Dog Seperation Anxiety
" How To Help Your Dog With Seperation
Anxiety "
Separation
anxiety is one of the most common problems that many dogs develop.
Seperation anxiety is an anxiety disorder. It is defined as a state
of intense panic that is brought on when the dog is isolated or seperated
from their owner.
In
other words... when you leave for work in the morning, your dog plunges
into a state of nervous anxiety which then intensifies very quickly.
Dogs
are social animals. They need lots of company and social interaction
to keep them happy & content. No dog likes to be left alone for
a long period of time, but some dogs handle it a lot worse than others.
These dogs are the ones that are most likely to have separation anxiety.
There
are numerous contributing causes to seperation anxiety:
-
Some
dog breeds are more likely to experience anxiety and insecurity,
which is something you should consider when deciding which breed
you are going to go for - especially if you are going to be gone
for long periods of time. Some of these breeds include Springer
Spaniels, Weimaraners, Airedales, and German Shepherds.
-
A
lot of dogs from shelters also develop separation anxiety. Most
of the dogs that come from shelters have gone through significant
trauma in their lives and have been abandoned by their previous
owners. This gives them
little trust that their new owner isn’t going to do the same
thing.
-
Dogs
that were separated from their mothers & siblings too early
are also more prone to separation anxiety. Puppies from pet stores
are a perfect example of this. They are usually taken from their
mothers well before the earliest possible age - which is 8 weeks.
They are then confined to a small glass box in the pet store for
anywhere between a few weeks to two months. This early weaning,
combined with the lack of exercise & affection while in the
pet store is psychologically traumatic for the puppy.
-
Neglect
is the #1 cause of sepration anxiety for dogs. If you are gone more
than you are present in your dog’s life, separation anxiety
is very likely. Your dog needs your company, attention, and affection
to be happy and content.
The
symptoms of separation anxiety are pretty distinctive. Your dog will
usually learn to tell when you are about to leave - she might hear
keys jingling, she might see you putting on your outdoor clothes,
etc - and she will then become very anxious. She might follow you
wherever you go from room to room, whining, crying, and trembling.
Some dogs will even become aggressive and try to stop their owners
from leaving.
Then
when you have left, the anxious behavior will really get worse and
will usually peak within half an hour. She might start to bark incessantly,
scratch & dig at windows and doors, chew inappropriate items,
and even urinate & defecate inside the house.
When
you return, she will be extremely excited, and will jump around you
in a frenzy of delight.
This
extended greeting can be a source of misunderstanding. Not realizing
that such a greeting actually signifies the presence of seperation
anxiety, some owners actually encourage their dog to get more and
more worked up upon their return.
If
you are acting this way with your dog, you should really stop. I know
that its tempting and very easy to do, and seems harmless, but you
are just reinforcing her belief that your return is the high point
of the day.
So
she’s as happy as can be when you return, but when it’s
time for you to leave again, her happiness at your presence is under
threat, and she gets even more unhappy when you walk out that door.
Fortunately,
there are some things you can do to minimize your dog’s tendency
towards anxiety. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts:
Things
You SHOULD Do:
-
Exercise the heck out of her and really wear her out. The longer
you are expecting to be away, the more exercise she should get before
you leave.
-
Distract
her from loneliness, boredom, and anxiety. All dogs love to chew.
Get some marrowbones from the butcher and bake them in the oven
for 20 minutes. Slice them up into chunks of a few inches long,
and give her one about 15 minutes before you leave. This can keep
her happy & occupied, and will act as a distraction for when
you leave.
-
When you leave, put the radio on to a soothing station - classical
music is ideal, but any station featuring lots of talk shows is
also ideal. Keep the volume low. This should calm her down a bit
and give her the feeling that she has company.
-
If its possible, give her a view of the outside world. If she can
see the world going by, that’s the next best thing to actually
being out and about in it.
-
Get her used to your leaving. Take things nice and slow and practice
getting ready to go. Jingle your keys, put on your coat, open the
door, but don't leave! Sit back down and don’t go anywhere.
Practice this until she doesn't react any more. When she has no
more reaction, give her a treat and praise her for being so brave.
Next, practice actually walking out the door, but immediately return!
Do this again and again until she doesn't react. Gradually work
up until you’re able to leave the house without any signs of
stress from her.
Things
You Should NOT Do:
-
Act
overtly sympathetic when she is crying. Although it sounds very
mean, trying to soothe & comfort your dog by patting her is
actually one of the worst things you can do. Make sure that she
cannot tell that you feel sorry for her. Make sure to not ever say,
“It’s OK, good girl” when she is upset.
Learn More!
If
you're interested in getting a more detailed look at how to deal with
your dog’s separation anxiety issues, and other dog training methods, click
here. It’s really a great learning tool for anyone who wants
to learn how to deal constructively with their dog’s problem
behaviors. All of the common behavioral problems are dealt with in
detail, and there’s a great section on obedience commands and
tricks too, along with tons of other dog training tips.
|
