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SEPARATION ANXIETY
People today are more in tune with their
pets and how their pets are feeling. So it can be very stressful to both the
pet and the parent if our pets have separation anxiety issues.
If your dog is constantly at your side,
including sleeping times, and any destruction you find happens within the first
20 minutes of your absence (use a video camera to watch, or come back within a
short time period) then it's possible that you have a true case of separation
anxiety. If you find your dog is being destructive, but does not have a problem
being away from you while you are at home or if you leave, you are more likely
dealing with boredom or just inappropriate chewing, barking, digging, etc.
HERE ARE SOME SIGNS OF SEPARATION
ANXIETY:
The dog chews on a variety of things, but
chewing is often focused on items that smell most like you (or a particular
person in your house) such as recently discarded clothes, or favorite chairs;
and /or escape routes (doors or windows). The dog only chews these items when
you're gone. (If your dog chews on things when you're around, you have a
house proofing.
The dog tries to stay close to the things
that smell most of you.
The dog pees or poops inappropriately,
sometimes in many locations.
The dog barks continuously during the day,
perhaps after a build-up of whining. The barking is not on-off-on-off.
The dog always shows these behaviors when
left alone, even for short periods (30 minutes or less).
The dog is wild to greet you, and is still
stressed, anxious and clingy when you first arrive home. The dog does not appear
"guilty" over destroyed items.
The dog cannot be isolated from you at any
time, even in a different room with the door closed.
The dog sleeps with you. (This does not mean
that all dogs who sleep with their owners will get separation anxiety. It does
mean that dogs that survive being apart from you at night can survive it during
the day, too).
The dog gets increasingly distressed as you
prepare to leave.
The dog is constantly following you and
demanding your attention when you are home.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
There are a series of things that you can do to help your
dog. It takes a lot of work, dedication and repetition. Here are a few tips to
get you started (I will split this up over a few articles to keep it short and
to the point):
1.
Try to make your arrivals and departures very
boring and low-key. Don't make a big fuss over saying hello and goodbye. When
you come home and are walking in the door, do not give attention until you dog
is calm.
2.
Try to make interactions with your dog on your
terms, not his. You pet him, treat him, or play with him when you want, and not
when he asks for it.
3.
Get your dog used to your getting-ready-to-leave
cues, like picking up keys and jacket. Go through these actions repeatedly
during the time when you're staying home, without actually leaving. If your dog
has already learned to associate his fears with your departure cues, it will
take a lot of repetitions before the dog will get it.
4.
Give your dog more exercise. A tired dog is a good
dog! A dog can sleep most of the day if he's tired enough. Most young dogs could
use 20-100 minutes of full-speed running per day. Don't forget mental exercise,
like training, exploring new places, encountering new smells, and social
interaction with other dogs. Taking your dog to a park where he can run and play
with others may be crucial. Here in the NW, the rain can make it difficult to
get out. You may want to invest in a treadmill. Beau and Bailey hit the “gym”
at least 5 days a week.
I know having a dog with anxiety issues can be very difficult
(we have Bailey, our schizophrenic beagle). I have had customers in my store at
their wits-end, frustrated and even willing to give-up their pets. Sometimes
outside sources can make your pets anxious as well. One of my customers had a
family member who would come to stay with them and when that person was there,
the dog was anxious. It was because that person had a very high stress level
and it projected onto the dog. When that person was gone, the dog was calm.
Next week, we’ll have more tips on what you can do to help
your dog and their anxiety issues.
PART II
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Last week we talked about identifying separation anxiety and
started with a few tips on what you can do to help your pet overcome their
separation anxiety. Because there are multiple habits that can be changed, I
have broken down this article so not to be overwhelmed. Last week we talked
about:
1.
Making your arrivals and departures very boring and
low-key.
2.
Making interactions with your dog on your terms,
not his.
3.
Getting your dog used to your
getting-ready-to-leave cues.
4.
Giving your dog more exercise.
Here are some more tips to help you.
Give your dog something to do while you're gone! What does
your dog do all day- wait around for you to come home? You can do things like
stuff a Kong or a hollow prepared bone, or put kibble in a Roll-A-Treat; you can
scatter the dog's food in the grass or hide several chew treats around the
house. A dog that is working for goodies is not barking or chewing, and a dog
that is eating is not as stressed!
Don't draw attention to forbidden objects just before leaving
- in other words, point out the items that you don't want the dog to chew. Your
dog might misinterpret your attention and give those objects his attention just
because of it. In a similar way, punishing your dog afterwards for destruction
he's done will probably not help.
Consider crating your dog. Some dogs are more comfortable when
confined to a small "den". Make sure your dog can "hold it" for as long as you
need him to. Giving him exercise prior to crating will tire him and will more
then likely make him sleeping during the time in the crate. If you don’t have a
crate, you might just want to consider leaving your dog in one room (rather than
giving him the run of the house), and maybe leaving a radio on and an article of
clothing that smells like you in the next room. Warning: Some dogs are a lot
less comfortable confined to a crate when alone. Make sure your dog is
comfortable and secure.
Consider taking your dog to doggie daycare or to a friend's
house (or to work or on errands with you), so that he is not actually alone,
while you train your dog to deal with being alone. Remember, dogs are pack
animals that want to be with others; being a "lone wolf" can be dangerous in the
wild, as well as lonely. Note: For many dogs who have bonded strongly with
people, having another dog (or other pet) around will not be sufficient.
All of this can seem overwhelming and can be a lot of work.
Look at the list of things you can do and focus on one thing at a time. Take
the time to create a habit for you and your pet. Remember, this is a life-long
relationship and these steps are transitional not quick fixes.
If you have any feedback or would like to
share your stories about your pet, please e-mail me at
kristina@beastieboutique.com
Kristina
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