I would highly suggest trying the natural calming remedies (DAP and Rescue Remedy are two that come to mind) first and foremost – they tend to either work nicely or not at all, but it can’t hurt (I use something like DAP for cats with my cat because he randomly starts spraying in the house like crazy and it solved our problem completely even though i know other people who say it didn’t work for them at all). While starting DAP/RR talk to your vet about prescriptions to help… sedatives are not the same things they use to ease anxiety. So the sedative may not have worked before with the cone but that’s not the same type of medication they use for anxiety issues. It’s frustrating and sometimes it doesn’t go at the pace WE want but we have to go with what the dogs are telling us. Some dogs with separation anxiety actually do better in crates (when you initially train the crate to be an AWESOME place). It’s not just that they can’t get into things because they are crated but that they actually are less anxious while in the crate because it is a safe and cozy place.