Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Separation Anxiety for Dogs
Some dogs are so attached to their owners that they can't stand for the owner to be away. When dogs are normally well behaved but become extremely distraught and destructive when separated from their owners, they are exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety. Dogs are extremely social and emotional animals and are quite prone to this type of anxiety. Almost 15% of all K9 pets experience separation anxiety, which is linked to a dog's pack instinct. Unlike cats, dogs need to be part of a social group, and separation can cause some intense negative emotions. However, there are several things that a responsible and loving owner can do to help lower a pet's anxiety.
It is important to properly diagnose separation anxiety. Pets that suffer from this kind of emotional state only exhibit bad behavior in the absence of the owner. In extreme cases this might even be when the owner is behind a closed door. Anxious dogs will display destructive behavior, house soiling and diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, excessive barking, vomiting, and obsessive licking. When a dog with separation anxiety is in the presence of the owner, it will often follow the owner form room to room and closely shadow the owner's movements.
Understanding why your pet is experiencing anxiety may lend some clues to a solution. If the pet has never had this problem before, consider the changes in your lifestyle that might have occurred simultaneously with the change in behavior. Perhaps a kid left for college or someone took on a new job. Whatever the case, consider how this time away from your pet is affecting its social interaction.
Treating your pet for anxiety is very different from obedience training, and angry emotions must be avoided at all cost. A display of anger will only contribute to the animal's need for attention. This is especially true for separation anxiety because a dog will experience more anxiety if the owner is angry in the limited time they are present. Establishing trust is vital to dissipating anxiety. Dogs need to trust that their owners will come back for them, and there are several ways to work toward this.
One of the most common trust activities is "sit and stay" training. Giving the sit and stay command and rewarding good behavior begins to teach the dog what the owner wants, and dogs desire more than anything to please their owners. You should practice giving the stay command and moving away at different distance and at different variables of time until the dog obeys eagerly. When a dog understands the owner's wishes and desires to comply, he or she will find much more contentment.
Another strategy is to examine your leaving routine. Every time a person leaves the house they send nonverbal cues to their dog that they are leaving. This may involve picking up keys, putting on shoes, or any number of things. A dog experiencing anxiety now associates those cues with their stress, and it is important to change the pattern to dissociate these emotions. Try giving your dog a treat or turning on the radio. This unusual change and attention can help take a dog's mind off of the stress. A healthy dose of exercise is also extremely helpful, giving the dog a desire for rest and relaxation.
Leaving a puzzle toy with a treat inside or a large rawhide bone will help occupy some time while you are away, but it is not a permanent fix. The important thing is to leave for shorter periods of time, begin some trust exercises, and spend quality time to help your pet believe you are coming back. Once a dog trusts in your return, the anxiety will slowly go away. There is no quick and simple solution to separation anxiety. Instead, it is up to a loving owner to exercise patience through communication and positive reinforcement.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of puppies for sale. You can find a variety of dogs for sale that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
It is important to properly diagnose separation anxiety. Pets that suffer from this kind of emotional state only exhibit bad behavior in the absence of the owner. In extreme cases this might even be when the owner is behind a closed door. Anxious dogs will display destructive behavior, house soiling and diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, excessive barking, vomiting, and obsessive licking. When a dog with separation anxiety is in the presence of the owner, it will often follow the owner form room to room and closely shadow the owner's movements.
Understanding why your pet is experiencing anxiety may lend some clues to a solution. If the pet has never had this problem before, consider the changes in your lifestyle that might have occurred simultaneously with the change in behavior. Perhaps a kid left for college or someone took on a new job. Whatever the case, consider how this time away from your pet is affecting its social interaction.
Treating your pet for anxiety is very different from obedience training, and angry emotions must be avoided at all cost. A display of anger will only contribute to the animal's need for attention. This is especially true for separation anxiety because a dog will experience more anxiety if the owner is angry in the limited time they are present. Establishing trust is vital to dissipating anxiety. Dogs need to trust that their owners will come back for them, and there are several ways to work toward this.
One of the most common trust activities is "sit and stay" training. Giving the sit and stay command and rewarding good behavior begins to teach the dog what the owner wants, and dogs desire more than anything to please their owners. You should practice giving the stay command and moving away at different distance and at different variables of time until the dog obeys eagerly. When a dog understands the owner's wishes and desires to comply, he or she will find much more contentment.
Another strategy is to examine your leaving routine. Every time a person leaves the house they send nonverbal cues to their dog that they are leaving. This may involve picking up keys, putting on shoes, or any number of things. A dog experiencing anxiety now associates those cues with their stress, and it is important to change the pattern to dissociate these emotions. Try giving your dog a treat or turning on the radio. This unusual change and attention can help take a dog's mind off of the stress. A healthy dose of exercise is also extremely helpful, giving the dog a desire for rest and relaxation.
Leaving a puzzle toy with a treat inside or a large rawhide bone will help occupy some time while you are away, but it is not a permanent fix. The important thing is to leave for shorter periods of time, begin some trust exercises, and spend quality time to help your pet believe you are coming back. Once a dog trusts in your return, the anxiety will slowly go away. There is no quick and simple solution to separation anxiety. Instead, it is up to a loving owner to exercise patience through communication and positive reinforcement.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of puppies for sale. You can find a variety of dogs for sale that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Labels: dogs, pet adoption, puppies
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