separation anxiety

Today we're taking a look at a common canine complaint - the tricky issue of the dog who doesn't like to be left alone: separation anxiety.

Does this sound like you and your dog? You've had him since he was a puppy. He is a sweet dog, eager to please, and enjoys being around you and your whole family.

But lately, you've notice that he's become destructive around the house whenever he's left alone, even for just a few hours. You come home and the house looks like it was hit by a tornado - papers scattered everywhere, the trash can was knocked down, and your clothes were chewed into shreds.

Your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety, a problem common with many puppies and dogs. Separation anxiety is a panic disorder exhibited by a dog in the absence of his owner. It is the fear of being left alone that results in unwanted, destructive behaviors.

Dogs are social creatures. As puppies it is natural for them to get dependent and attached to their mother and littermates. This type of attachment is transferred on to you, his owner, when the puppy enters your life. This attachment results in distress whenever the dog is left alone in the house, which is the most common cause of separation anxiety.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety

Your dog could be suffering from separation anxiety if he displays any of the following signs: Destructiveness; excessive crying, barking, howling, whining, house soiling, pacing, depression, self mutilation, excessive salivation, hyperactivity, and scratching or chewing at walls, doors, windows, furniture, and other objects when you're not with him.

But how would you know if you weren't with him?

Sometimes it's good to try and find a vantage point to observe how your dog behaves when you're not there, somewhere where you can see him but he can't see you. It might just blow your mind how your dog behaves when he thinks you've gone.

Causes Of Separation Anxiety

There are many causes for separation anxiety in dogs. Some were developed with experiences they had before the dog ever became part of your family, such as loss or abandonment of previous owner.

Below are six other causes of separation anxiety in dogs:

1. A traumatic experience such as an injury, thunderstorm, or an alarm system going off that happened while you were gone.
2. A loss or addition of a family member.
3. Premature separation from its mother and littermates.
4. Having a new pet in the house and spending a lot of time with that new pet and less time with him.
5. A sudden change in schedule, lifestyle, or environment.
6. Changes that occur in older dogs, both physiologically and mentally, that results from ageing.

All of these things can cause or intensify feelings of stress and anxiety in many dogs. They can manifest in many different ways but one of the most common is separation anxiety.

So, how do we improve our dog's confidence and help them to relax when we're not there?

As we've already touched on, separation anxiety occurs when dogs feel frightened and distressed at the absence of their owner. This type of attachment problem can be mild or severe. A mild case is often exhibited when the dog is pacing, over-grooming, and panting, whereas a severe case of separation anxiety can be quite a challenge for the owner. The dog soils the house, cries nonstop, barks or howls, and destroys furniture and other objects around the house. Often times, the dog starts to show behaviours associated with separation anxiety after being left alone for only ten or fifteen minutes.

Here are five tips that can help.

1. Some dogs feel comfortable being confined to a smaller space ssuch as a crate or a small gated area of the house, while others feel comfortable when in a kennel outdoors (it really depends on the individual dog but it is something you should be aware of) If your dog starts to feel agitated when crated, take him out and do not try to force it because it can only make matters worse. If your dog takes well to the crate, you could have found a quick, easy solution to the problem.

2. In some cases, confining your dog to a small area where he has viewing access to the outside world is enough to make him feel comfortable and eliminate separation anxiety. You can place his crate or bed in front of a sliding glass door or a clear window. Unhelpfully, having a view of the outside world can make some dogs even worse! Again, it's time for testing.

3. Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety because of boredom. Find a job that your dog can do. Teach him how to play "Find it" - a game that he can play by himself. To play this game, you must hide his favorite bones or stuffed treats where he can find them. To keep him busy, use three or five bones or treats (depending on how long you'll be gone). Here's a really quick tip that has a very high success rate, I do it with my dogs: Get some sugarfree sugar puffs (sounds like a contradiction but trust me, they exist and you don't want your dog getting fat). Create a routine about when you're going out so your dog understands what's going on - it will help them if they are confused and expect you may have gone out for a moment or two and may have forgoten them. As you are leaving, grab a fistful of sugar free sugar puffs and start to scatter them in the area where the dog will be staying, encourage them to hunt and find, scatter them far and wide and if you have a dog who likes hunting for treats, this action will not only keep them busy but it can also become your 'signal' that you are going out for a while. After a short period, the dog will associate your going out with them getting a hunting game and, in many cases, they'll start to actually get excited about you leaving!

4. Another way to fight boredom is to provide your dog with plenty of toys. Rotate the toys so he will not get tired of playing with them. Playing, chewing, chasing, and hunting for his toys or treats has the power to cause your dog utilize his natural canine instincts while keeping him occupied for hours.

5. Leave the television on or play a soft, relaxing music. Researches have shown that soft, classical music relaxes dogs. Pick something that you listen to when you are at home, so your pet doesn't relate the music to your absence. Background noise can help to disguise any sounds from the outside world which may startle your dog or disturb them, causing them to bark or get stressed.

Best of luck.

At Urban Out Sitters we continue to raise the bar above all our competitors to offer the best care for your dog. Each facility is clean, safe and certified by the Department of Agriculture offering stricter sanitary requirements; enforcing better screening for each dog; and selling a higher performance of daycare or kenneling. Our fully staffed facility is a smaller environment, specifically designed to maintain control, supervision and quality.For more information about the services we provide visit our website at www.urbanoutsitters.com