worried about Haley..

Thanks very much

Jeff Hay