Doggy Mentor

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 misinformation and completely incorrent.   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.   By nature, a dog in its den will be 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.An appropriate sized crate is one where the dog can lay sideways and stand in.   Take your dogs collar off before you crate them.Dog Collars can get stuck in Vari-Kennel and wire crates.Sadly, dog have been killed from this.

If your dog has chewed up your carpet, couch or cupboards, the most sure-fire way to make sure it doesn’t happen anymore put your dog in its crate while you are gone.   If you have dog that chews their crate, you can coat those spots in bitter apple, or hot pepper sauce.    If you have a dog that can break out of their crate, you simply need a stronger crate.Some people have to get aluminum crates to keep their dogs.

Another benefit of crating your dog is that they are less likely to have accidents in the house. Dogs try not to go to the bathroom in their den.Crating your dog is a great way to avoid accidents in the home or minimize the damage to the crate alone.

Most dogs accept crates quickly and learn to love them! You dogs crate is i’s home – provide them one for their whole life. You can always remove the door once your puppy has grown up and can be trusted. Make sure you keep the door on if your dog has separation anxiety and has wrecked items in your house!

Dog separation anxiety can become a major, expensive issue when left alone.  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. Some dogs tend to get depressed, sullen, and downright moody as many humans can get when presented with a separation. 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.

Others dogs show they are anxious by becoming destructive. They will bark and growl loudly, destroy your house, and go to the bathroom all over the place. Even though this sort of behavior is considered a common way of displaying their anxiety, it’s certainly not what any pet owner wants to be forced to deal with.

The anxiety starts for your dog with just the thought of being left alone. Dogs that are extremely attached to their owners or family seem to suffer the most. ‘Hyperattachment’ comes when dogs are inseparable from their owners, and they rarely spend time alone. They will be constantly looking for attention, and following their owner throughout the house all day. Most of the time the owner is responsible for encouraging this behavior in its beginning stages. It may be great to have a constant, loyal friend at your side, but a dog also needs to learn to be independent. Otherwise, the dog will suffer if the owner is away.

Separation anxiety is a terrible ordeal for your dog to go through. In order to fix this issue, the attachment needs to be broken to some small degree. Your dog needs to learn independence. This job can be very challenging, but ultimately, both your dog and you will be better off for the effort. Other people in the house can start taking care of the dog, you can teach the dog to play on its own more, and try not to give constant attention. 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. Dogs are intelligent and observant. They will realize unfamiliar behaviors, such as rattling your keys, changing your clothes and turning off appliances – all of which are signals that you’ll be leaving soon. Obviously when they see this they realize you will be leaving and fear begins to set in. You can divert this behavior by acting as if you are leaving the house, but not actually going anywhere. This will help your dog to stop associating these actions with your certain absence, and the dog will become less sensitive to these actions.

Dog separation anxiety can also be aided by a variety of other methods. A lot of people have found that dog appeasement pheromones are successful in creating a sense of calm within the dog’s environment. Though odorless to humans, the pheromones create a more relaxing environment for your dog. Since the dog has learned to associate silence with your absence, leaving the TV or radio on helps keep that level of anxiety down.

Are you seeing the signs of dog separation in your pet?

Is he acting strangely and doing annoying things such as frequent unprovoked barking or destroying your furniture?

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.

This behavior strongly implies that your dog is experiencing an extreme amount of sadness and stress; he is just finding ways to relieve his stress levels.

Methods to quell dog separation anxiety:

Canine Separation Anxiety

• 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.

To help your dog cope with dog separation anxiety, you should allot more time and attention so that he would feel loved and cared for.

• Give him a space of his own

Most dogs who suffer from separation anxiety just can’t get enough of their owners; they become very attached to their masters and want to be with them all the time.

However, you can’t possibly be at their side 24/7 so this practice should be changed. Give him a space of his own, a dog bed, and feeding place.

Create a space for your dog, this will serve as a playing area; by doing this your dog is more likely to mature emotionally to become independent.

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.

Canine Separation Anxiety

• Treat your dog with respect

Say goodbye to your pet dog before leaving your home; he would feel that he is important and cared for because you did not ignore him.

Don’t exaggerate your goodbyes though; sad and over-sentimental goodbyes are very unnecessary and will only worsen your pet’s anxiety levels.

When leaving make your goodbyes short and sweet.

Yelling and violence should never be exhibited towards your pup no matter how frustrated you may become.

You should consider that the problem is not your dog but the anxiety he is feeling, yelling or hurting him will only make things worse.

Dog Training Tips

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 condition that can cause suffering to your dog and your house. Canine separation anxity is a medical condition that should not be ignored. Your dog is probably unhappy and needs some help with this.

Separation anxiety is demonstrated by your pets panicky reaction to being left alone, even if only briefly and possibly even only in another part of  the house.Your dog has become unbalanced.

Canine separation anxiety is more often spotted in the younger and older dogs. It is often seen in the rescue dog who, having been abandoned once, doesnt trust that it wont happen again.

Click if you are desperate to solve canine separation anxiety

A dog can get used to spending too much time with you and this can lead to separation anxiety. Whether you take your dog to the store with you, stay at home with them majority of the time or take them on vacation. When a dog becomes accustomed to being with you over an extended length of time without separation, but is suddenly left alone, the dog may suffer from separation anxiety, worried if they have been left alone forever and their loved one isn’t coming back for them.

You may experience something similar if you are a parent leaving a child in daycare for the first time,they can tend to cling. A child specialist would probably say, let your child know that you are going to work and will be back soon. Dogs need the same assurances.

Your dogs separation anxiety can be anything from mild to severe. You will probably find there reaction will be obvious within about 30 minutes. A few signs of separation anxiety to watch for in your pet include barking, howling, whining, digging, chewing, scratching, attempts to get out of their surrounding and find their owners, and sometimes house trained dogs may poop or tinkle when in distress. As a result of a day of separation anxiety, your pet may terrorize your home or yard. 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

There are a number of steps you can take, including vets help. Your dog is suffering and you must remember that it is not doing it to be a pain. They are simply dealing with the stress of their emotions. Punishment for things your dog may do during their anxiety while you are gone, does not help. It could actually make it 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. The use of repitition means that your dog will learn to associate the words with leaving but will also expect you back. If you pretend to leave but return a few times, they will learn that you are going to be coming back.

You could try leaving your pet with a friend or family member or trying doggy daycare.Drugs can be used as a last resort and if chewing is problematic,leave them something innocent to chew on.

Dogs love us as much as out kids do. 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.

Click if you are desperate to solve canine separation anxiety

Puppies are incredibly adorable. You probably want to spend a ton of time with your puppy when you first get it. While its a excellent idea to spend a lot of time with the dog to create a strong bond with you, sometimes it is too much of a good thing. Your dog needs to understand that being left alone is normal. Puppies that do not learn to be left alone can develop puppy separation anxiety.

Causes of Puppy Separation Anxiety.

Whining through the first couple of nights is completely normal when you first bring your puppy home. Understandably. After leaving their mother and litter, and haven’t attached 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. Puppies who are picked up from rescue organizations and mixed breeds have a higher probability of developing separation anxiety than purebreds bought from a breeder.

Symptoms in Your Dog.

Mild signs of anxiety in puppies include whimpering, nervousness, and anxiousness when you get ready to leave home. Moderate symptoms include digging and scratching at doors and carpets, barking constantly, and chewing on underwear or bedding. Dogs love to chew on things that smell like you. Severe puppy separation anxiety includes compulsive chewing, losing control of the bowels, and destroying furniture. Some dogs will injure themselves because they are in a panic.

How to Solve Dog Separation Anxiety.

You need to deal with your dogs behavior and anxiety problems as soon as possible. The problem doesn”t vanish on it’s own. The best approach includes behavior modification training, natural remedies and patience. Fortunatly, dogs can learn good attitudes quickly. All you must do is show them how.  The top resource on the internet for separation anxiety in dogs can be found at the dog separation anxiety cure resource website.

Anybody who has ever had a pet with separation anxiety will more than likely agree that it was and is a painful and stressful time for both dog and owner alike. Something that needs to be said is that many myths surround the dog separation anxiety discussions and you will need to understand the difference between fact and fiction.

Signs of dog separation anxiety include:

Your dog sticks to you like glue as you move around the house; When you are preparing to leave home and his attitude changes what so ever;He acquires the nasty behavior of going to the bathroom all over the place anytime you leave him alone.

Your pet may be hurting from dog separation anxiety if he shows any of the symptoms above. Some “common myths” about this problem are mentioned below.

Help Your Dog Separation Anxiety

Our dog punished us by tearing up the house because we left him home alone.

Even though some pets that are experiencing some form of dog separation anxiety will destroy certain items, it isn’t there way of punishing you. No, this problem was formed because of an ever increasing amount of stress that your pet is feeling as a result of being left alone.

If You Crate Your Pet, That Will Help

Sure, if you crate your pet he won’y tear stuff up, but it isn’t going to help his anxiety problems one little bit. Use caution when trying to use the crate method with a dog that has this type of condition because they can hurt themselves trying to break free from the crate.

Being Hard On Your Dog Can Break The Anxiety Problem.

Nothing could be further from the truth. After you leave, your dog has already begun to suffer and get wound up. Imagine that when you arrive home and he is met with some screaming, maybe some hitting or another type of punishment. Your dog is just feeling a lot of panic which is causing him to act in a certain way, he is not doing these things on purpose.

Is there a treatment for dog separation anxiety? The answer will vary according to the severity of the condition. You can use simple methods for mild forms of anxiety. Here is an example, when you get home, ignore your dog for a little bit and then give him a pet, keeping everything calm.

By leaving behind an item with your scent on it has helped some dogs with mild anxiety issues find comfort.

There are no quick fixes when it comes to dog separation anxiety, especially the more severe cases. If your dogs’ anxiety issues are severe, then you might want to find a dog day care or a family member to watch your pet while in your absence.

Don’t forget, at this point your dog needs your help and he needs you to find a treatment for his problem.

This Guide Can Help

Most people who have had a pet with separation anxiety problems will nearly all agree that it can be an agonizing and stressful time for both of you. It is important to know that some of the things you here about dog separation anxiety is only a myth and you will need to separate the facts from these myths.

A few ways that will let you know if your pet truly has anxiety problems:

Your dog sticks to you like glue as you move around the house; Your pets attitude changes at all as you get ready to walk out the door;He acquires the nasty behavior of going to the bathroom all over the place anytime you leave him alone.

Your pet may be hurting from dog separation anxiety if he shows any of the symptoms above. Now, here are a few of the myths surrounding the problem.

Help Your Dog Separation Anxiety

Our dog punished us by tearing up the house because we left him home alone.

While there are some pets who are dealing with dog separation anxiety that will destroy things, they are not doing so to punish you. Instead, the problem stems from a growing amount of stress that he is feeling because he has beenleft alone.

The Situation Can Be Helped Through Crating

Of course crating your dog is going to prevent him from destroying things but it will not be the solution you are looking for to help you fix the anxiety problem. There is the chance that by handling the behavior this way with a dog with this kind of problem, he could injure himself in his attempt to get free.

Really Getting After Your Dog Can Fix Dog Separation Anxiety.

This method will produce an opposite effect. After you leave, your dog has already begun to suffer and get wound up. Now visualize that when you arrive home that your pet is met with a scream fest from you about what a rotten dog he is. Your dog is just feeling a lot of panic which is causing him to act in a certain way, he is not doing these things on purpose.

Is there a treatment for dog separation anxiety? The answers vary depending on how bad the condition is. You can use simple methods for mild forms of anxiety. Here is an example, when you get home, ignore your dog for a little bit and then give him a pet, keeping everything calm.

A few people have found that if they left an item behind that had their scent on it, it seemed to help a dog with the mild form of separation anxiety find some comfort.

There are no quick fixes when it comes to dog separation anxiety, especially the more severe cases. If it is the severe form of anxiety you may want to leave your dog with friends or family while you are gone.

Dog separation and bad behavior are not the same, your dog is in misery and he is looking to you to come up with a solution that works.

Find Your Answers Here

By Sandra Scott

Puppy separation anxiety is anguish felt by puppies when they are left alone. 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. The most likely puppies to experience separation anxiety are those with a strong attachment to their owner.

Stopping puppy separation anxiety can commence before you adopt your puppy. First of all, you should let your puppy be fully weaned away from his mom, normally by the time he is eight weeks old. Puppies need to be given some independence from their mother. A dog that is taken away earlier may experience puppy separation anxiety.

For a top notch 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. So you mustn’t lavish extra attention and hugs on your puppy. Initially, puppies should only be left on their own for short periods of time. 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. Strays or dogs from shelters are the most likely adult dogs to suffer from separation anxiety. Prior to being adopted by your family, it is likely that they had a difficult life. Stick with 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.

It may help a dog that experiences separation anxiety if you take a close look at his situation to determine the cause for his behavior. As with puppies, you shouldn’t make it a big deal when you leave. Start out slowly and leave the older dogs for a short period, then over time progress to longer periods.

When you leave, make sure you give your puppy plenty of distractions. Your puppy will usually calm down within 30 minutes to an hour after his bout of puppy separation anxiety. While you are away from home, it’s a good idea to leave him with chewies or toys to keep him busy. This could help him to get beyond the initial hurdle. Another possibility is toys stuffed with cheese or peanut butter. Your dog will work on it until he reaches the treat which will take some time. This will help him to forget about you and his separation anxiety.

Crate training is another good option. Using a crate for a destructive dog is particularly effective. Their crate should not be destroyed as they feel that it is their home. The crate should only be used as a positive experience for your dog and not for punishment. It is important for a dog to feel safe in his crate. You should provide him with treats and food while he’s in the crate so feels good about it. When your dog or puppy has convinced you that he will not destroy your home, leave him for a short while. The crate door should be left open so your dog feels that his sanctuary is still available to him.

You should check with your vet for other ideas on how to stop puppy separation anxiety. It is important to note that separation anxiety happens for many different reasons.

To learn how to stop puppy separation anxiety, I suggest that you take a look at Secrets to Dog Training.

Are you are having problems with your puppy chewing your furniture and possessions. You have realized that puppies, as small as they are, can create a huge amount of damage, from scratching wooden floors and doors, 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. Only when the chewing becomes inappropriate,should you take action. The aim of this article is to draw your attention to the main reasons for chewing, then to give you tips on how to stop this.

There are various reasons why your puppy is chewing your house to bits. 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 should start to fall out when the first permanent teeth start to emerge. At this time their gums might become sore and they will want to chew a great deal to soothe their gums.

Boredom
Puppies tend to become bored quite easily. They need a channel for their energy, such as exercise and playing games. If left alone for too long, your puppy will easily become bored and may then turn to a destructive behavior such as chewing.

Separation anxiety and stress
Your puppy may start chewing in order to alleviate his stress and separation anxiety especially if he is left alone too long.

Once you know what the causes 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. It is important that they are different in texture, taste and shape and are sturdy so your puppy does not become bored too quickly.
• By using these toys and playing regularly with your puppy, they will start to have pleasant with them and are more likely to play with them when left alone.
• 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. You puppy will dislike the taste and will stop them from chewing.
• In the beginning it is important not to leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time. Begin with a short 10 minute period and gradually build up to longer absences.
• If you are absent for a period of time or cannot watch your puppy, you could confine them either in a pen or crate.
• Always praise your puppy when you see him chewing appropriate 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. Be sure to do this consistently.

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 correct 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 dog chewing, dog separation anxiety and boredom in puppies.