My 18-month-old frenchie destroys the apartment when I leave. Chewed couch, scratched doors, peed on the floor. She's fine when I'm home. Is this separation anx

Probably anxiety, but the protocol is the same either way. She hasn't learned that being alone is safe and boring. Start with 30-second absences. Put her in a different room, close the door, wait 30 seconds, open it and let her out without fanfare. No big greeting, no excitement — just neutral. Repeat 5 times a day for 3 days. Then increase to 1 minute. Then 2, then 5, then 10. You're teaching her that you always come back and there's nothing to panic about. If she's destructive during a session, you increased duration too fast — drop back to the previous duration and build more slowly. Most frenchies need 4-6 weeks to handle 2-hour absences calmly. Until she's reliable, crate her when you leave so she can't rehearse the destruction. A tired dog is less anxious — burn off energy with a 20-minute play session before you leave. If she's still panicking at 10-minute absences after a month of work, talk to your vet about medication. Some cases need chemical support.