dog separation anxiety
It’s sometimes impossible to online with a dog that has “separation anxiety.” A loud or destructive dog produces stress for everybody in the house, costs additional money as well as ruins great connections with neighbors.
Well-meaning dog enthusiasts aren’t always conscious of a dog’s stress and anxiety problems before adopting or fostering, as well as this can lead to huge problems, particularly in an apartment setting. I understand what a difficult option it is to return a dog, particularly for a dog enthusiast who doesn’t want to “give up on the dog.”
But sometimes there is no other option. sometimes you have to put yourself as well as your household before a dog.
Almost every dog I’ve fostered has had some type of “separation anxiety,” as well as I’m not speaking about a bit of crying as the dog adjusts to her new environment.
What is separation stress and anxiety in dogs?
Note: This publish has been broadened into an ebook on dog separation anxiety. The expense is $4. Click the book cover for more info.
I think about a dog to have separation stress and anxiety if she has never been properly conditioned to being left alone as well as therefore goes into a frantic specify of mind when her owner leaves the house.
There are a great deal of loose definitions for separation anxiety, as well as people are as well quick to state a dog has it.
In most situations the dog hasn’t been provided any type of rules, exercise or a routine so of program she’s going to bark as well as ruin things when left alone – she’s tired out of her mind as well as has never been consistently disciplined or exercised!
Another error is to state the dog has separation stress and anxiety just since she cries when kenneled. All dogs will naturally requirement a few days or weeks to change to a new environment.
And it does take a long time for a dog to get utilized to a kennel. My mutt Ace wept for 20 minutes every time I kenneled him for the very first two weeks. This wasn’t separation anxiety. Ace was just discovering his new routine as well as didn’t want to be left out. He’s likewise a huge infant as well as still does a fair amount of whining in general ?
Signs of separation stress and anxiety in dogs
An unhealthy attachment to her owner, frequently complying with him from space to space as well as sitting as close as possible.
Leaning into or climbing on her owner for security.
Crying as well as scratching at a bedroom, bathroom or office door if she is not enabled inside with her owner.
Nervousness at the noise of her owner jingling keys, putting on shoes, grabbing his coat, etc.
Frantic enjoyment to see her owner when he returns, even if he was gone for one minute to get the mail.
Destructive habits when left alone, frequently chewing or scratching at the door or objects near the door.
Panicking when kenneled.
Trying to break out of a kennel to the point of damaging the kennel or injuring herself.
Drooling, “foaming” at the mouth, panting, “smacking” her lips as well as pacing as her owner is getting prepared to leave as well as while he is gone.
Barking, crying, shouting or actually shrieking when alone.
Going to the bathroom in the kennel or on the floor when left alone.
Ignoring extremely appealing goodies when left alone.
Odd, obsessive behaviors such as licking her paws – similar to a person who bites her nails or lip when nervous.
Some dogs will show all of these signs, as well as some will show a few indications depending upon the severity of the dog’s anxiety. likewise see my publish for exactly how to prevent separation stress and anxiety in dogs to begin with.
How to assist a dog with separation anxiety
The very first decision a dog owner must make is whether or not he is up for dealing with a dog that has separation issues. unfortunately there is no quick fix, as well as the owner should presume he will be dealing with these problems for a number of months.
I just recently made the difficult option to return a foster dog since of his stress and anxiety when left alone. The townhome atmosphere I online in is not the location to properly condition a dog that needs months of work.
Although it is not simple to return a dog to a rescue or shelter, sometimes there is no other choice. If you are dealt with with this decision, keep in mind there are always more dogs to embrace that do not have separation anxiety.
Don’t miss my other publish on exactly how to prevent separation stress and anxiety in puppies and dogs.
Here are some recommendations for assisting a dog with separation anxiety:
1. Do not coddle a dog that shows insecurity.
Insecure dogs willlean into their owners in order to feel protected. The dog may likewise try to climb into her owner’s lap. When my foster dog Levi leaned into me, the very best thing I might do for him was to get up as well as move away. I did not pet him or comfort him or state “It’s OK, Baby.” No.
Levi would likewise comply with me from space to room. I would purposely set up barriers to stretch his comfort zone such as not enabling him to comply with me into the bathroom or my bedroom or office.
2. Do not reward excited behavior.
Dogs showing any type of type of stress and anxiety or enjoyment should never be rewarded for it. Instead, they requirement to discover to chill out.
Owners should reward their dogs only when the dogs are calm. A dog that is pacing around the house, panting as well as whining should not be rewarded. I will frequently leash a dog as well as put her in a down-stay setting to assist her relax.
3. stay with a routine when leaving.
Dogs discover by repetitions as well as conditioning, so choose where your dog will stay when you are gone, as well as stay with it. If she panics when left in the laundry room, she is going to panic when left in the bathroom, bedroom or kennel, so just pick one location as well as stay with it.
Establish your routine for leaving as well as try to be as consistent as possible every time. let your dog out, then put her in “her spot” as well as ignore her for a great 20 minutes while you get prepared to leave. then leave.
Don’t state great bye. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even look at her. totally ignore any type of crying she does as well as just go.
4. embrace a dog each time when you are able to take a week off from work.
This will assist make the modification period easier since you can slowly work as much as leaving the dog for longer as well as longer periods rather than “suddenly disappearing” for eight hours.
5. condition your dog in little steps.
Slowly condition your dog to seems like choosing up your secrets as well as putting on your coat so she ultimately learns that these seems are no huge deal. Do this by randomly choosing up your secrets a number of times throughout the day without really leaving.
Once your dog is okay with this, development to putting on your coat or shoes without really leaving. Next, development to jiggling the doorknob randomly without really opening the door.
The next steps might be opening the door without leaving, then leaving for 10 seconds, leaving for 30 seconds, opening the vehicle door without really leaving, etc.
6. dedicate to utilizing a kennel.
A destructive dog will cause a great deal less damage if she is in a kennel. most importantly, you will feel less anxious by understanding your dog is safely confined as well as out of trouble. There’s nothing worse than sitting at work all the time or going out Friday night as well as costs the entire time worried about the dog!
7. Kennel the dog for short periods while you are home.
Even on days you are home, put the dog in her kennel for an hour. This will assist her stay with her routine. It will likewise assist her recognize that just since she is in her kennel does not mean you are going anywhere.
Use puzzle toys like Kongs as well as stuff these with treats to make the kennel a positive location for your dog.
8. location a radio in the room, stock the kennel with treats as well as ignore, ignore, ignore.
The hardest thing to do is ignore the dog when he’s crying or barking. Some people want to scold the dog as well as some people want to coddle the dog. Yelling at the dog will make her even more anxious, as well as coddling the dog enforces her believed that there’s something to be worried about.
Both yelling at as well as coddling the dog teach her that if she cries as well as barks, you will return to her. So as difficult as it is, ignore her. Leaving the radio playing on talk radio as well as providing additional goodies like frozen Kong toys full of peanut butter will help.
9. ignore the dog when you return.
This is difficult to do, however it is so important not to throw a celebration every time you come home. Your dog is going to be extremely excited to see you as well as most likely barking, jumping, crying as well as wiggling. totally ignore the dog up until she settles down. Don’t even look at her for a number of minutes.
Making a huge offer out of coming house reinforces that it was okay for the dog to feel anxious while you were away as well as that everything’s okay now that you are back. It should not be an event when you leave, as well as it should not be an event when you return.
10. boost the dog’s exercise.
I offer dog running services to lots of dogs in the Fargo area, as well as trust me, a dog that has had sufficientexercise will have an easier time relaxing. most dogs with any type of type of stress and anxiety have a great deal of pent-up energy.
A long rollerblading, running or biking session in the morning before work will make a big difference for the dog. Do not overlook this factor.
11. Apologize to neighbors.
Apologizing for the noise as well as explaining the circumstance goes a long way.
Explaining that the dog is a “rescue” as well as still in training likewise helps. If your neighbors are dealing with a great deal of additional noise coming from your house, why not send them a simple gift like a thank-you note or a gift card for their household to go out to dinner somewhere?
You want the neighbors to support you, not report you to the authorities or landlord.
12. prevent anti-anxiety medication (for the dog).
I recognize exactly how appealing it is to utilize medications to calm the dog, particularly when a veterinarian supports the idea.
Instead of utilizing prescription medications, I suggest you try natural products very first such as Bach’s Rescue treatment or dog appeasing pheromones.
If these do not work, then you might think about speaking with your vet about anti-anxiety medications for your dog.
Keep in mind, vets see all type of dogs with different issues, as well as they understand the typical person is not going to comply with with with training, socializing as well as exercising a dog. But putting your dog on Prozac or a similar medication is not solving the issue in the long run.
We stop working our dogs in so many ways. Dogs establish “issues” since of our errors (or somebody else’s mistakes), as well as solving the issue by drugging the dog is not a happy ending. Of program there are situations where medications are necessary, however these situations are extremely rare.
If your vet or fitness instructor suggests drugging your dog, get a second or third viewpoint as well as trust your own judgement.
Helping a dog overcome separation stress and anxiety is a long process, however it is well worth it in the end!
What experiences have you had with dogs as well as separation anxiety?
Let us understand in the comments!
Also inspect out my other publish on exactly how to stop a dog’s separation anxiety.
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