Your Dogs Separation Anxiety-Curing Your Separation Anxiety Dog
One of the most common problems dog owners experience is separation anxiety. A dogs separation anxiety is an anxiety disorder that produces intense panic and is brought on by varying periods of separation from his owner and/or isolation from humans or other dogs. Your dog can have varying degrees of separation anxiety, from mild panic and whining to out and out mania and utter destruction of anything around him. Dogs are social animals and require plenty of interaction to keep them content and happy. Unfortunately, you have a life outside your dog’s life, and can’t be with her all the time.
What’s a dog owner to do?
First, if you haven’t acquired your dog yet, then you need to do a little research before you do. Look at your schedule, and determine if you are the type of person who spends a lot of time away from home. If this is the case, then there are some dog breeds you should steer clear of. A few of these breeds include, Springer Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers,Weimaraners,German Shepherds, and Airedales. Some breeds are predisposed to serious cases of separation anxiety, and you will want to steer clear of these if you will be absent for long stretches of time.
You will also want to think twice about getting your dog from a shelter if you will not be around your house much. Many shelter dogs, regardless of breed, seem to have separation anxiety. Most of these dogs have had some kind of trauma in their past, or they were abandoned by their owners. They will have very little trust that you will not do the same thing to them.
Another situation that seems to create a separation anxiety dog is if they were removed from their mother and/or siblings too soon. This is a common problem, as most people are anxious to get the new puppy they picked out, and most “breeders” are anxious to get rid of the puppies as soon as possible. The rule of thumb is: puppies should not be removed from their mother before 8 weeks, at the earliest. Be careful purchasing a puppy from a pet store, these dogs are usually removed from the mother too soon.
If you are away from your dog more than with him, then some separation anxiety is inevitable. Your dog will easily learn when you are leaving, all he has to do is listen for your jingling keys or notice that you are putting your “going away” clothes on. At this point, he will become anxious and show you his displeasure by whining, crying, trembling and following you everywhere. Some dogs will become aggressive in an attempt to keep you from leaving.
When you’ve left, the anxious behavior will rapidly worsen and usually will peak within half an hour. She may bark incessantly, scratch and dig at windows and doors , chew anything she can get her paws on, even urinate and defecate inside the house. In extreme cases, she might self-mutilate by licking or chewing her skin until it’s raw, or pulling out fur; or will engage in obsessive-compulsive behaviors, like spinning and tail-chasing.
Once you have returned home, your separation anxiety dog will show the opposite behavior and leap around you with delight for an extended period of time. You will have the urge to encourage this behavior, don’t do it! This is the worst thing you can do, as you will reinforce her feeling that you return is the highlight of her day, and your leaving is a disaster.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize your dog’s tendency towards separation anxiety. Here’s a short list of do’s and don’ts:
1. Exercise your dog. Wear your dog out. The longer you are going to be gone, the more you need to wear her out.
2. Distract him from his boredom, loneliness, and anxiety by making sure there are plenty of appropriate things to chew on. Chewing is a dogs favorite activity, and this will help her take her mind off of it.
3. Turn on a radio or the TV. Keep the volume low, and either set it to classical music or a staion where there is plenty of talking.
4. If possible, make sure your dog has an adequate view of the outside world.
5. Gradually work into leaving the house. Give your dog signs that you are leaving, and then don’t. Then, actually leave the house, but come right back in the door. Then leave, but only for a few minutes or so. Over time, your dog will grow acclimated to your leaving, and won’t be able to tell how long you are going to be gone. It will lessen the severity of his separation anxiety.
6. Do not act overly sympathetic when your dog is crying or giving other signs of anxiety as you are about to leave.
Sometimes, there is nothing you can do to curb a dog’s separation anxiety, and you will need to visit your vet to get more help and possible some kind of medication if the situation is severe.
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