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Anxiety?
Does Your Dog Suffer From Separation Anxiety?
Article By: Glenn Redmond
Separation Anxiety is the loss of a dog's ability to
function normally when left alone. Typically the dog becomes
very stressed; often barking uncontrollably, chewing and
scratching at windows and doors, chewing household items,
and defecating or urinating. Some dogs will even get anxious
if their owners move to another room with the door shut.
In severe cases some dogs will not eat or drink while
the owners are away or engage in self-mutilation such
as chewing parts of their body or licking so excessively
that they develop sores.
Often separation anxiety is confused with owner absent
behavior, where dogs through boredom will ran-sack the
garbage or chew a favorite couch. The result is often
the same, but these dogs feel no anxiety in their destruction
and these behaviors do not happen every time the owner
leaves.
So why does separation anxiety develop?
There are many possibilities to why a dog will become
anxious when alone. Some dogs have been left alone for
too long of a period when they were puppies. Others have
been abused or neglected often ending up in animal shelters
and with rescue groups. When moved to a new caring home,
they now suffer fears of being abandoned again. Some have
endured a frightening experience which leads to an over-dependence
on the owners. However, the biggest contributing factor
to separation anxiety is often doting owners and poorly
established routines. New dog owners will often want to
spend all their time with the new addition at the beginning,
and have a tendency to give too much freedom and over-indulgent
attention to a very impressionable mind. It is vital from
Day 1 to establish your routines and expectations for
the life of your dog, not just the first month or two,
only to change them later. Showering a new addition with
affection and treating them as a furry human is the wrong
approach. They must be taught the rules of obedience and
training a dog to be calm when alone is a huge part of
that.
Tips to Avoid Separation Anxiety
1. Keep the comings and goings of your house calm. Enthusiastic
'hellos' and 'good-byes' will only lead to increased anxiety.
2. Exercise- dogs need to relieve that pent up energy.
A long walk or a game of fetch before you leave for extended
periods will keep your dog happier and calmer.
3. Obedience- teaching your dog some basic commands and
using them throughout the day will establish your leadership
in the household leading to a much more confident and
well rounded companion.
4. Do not reward barking, whining, or undesired behavior
with interaction and affection. This only teaches your
dog the wrong way to get attention.
5. Do not allow your dog to be pampered and their every
desire realized. Dogs that spend a good part of their
day being petted, lying on your lap and having every demand
met are at an increased risk of developing separation
anxiety when left alone.
6. Start with baby steps - pattern your dog to be alone
by leaving for short periods and returning without making
a fuss. This will teach your dog that you will return
every time you leave. If your dog is a puppy, or not trustworthy
in the house, you will find patterning the dog to a crate
will be an invaluable tool.
7. Be consistent- dogs that have all your attention Saturday
and Sunday, only for you to rush off to work Monday morning,
are at an increased risk of developing anxiety. It is
important to develop a routine 7 days a week, which means
leaving your dog alone for periods even on your days off.
Treatment
Treating separation anxiety is much different than dealing
with other behavior problems. Remember, the destruction
that occurs is the product of the anxiety, not because
the dog is trying to be bad. Patience and consistency
to relieve the fear and anxiety is key to solving the
problem. Punishing the dog in any way upon your return
will only make matters worse, increasing the dog's anxiety
with every departure. In severe cases of separation anxiety,
medications can be prescribed. However, this is not an
end all, be all solution and should be used in combination
with a behavioral program. If your dog is experiencing
separation anxiety, a qualified animal behaviorist should
be consulted to develop a program for you and your dog's
specific needs.
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