How to Deal with Separation Anxiety in Your Dog

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.

Dogs with separation anxiety tend to cause massive destruction. They will chew through furniture, destroy books and bite through cables. Sometimes they use your entire house as a toilet and other times they bark non stop. These behaviors usually only worsen as the condition drags on.

There are several forms of treatment available for dogs with separation anxiety. One of the most important things that that you give your dog during this tough time is patience and understanding. Also, never punish your dog if it has a “separation anxiety attack” and destroys your furniture and clothes – unfortunately this will only make the condition worse.

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.

Through practicing the techniques mentioned above, you will slowly be able to teach your dog that when you leave, it doesn’t mean that you’re leaving for good. Using a crate as a place of comfort and protection may also help your dog to feel safe. Lastly, its always a good idea to praise your dog and reward it for good behavior.

Related posts:

1. Dog Training and Separation Anxiety
2. Dog Training and Separation Anxiety
3. Dog Training and Separation Anxiety
4. Stop Your Dog From Barking Excessively

Tagged with: animals • Dogs • family • living • pets

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