SallyLou
Hi there, my parent's owned a cocker while I was growing up and he suffered from separation anxiety. This is because they did everything they shouldn't have. They spent all there time with him then when they had to go out he didn't like it and use to bark, cry, howl, eat the doors etc. This was because he was not used to it as they had devoted so much time to him in the early days of his life. I now have my own cocker, he is a blue roan dog and he is 7 months. I was worried about separation anxiety because of the experience with my parent's dog, but I read lots of books and got as much advice as possible.
The best thing you can do is buy a crate, that's my opinion. Make it nice and comfy and get your puppy used to it from day one. Don't just use it as somewhere for them to go when you go out, encourage the puppy to go in when your in the house. I had a week off work when we got Louis and I used to put him in the crate then walk round the block and gradually increase the time. This way the puppy will get used to it. He cried at first, but you have to be tough, as it works in the long run.
Louis now goes in the crate when he wants his own space, he goes in at night time and when we go out. He feels secure in there, and you have the peace of mind that they aren't chewing everything in sight.
Have you heard of Kongs?? There really good, you can put food in them and this gives the dog something to work on and concentrate on, as they have to try and get the food out. After a while the puppy will just settle down and go to sleep, but someone gave me some advice. When you are getting the puppy used to being on it's own, give it the kong and if it's occupied for the first 10-15 mins, it will just go to sleep once it's worn itself out trying to get the food out of the kong.
Sorry the message is so long, I just feel really strongly about this issue as I saw what it did to my parent's dog, he wouldn't settle. he was anxious, his heart would be racing, and it was there fault. So start as you mean to go on.
Hope this helps.
Gemma & Louis