Dealing with your Dogs Separation Anxiety
Most pet owners at some stage need to leave home (for example to go to work). In this situation, its not uncommon for dogs to believe that their owners are gone for good, this fear comes from a condition known as Separation Anxiety. Separation anxiety is very common among animals, and in particular among dogs.
For thousands of years dogs have lived in packs, it’s become one of their embedded natures. Dogs that live with humans treat humans as part of their pack. This can have positive outcomes when you are seen by your dog as the leader of your pack, and negative side effects when your dog believe he is leader and tries to assert themselves as the Alpha Dog.
Dog’s like to know they have the love and affection of people around them. When left at home alone, dogs often begin to consider that you may never come back. This type of thinking leads to dogs getting frantic, at times destructive, and at times loud.
This separation anxiety can come for a variety of different reasons, there could be changes in your schedule, or it could come on if they are trapped in a traumatic situation. You may also find that this is a situation for dogs that have been abandoned and abused that you adopt from a rescue shelter, stray dogs that you and your family find in the street or dogs that were a part of a kennel. These dogs will usually be a little high strung and may spend a lot of time trying to get you to pay attention to them. If they do not get that attention they may exhibit destructive and often dangerous behaviors.
The dog that is having this type of anxiety will destroy your home, chew on your furniture and use the toilet all over your house, in addition to barking and biting episodes. All of these behaviors become progressively worse if the situation is not treated immediately.
There are many forms of treatment available for a dog with separation anxiety. The most important thing being that you take the time and use patience to help your dog with the feelings of panic they get when you leave them alone. Also you must remember if you should punish your dog for the destruction that happened while you were gone will only make the situation worse because now he believes that you don’t love him and are angry and will be convinced that the next time you leave you really won’t be back for him.
Patience and consistency are a couple of the most important ways to behave when teaching your dog to overcome separation anxiety. Try to learn new ways to calm your dog. One way you can do this is by just leaving the house for 2 minutes and then returning. Doing this several times will calm your dog as it will start to believe that you will in fact be returning.
This will show him that even though you left you came right back. You may also try to crate your dog as this will give him a safe place where he feels comforted. Lastly reward your dog when he exhibits good behaviors. With all of these things you will ease the effects of separation anxiety.