Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Most of us cannot resist a big celebratory hello with our dogs when we come home. The urge to carry on with exaggerated body language, and an emotionally heightened tone of voice can lead to problems for your dog. Dogs are very social animals and can feel very connected to their owners. When the owner is away for a period of time, the dog may act out, injure themselves, or fall into depression.

Separation anxiety usually happens after a dog's routine has been interrupted. Loss of a companion, either dog, cat, or human can trigger this anxiety. A change in environment, especially being relocated to a new home or new owners can cause this reaction. Dogs find deep attachments to their families, homes, and routines, just like people do. Separation anxiety can also happen when a dog has experienced a long period of being with their family, enjoying lots of quality time, such as a family vacation. Returning to the regular routine may leave them feeling stressed.

Separation anxiety can be described as a noted change in the dog's behavior when you are starting your ritual to leave the house. It can also be characterized by a frantic demeanor when you return. A dog suffering from separation anxiety may follow you around the house and want to be by your side constantly. Dogs have been known to lick their paws until they create a raw "hot spot" to garner attention from their owners. They may vocalize or shake when you begin to leave the house. Destructive behaviors include soiling in the house, chewing, digging, howling, fence jumping, and scratching at doors and windows. It is very important to know that these behaviors are not a form of vengeance from the dog for being left alone. These reactions occur because the dog is panic-stricken.

This behavior can be changed. The steps to recovery may seem long and involved, but doing nothing or continuing the behavior that led to your pets condition will not remedy the situation.

First and foremost, you should tone down your entrance when arriving home. Loud merriment when arriving home heightens your dogs emotions. It may be fun to get the dog excited about your presence, but in the long run you may be setting your household up for worse behavior from the dog. This is important for all dogs, whether they have a tendency toward separation anxiety or not.

Secondly, your dog should know basic commands like sit and stay. If your dog does not know these commands, then this is a vital step. These are invaluable skills for any well behaved dog. Sit and stay allows you to command the dog to stay in another room while you are home. Start with a position that allows your dog to see you, then gradually move to locations further away, out of his line of sight. Always progress at the dogs comfort level with these exercises. The moment anxiety starts to show, revert back to the previous level of separation. This should be a reward based activity.

Third, get your dog accustomed to your exit regime. Get your keys, put your coat on and sit down. Do this until the dog is comfortable with your actions. Progress to keys, coat (even in warm months to emphasize the routine), and walking to the door, opening it, and then go sit down. Eventually you will be able to pick up your keys, don your coat, and exit the house without a reaction from dog. Always ignore the dog while doing this. Ignoring the dog while doing these actions is important, but always remember dogs are social animals and ignoring them during other domestic activities can lead to worse anxiety. You might not be the one the dog originally bonded with, but they are a part of your family and their malady should be attended to in a humane manner. It is not recommended to break the bond between you and the dog, this can lead to even worse behavior.

Forth, begin a regime of rewarding your dog for calm behavior while you are gone. This can be done by obtaining some dog toys that can be stuffed with treats. Begin the exercise by placing treat-toys near the door. Make sure the dogs knows the treats are there. Leave the house for a few minutes. When you return, observe the dogs demeanor. If he is relaxed and focused on the treats, you know you can increase the minutes you are gone. If he is stressed, you might have to reduce the time. Always remove the toys when you arrive home. Your dog will eventually learn that the treat-toys will be available only when you are gone. He will start to associate that time with something enjoyable.

As you increase the time you are gone from the house, always make sure when you return home that you do not provoke the dog's emotions by using an exaggerated greeting. Many experts feel you should not acknowledge your dog at all when coming and going.

If you find that your dog is not responsive to the treats, which you know are his favorites, you may have a much more serious case of separation anxiety. You may need to seek professional help from your veterinarian or dog trainer.

If the dog is crate trained and sees the crate as a safe place, then this may be an appropriate place for them when left alone. If the dog panics when in the crate, then being confined in this manner is not a solution and may lead to worse behavior or injury.

It may take some time to get your pet comfortable with being alone. It may be necessary to take them to doggie day care in order to keep them occupied during the day. Doggie day care can also open up their world to new experiences, allowing them to shed some of their issues with being separated from their owners. They can learn to form new bonds with other humans and dogs and get exercise. Staff at such facilities are skilled in dealing with anxiety and are willing to work with the dogs who are nervous about being separated from their owners.

Finally, another good practice for any dog, encouraging obedience, is a nice long walk before leaving them alone. Separation anxiety disorder can lead to a decline in health. Just like humans, a dog who is in good health is better at handling stress and has a stronger immune system. A tired dog is less likely to panic when left alone.

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