Saucy Pet

Posts Tagged ‘dog separation anxiety’

I highly recommend that all dog owners crate their dogs.   Some people believe that crating your dog is cruel.This is completely untrue.   Dogs have a den instinct and a crate is a great way to give them a den where they can go to sleep and feel safe.It is natural for a dog to sleep in its den, so they tend to remain calm and settled.    I highly recommend crating your dog with separation anxiety.  It will help with separation anxiety in canines

There are a couple of added benefits to crating your dog separation anxiety.  The first thing that crating your dog gives you is peace of mind while you are gone.  As long as you make sure the crate is big enough for them to stand up and lay down sideways, they will be comfortable.Before you put your dog in the crate, make sure you take of their collar.  Collars can get stuck in both wire and Vari-Kennel crates.   Unfortunately, dogs have died from this.

If your dog has chewed furniture, or caused household damage, this quickest and easiest way to ensure that this doesn’t happen is to crate your dog while you are away.If your dog chews their crate, coat the spots they chew in hot pepper sauce or bitter apple spray. It works.Some dogs are escape artists. If your dog can escape from their crate, get a strong crate.   Some people need to buy aluminum crates to hold their dogs.

Another great thing about leaving your dog in a crate is it is less likely to go to the bathroom at home. Dogs try not to go to the bathroom in their den.  If your dog has severe separation anxiety, and has accidents in the house, a crate is a great way to avoid these accidents in the first place, or at least minimize the damage and clean up to just the crate.

Most dogs accept crates quickly and learn to love them! I recommend having a crate available for you dog all of the time. You can always remove the door once your puppy has grown up and can be trusted. Obviously if you dog is anxious, keep the door on!

Dog separation anxiety can be become a major, expensive problem when left untreated.  Be sure to spend the time to get the issues solved now!

Dogs are pack animals and very social, so once they have formed a bond with a family being separated from their “pack” is traumatic for them. Sometimes this type of anxiety can get quite out of hand, but with the proper approach it is possible to treat the anxiety in your dog.

This dog separation anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of forms. Certain dogs will become depressed and slow, and seem very sleepy. They will stop eating and drinking, and they might not leave very familiar areas to use the bathroom. This kind of dog separation anxiety can even be dangerous for the health of the dog, as it will allow itself to become ill and malnourished.

Other dogs will show their problems with separation anxiety by extremely destructive behaviors. This can run the gamut of defecating inside the house, or on personal items, to continual barking, or even major destruction of the household in general. Of course no one who has a pet enjoys the thought of having to cope with any of these behaviors.

Your dog will experience separation anxiety if it is afraid that it will be away from you for any period of time. If your dog is overly attached to you, this stands a high chance of happening. For most dogs this extreme attachment to their owners comes from being with them on an almost constant basis. Always looking for affirmation, the dog may be on the heels of the owner constantly. Usually, it’s completely the owner’s fault if their dog has been wrongly conditioned to be hyperattached to them. While there’s a certain joy in having your dog as your constant, adoring companion, you have to be responsible about encouraging a sense of independence as well, so when you are gone the dog doesn’t go into a panic.

The emotion of separation anxiety is extremely hard on the dog, as well as the owner. In order to fix this issue, the attachment needs to be broken to some small degree. Basically, you will be teaching your dog to become more independent. This job can be very challenging, but ultimately, both your dog and you will be better off for the effort. Do not allow yourself or others to provide constant attention and affection to your dog; encourage other people to help to care for the dog so he does not view you as sole provider for his needs, and be encouraging of your dog’s independent play. While it might sound cruel to start with, you’ll find that there are benefits to you and the dog from this decision.

Desensitizing the separation is the second important part in treating your dog’s anxiety. Keep in mind a major part of the anxiety starts for the dog long before you have left. They will notice when you engage in behaviors that will lead to your leaving them, such as changing your clothes, turning off household appliances, and getting your wallet, purse, or keys. If they observe this, the fear and agitation are already beginning to build within them. Change things up by staying at the house after doing some of these things. Eventually, the dog will not be fearful while these things are happening, and their separation anxiety will abate.

Obviously other methods of dealing with separation anxiety also exist. A lot of people have found that dog appeasement pheromones are successful in creating a sense of calm within the dog’s environment. Human’s can smell these pheromones, but they can certainly work well on your pets’ mood. Since the dog has learned to associate silence with your absence, leaving the TV or radio on helps keep that level of anxiety down.

Is your dog showing signs of dog separation anxiety?

Does he display unusual behavior like destroying your furniture or barking too loudly for no reason?

What really is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a case wherein a dog gets stressed out whenever his master leaves him alone; typical signs of separation anxiety are frequent whining, pacing, chewing furniture, scratching wooden doors, raucous behavior that involves frequent barking and many more.

These are clear signs that your dog is suffering from stress and loneliness and these activities are their way of venting out to relieve the pressure.

Methods to quell dog separation anxiety:

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

• Spend more time with your pets

Dogs that go through the separation anxiety experience need your help, it will be up to you to shoulder the responsibility of finding a solution.

In preventing dog separation anxiety, it is important that you spend more time with your dog; this extra attention will make him feel loved.

• Give him a space of his own

Dogs who have dog separation anxiety have a need to always be with their owners, this attachment is not very healthy because they do not develop independence.

You are not going to be able to spend an unlimited amount of time with your dog so changes will need to be made.

Independence can be taught by providing your dog with a special personal space where he can learn to spend time alone.

Give your dog regular attention. This will show your dog that there is a proper time and place for everything.

• Train your dog

Dogs love to train; it gives him a notion that he shares a secure relationship with his owner as it enjoys having physical interaction.
Do some regular training routines; not only is it fun, it will also bring you closer to each other and will help your dog become confident and obedient, a key ingredient for a better relationship with your pet.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

• Treat your dog with respect

Before heading out the door, give your dog a quick yet heartfelt goodbye.

Never overemphasize goodbyes; long and overly sentimental partings will just exacerbate your dog’s separation anxiety.

Make partings short, simple and quick.

No matter how frustrated you are never yell or be violent to your dog.

Avoid hitting, yelling or scolding your dog; this will only push his anxiety levels to its peak, instead treat him with love and care.

Dog Training Advice

Puppies are the cutest. When you first get a puppy, you probably want to spend as much time as possible with it. While it is a great idea to spend a lot of time with the puppy to develop a strong bond with you, you can have too much of a good thing. Your dog needs to know that it is OK to be left alone. Puppies that do not learn to be left alone can develop puppy separation anxiety.

Why do Dogs Have Separation Anxiety.

When you first bring your puppy home, it is very common for the to whine through the first couple of nights. Understandably. After leaving their mother and brothers and sisters, and haven’t bonded yet. Puppies that are taken from their mothers too early or have had severe trauma are more likely to develop problems than those taken after eight weeks. Dogs who are adopted from rescue organizations and mixed breeds have a higher probability of developing separation anxiety than purebreds bought from a breeder.

Symptoms in Puppies.

Mild symptoms of anxiety in dogs include whimpering, nervousness, and anxiousness as you get ready to leave. Moderate symptoms include digging and scratching at doors and carpets, barking constantly, and chewing on underwear or bedding. Puppies tend to snack on things that have your smell. Severe puppy separation anxiety includes compulsive chewing, losing control of the bowels, and destroying furniture. Some dogs get so worked up that they injure themselves.

How to Solve Dog Separation Anxiety.

This behavior problem will not go away on its own, and needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Behavior Modification, patience and natural remedies are the best approach to take with your dog. Fortunatly, dogs can learn good attitudes fast. Just be sure to show your dog the way.  The top resource on the internet for dog separation anxiety can be found at the solve separation anxiety in dogs resource website.

If your dog seems to go over the top with barking and howling when left alone, he may be suffering from canine separation anxiety.This can be a severe ailment that can cause harm to your dog and your house. Canine separation anxity is a medical condition that should not be ignored. Your pet is suffering and needs effective behavioral directions.

Canine separation anxiety is an inbalance between anxiety and excitement and can often be seen and heard when you leave your dog alone in another room.

Separation anxiety is most often times seen in younger or older dogs, and not seen often in middle aged dogs. The condition is also noticed when a dog is adopted from a shelter. This seems understandable from the fact that they were left with strangers and the shelter and their owner never returned. Once they have become attached to their new owner they may feel they could be leaving them permanently also, each time they leave. They need reassurance this isn’t the case.

If you are suffering because your pet is suffering and need help fast see help with canine separation anxiety

If your dog seems to be suffering from separation anxiety, it may be because they are used to spending time with you. Whether you take your dog to the store with you, stay at home with them majority of the time or take them on vacation. A dog that is used to you being around but is suddenly left alone may get separation anxiety as a result, worried that you are not coming back for them.

This condition in dogs is similar to when we leave our children at daycare and they cling to us not wanting us to leave them. A child needs to know that you are going to be coming back for them later in the day. Dogs need the same assurances.

Your dogs separation anxiety can be anything from mild to severe. A dog will show how it is going to react within about 45 minutes if not less. Signs of distress or general separation anxiety can range from chewing, scratching at furniture, doors,and other items to defacating in the house. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety may chew on your doors, window seals or anything they can find.

Click if you are desperate to solve canine separation anxiety

You can consider a number of steps to deal with this including medication. However, remember that your dog is suffering from a condition and not acting out to punish you for leaving them alone. Your dog is not acting out deliberately.It is simply dealing with frightening stress levels.Punishing him or her will make things worse

A few steps that may help your pet to deal with their separation anxiety include, making departures and arrivals a non-event, leave your dog something that has your smell to keep with them, establish a word or phrase that you always say when leaving your dog. Your dog will learn to associate the repetition of words with your actions. Try a few test runs and pick up your keys and pretend to leave as they can help them deal with their anxiety if they know that you are returning.

Other things to try include, using daycare, or leaving your dog with someone you trust while you are out or even seeking medical assistance as a last resort.If chewing is a problem, leave them something other than your furniture to chew on while you are out.

Our dogs love us and are attached just like our kids. You need to assure them that you are not leaving them for good and will be back. Dog separation anxiety can improve but can be very troublesome for dogs and their owners.

Visit training dogs help for more help

Puppy separation anxiety is an anxiety or fear experienced by your pup when you leave him. An agitated dog may whine or bark when you leave to go to the store or work. He may also have potty mishaps and be destructive. A dog that forms a strong attachment to his owner is likely to experience puppy separation anxiety.

Preventing puppy separation anxiety can start before the adoption of your dog. First of all, you should let your puppy be fully weaned away from his mom, normally by the time he is eight weeks old. Your puppy should be somewhat independent from his mother. Puppy separation anxiety may be experienced if the dog is taken away earlier.

For a great guide to solve your dog behavior problems, I recommend that you check out: Puppy Separation Anxiety.

Training to prevent separation anxiety can start immediately after bringing your puppy home. First of all, you shouldn’t make a fuss when you leave your puppy alone. This means that you shouldn’t tell your puppy that you’ll miss him or give him extra petting or attention. At first, you should only leave your puppy alone for short periods. Make sure you carry on as normal when you get home and don’t make any fuss.

Training may be more difficult if your dog already displays signs of puppy separation anxiety when you adopt him. Don’t worry, your extra effort will make a difference. Adult dogs that experience separation anxiety were most likely shelter dogs or strays. Prior to being adopted by your family, it is likely that they had a difficult life. Don’t give up on them! Frequently, these adult dogs will show greater trust and loyalty.

Approximately fifty per cent of adult dogs will get better with the correct training. However, you may need to change your routine in order to desensitize them to your leaving.

By taking a look at your dog’s environment you may be able to understand what is causing your dog’s separation anxiety. Just as with puppies, don’t make a big deal out of it when you leave the house. Begin slowly by leaving the older dogs for a little while, and eventually work up to longer periods of time.

Providing distractions for your puppy when you leave is also a good idea. Your puppy will usually calm down within 30 minutes to an hour after his bout of puppy separation anxiety. Toys or chewies are a good way to keep him occupied while you’re away. This could help him to get beyond the initial hurdle. Another possibility is toys stuffed with cheese or peanut butter. It will take your dog some time to get to the treat and he will work away at it until he reaches it. This will help him to forget about you and his separation anxiety.

Crate training is a further option. Using a crate for a destructive dog is particularly effective. They think of the crate as their home so do not destroy it. Your dog should feel positively about his crate so you should never use it to punish him. Your dog should feel that the crate is his sanctuary. Feed him food and treats while he is in there so he will have positive feelings about the crate. Once you feel sufficiently confident that your puppy or dog will not destroy your property during your absence, leave him for a short period of time. You should leave the door of the crate open so your dog’s sanctuary is available to provide him with comfort.

Your veterinarian may be able to provide you some other ways to prevent puppy separation anxiety. However, it is important to understand that dog and puppy separation anxiety happens for a variety of reasons.

To find out how to stop puppy separation anxiety, I suggest that you check out Secrets to Dog Training.

You may be pulling your hair out because your cute new puppy is chewing your house and possessions to bits. You have realized that puppies, as small as they are, can create a huge amount of damage, from picking at your carpet and scratching doors and floors, to chewing your brand new pair of very expensive shoes. What you need to know is the reason for your puppy’s chewing.

It should be understood that chewing is a natural and healthy activity for puppies and shouldn’t be stopped. It is only destructive chewing that should be stopped. In this article the main reasons for chewing will be outlined together with pointers on how to stop this.

There are various reasons why your puppy is chewing your house to shreds. The reasons given below include teething, boredom and separation anxiety.

Teething
At about 3-4 weeks your puppy’s teeth start to emerge. By 16 weeks they will start to fall out when the first permanent teeth start to emerge. Their gums may become sore and this is when they will start to chew in order to soothe them.

Boredom
Young puppies are quite likely to get bored quickly. They need an outlet for their energy such as exercise and mental stimulation. If left alone for too long, your puppy may easily become bored and will then turn to a destructive behavior such as chewing.

Separation Anxiety
Your puppy may start chewing in order to relieve his stress and separation anxiety especially if he is left alone for a long period.

Once you know what the reasons for your puppy’s destructive chewing, it will help you to take remedial action. Here is some advice to help you stop inappropriate chewing.

• You could start by making a few specific toys available. Ensure that they are different in texture, taste and shape and are sturdy so your puppy does not become bored too quickly.
• By playing regularly with your dog with the toys, they are more likely to play with them when left alone because of positive associations.
• Any items of value should be put out of reach. You can also discourage your puppy from chewing your furniture and other objects by spraying something like Listerine or other anti-chew deterrent. The taste is not pleasant for the puppy and will prevent him from chewing.
• Do not leave your puppy on his own for long periods in the beginning. Start off with a short 10 minute period and gradually build up to longer absences.
• If you are away for a period of time or cannot watch your puppy, you could confine them either in a pen or crate.
• It is important to praise your puppy when you see him chewing the correct items. This gives positive reinforcement. On the other hand if you see your puppy chew on something he shouldn’t, say something like “no” or “stop” in a stern voice. Consistently doing this will give a negative association.

Now that you understand the reasons for your puppy’s chewing, you should be able apply the necessary remedial course of action. It is very important to reward the desired behavior and to consistently teach your puppy what he is allowed to chew and what he is not allowed to chew.

Check out these links to read more about how to stop a puppy chewing, puppy separation anxiety and puppy boredom.