Contributed by Angie Lewis
Alaska Animal Advocates
Separation anxiety issues seem to have become one of the most common problems for dogs. With this, your dog becomes very upset, stressed and panicky when left alone. The behaviors that result from separation anxiety include nonstop barking or whining, chewing up household or personal items, and soiling in the house when your dog is left alone. Some people have become so frustrated with the negative behaviors resulting that they give up on their dogs and try to rehome them or take them to the pound. Even worse, some of these dogs are being euthanized because their humans have become so unhappy with them and don’t know what else to do.
I think we need to try and understand where this anxiety comes from and what causes it. First, we must accept that dogs are very social creatures, and they love being with us. Sometimes they love us so much that they simply cannot stand to be without us.
How should we deal with these problem behaviors? We need to teach our dogs how to be comfortable alone. Punishment is not as effective as more humane methods. Try to ignore the negative behaviors and reward the positive behaviors with treats, praise, or toys.
Leaving the house routines are important aspects of this process. Experts advise us to keep departure routines low key. Ignore your dog for about 15 minutes before you leave the house. Leave a special treat, such a Kong toy, filled with a desired treat. This will hopefully set the pace for your dog’s emotional state. In addition to occupying your dog for a while, it can also associate your departing with a pleasant experience. Remove the Kong when you return, so that your dog only associates the Kong with your leaving.
Providing enough exercise time for your dog is vital. If you can, try to provide some exercise before you need to leave the house. We all know that a tired dog is a good dog.
Another preventative strategy is to build some alone time into your dog’s life at an early age. I used to keep my dogs in a separate part of the house, where they could see me, but not be able to come sit with me. This lasted only for about 15 minutes or so, but started them on the road of feeling comfortable when not in my direct company. I also left them with lots of toys to occupy them.
There are also natural pheromones that help make your dog feel safe and calm, while you are gone. In addition, a snug body wrap, such as a Thunder Shirt can help many dogs relax.
Returning home is another important piece of the puzzles. Remember that you want to reward good behavior, not bad. If your dog jumps on you or is too excited. Ignore him until he has calmed down and then reward him with treats or praise.
Sometimes, separation anxiety is so severe that the help of a veterinarian or an animal behaviorist/trainer must be enlisted. Your veterinarian may suggest medications that can help to calm your dog down. A behaviorist can help with developing strategies to address your dog’s stressful responses to being left alone.
The sooner you address these separation anxiety issues, the better. These problems do not usually resolve on their own. Intervention is critical.
Angie Lewis
Alaska Animal Advocates