DEALING WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY

Most dogs sleep, bark occasionally or chew their toys when left alone in the house or in a room without access to you. In general, they pretty much do what they normally do when you are with them. Dogs with separation anxiety, however, can make leaving the house or even the room an emotional and difficult chore.

Since dogs are pack animals, they naturally wish to be with people all the time. Most adult dogs (12-16 months and older depending on breed) can be left alone for 8 hours or even longer if they have access to a yard for elimination. They are unhappy, they are bored, but do not become problems.

A dog with separation anxiety is different. When you go to the door to leave, he becomes anxious and may try to leave with you. You manage to get outside and close the door but you can still hear him whining and scratching on the inside. You are upset, your dog is upset and you do not know what you will find when you return. When you return to find your house in a shambles, you get upset at your dog (who has been upset since you left) who gets even more upset. This cycle repeats and builds upon itself until you are ready to give your dog away.

Causes of separation anxiety in dogs

Separation anxiety can appear in dogs that are not properly socialized, dogs that have been shuttled from one home to another, dogs that have a more dominant relationship with you and dogs that are naturally nervous:

  • ·She may be aghast that you, her pack member, has gone away without her permission. She may feel so dominant in the household that she becomes distressed when her underlings leave. She has a skewed understanding of the social structure in the house and becomes upset when left alone. She anxiously claws through the door or at the blinds looking for her pack.
  • ·He may think that he will never see you again and is worried about how he will survive. A dog that has been through a burglary, earthquake, thunderstorm, fire or other traumatic event may be afraid of being without you just in case it happens again.
  • ·He may be afraid of being left alone in the house. This may sound silly but a golden retriever we knew hid behind the potted plants until he got a friend.

Whatever the cause, here are some techniques for reducing separation anxiety:

  • If you normally leave through the garage door, substitute that for the front door. The idea is to remove the association between a specific door and your dog being left alone for a long time.
  • Your dog can become a prisoner of habit. If he is used to feeling stressed and anxious whenever he sees you go to the hall closet and take out your coat, force of habit can make him continue to do so.
  • Try not to make a big show of leaving or coming home. A dog with separation anxiety finds the experience of you leaving very stressful so be the calm one! When you return, greet him calmly and ignore his crazy antics. Just come and go without any fanfare.
  • Give your dog plenty of exercise, socialization and fun
  • Leave the radio or TV on to avoid the quiet of your home
  • Give your pet something to do while you’re gone - Toys, treats
  • Utilize a crate if necessary
  • Look into over the counter medications to calm your pet, If necessary, see your veterinarian for other medications available
  • Training classes - A well trained dog has something to fill his mind, has better control and is more likely to respond to you when you tell him to be calm and quiet. If your dog is not trained, you can enroll him immediately in a training class, hire a professional trainer or home school him yourself.
  • Doggy daycare - You may want to take your dog to daycare while you modify his behavior. You can then go about your day without having to worry about what awaits you at home.

All dogs are different. Constant trial and error may be necessary to help your dog transition into a wonderful member of your family. ANIMART provides many products and suggestions that can help make separation anxiety bearable for you and your dog.