|
Dog Training - Dealing With Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety, also known in the dog training world as
owner absent misbehavior, is one of the most frequently
encountered problems in the world of dog training. Separation
anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways, including
chewing, destroying the owner's property, excessive barking,
self destructive behavior and inappropriate urination and
defecation.
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often whine, bark, cry,
howl, dig, chew and scratch at the door the entire time their
family members are away. Well meaning owners often unwittingly
encourage this misbehavior by rushing home to reassure the dog,
but it is important for the well being of both dog and owner
that the dog learn to deal with extended periods of separation.
How the owner leaves the house can often contribute to
separation anxiety issues. A long and drawn out period of
farewell can make matters worse by making the dog feel even more
isolated when the owner finally leaves. These long types of
farewells can get the dog excited, and then leave him with lots
of excess energy and no way to work it off. These excited,
isolated dogs often work off their excess energy in the most
destructive of ways, such as chewing up a favorite rug or piece
of furniture.
Excess energy is often mistaken for separation anxiety, since
results are often the same. If you think that excess amounts of
energy may be the problem, try giving your dog more exercise to
see if that eliminates the problem.
If separation anxiety is truly the problem, it is important to
address the root causes of that anxiety. In order to prevent
separation anxiety from occurring, it is important for the dog
to feel happy, safe, secure and comfortable while the owner is
away for the day. It is important, for instance, to give the dog
plenty of things to keep it busy while you are away. This means
providing it with lots of toys, such as balls or chew toys. A
pet companion is often effective at relieving separation anxiety
as well. Giving the dog a playmate, such as another dog or a
cat, is a great way for busy pet parents and pets alike to cope
with the stress of being left alone.
Setting aside scheduled play times, during which the pet is
given your undivided attention, is another great way to
alleviate boredom and separation anxiety. Playing with the dog,
and providing it with sufficient attention and exercise, is a
proven way to avoid a stressed and anxious dog. A happy dog that
has been well exercised and well conditioned will generally
sleep the day away happily and patiently wait for the return of
its owner.
It is important to schedule one of these daily play sessions
before you leave the house each day. It is important to give the
dog a few minutes to settle down after playtime before you leave.
For dogs that are already experiencing separation anxiety and
associated misbehaviors, it is important to get him accustomed
to your leaving gradually. Be sure to practice leaving and
returning at irregular intervals, several times during the day.
Doing so will get your dog accustomed to your deparartures and
help him realize that you are not leaving him forever. Dogs that
have been previously lost, or those that have been surrendered
to shelters and readopted, often have the worst problems with
separation anxiety. Part of treating this problem is teaching
the dog that your leaving is not permanent.
About the author:
Waylon Harvey shares more of his dog knowledge at his
informative site, Puppy House
Breaking.
Waylon Harvey
More Articles
Here's What To Do If Your Dog Displays Submissive Urination - Adam Katz
Bhabani wrote to me with her question about her dog and submissive urination:
She wrote: "I have a mixed-breed puppy (German shepherd/border collie mix) which is 4 months old. It's very friendly with people but when it approaches people, it...
Dog Parks: Pros and Cons - Dog Whisperer Paul Owens
Dog Parks. What a great idea! Imagine being able to take your buddy to a big, open field and letting him or her safely play and run around with dozens of other dogs. What a great way to provide exercise, especially for those rambunctious,...
Dog Health Problems and Symptoms Where Do You Turn? - Tara Pearce
I hope the reason you’re here is to be proactive, rather than having a sick dog. My heart breaks every time I see one of my dogs in pain or not feeling well. Luckily it doesn’t happen too often, but when it does, I get very upset. Doing research on...
4 Things Frustrated Dog Owners Should Know - Mark Eckenrode
4 Things Frustrated Dog Owners Should Know by Mark Eckenrode You’ve probably had a day or two when you felt like your dog just wasn’t paying any attention to you at all, right? You talked, you yelled, you shouted, maybe you jumped up and down and...
Dog Ear Care - Keeping Your Dog's Ears Healthy & Pain Free - Teresa James Dog Supplies Advisor com
Importance of Regular Home Dog Ear Care Routine home dog ear care is very important to the health of your dog. Performed between your regular checkups with the veterinarian, it will help keep your dog’s ears healthy and pain free. If you see signs...
Allergies - Dogs May Suffer Too - Simon Harris
Many people don’t realize that their dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common...
Train Your Dog To Be Your Frisbee Playing Buddy - Heather Wallace
On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem like just a bit of fun, but this activity actually holds other benefits as well. 1. Certain breeds are accustomed to an active lifestyle, so, when they are forced to remain idle, they tend to...
How To Make Your Dog Obey You? - Jack Russell
Most people contend that dogs are created to obey their masters.
That is why they are considered the man's best friend. However,
obedience is not an innate quality in dogs. That is why it is
important to teach them how to obey commands in order...
Heartworms In Dogs - What They Are & What To Do - Kirsten Hawkins
Heartworms (Latin name Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic worms that are common in both dogs and cats. Like their name suggests, they live in the dog's heart, normally free-floating in the right ventricle and nearby blood vessels. The worms are...
DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER - Adam G Katz
Dear Adam: My dog, Chance, we think is a Golden retriever mix, but he's mostly white with gold patches. Also he's about 2/3 the size of a Golden Retriever. He's 18 months old and has been loose-leash trained pretty well as long as you don't let...
|
