| One of the greatest joys of dog ownership is the tight | | | | your dogs separation anxiety problem depends on its |
| bond we experience and encourage with our dogs. | | | | severity. You will find lots of theories and suggestions |
| However, if your dog becomes too reliant or | | | | regarding the correct way to treat separation anxiety - |
| dependant on you, dog separation anxiety can | | | | I'll just inform you of what's worked for me.The 4 Step |
| develop.Dog Separation Anxiety is an enormous | | | | Program I Used To Fix My Dalmation's Separation |
| problem to an estimated 10% of all puppy's and older | | | | Anxiety ProblemMy dalmation Harrison developed |
| dogs. Somewhat ironically, it is the major cause for | | | | Separation Anxiety seemingly for no reason when he |
| dogs ending up in animal shelters. I wish I could say dog | | | | was about 7 years old. He would start digging and |
| separation anxiety is easily fixed , but the truth is it can | | | | crying as soon as I left the house, even if my other |
| be a very difficult and time consuming problem to turn | | | | family members were home. My Veterinarian |
| around.Let's take a look at separation anxiety from | | | | suggested this training process, it achieved the desired |
| your dogs perspective. You are the most important | | | | result but took plenty of time and patience.Aside from |
| thing in your dogs life. Dogs are very sociable | | | | the 4 step program listed below, I continued to practice |
| creatures and thrive on company for many reasons. If | | | | the general day to day duties of responsible dog |
| your dog had a choice he/she would spend every bit | | | | ownership. By this I mean things like providing a safe |
| of his time with you. So it's only natural that when you | | | | and comfortable bed, plenty of exercise and |
| go out, your dog can experience varying degrees of | | | | obedience training.Harry would start to get anxious (his |
| distress and anxiety. He becomes confused, | | | | whole body would shake) at the very first sign of me |
| vulnerable, doesn't know where you are going, why he | | | | leaving the house. This typically would be putting my |
| can't be with you and if you will be coming back to him. | | | | shoe's on or turning off the TV or heater. It became a |
| When you are separated all he wants is to be reunited | | | | real problem for Harry, myself and the rest of my |
| with his pack - which is you.Punishment is NEVER the | | | | family, this is how we eventually solved it:Step 1Since |
| answer to treating dog separation anxiety!Does Your | | | | Harry was always by my side when I was home I had |
| Dog Suffer From Separation Anxiety?There's every | | | | to slowly teach him that he didn't always need to be |
| chance your dog is suffering from a Separation | | | | close to me. I started out by ignoring his attention |
| Anxiety disorder rather than another dog behavioral | | | | seeking behavior (jumping up, barking etc.) and then did |
| problem if:1. Your dog gets really worked up and | | | | some solid practice of his down stay. Little by little we |
| anxious when you are preparing to leave the house. | | | | extended the time and distance we spent apart, until |
| Things like picking up your car keys or putting on your | | | | he was happy to be alone for up to 30 minutes. Of |
| coat can trigger the behavior.2. Your dog engages in | | | | course, we still spent lots of fun time together.Step |
| inappropriate behavior only when you are separated. I | | | | 2The next step was to get him used to being outside |
| expand on this topic further down the page, but | | | | when I was inside. Again we started off with very |
| behavior such as urinating inside, excessive barking | | | | small periods apart and gradually lengthened the time |
| and destructive behavior are common symptoms of | | | | over a couple of weeks. If you try this Separation |
| Separation Anxiety in dogs.3. Your dog follows you | | | | Anxiety treatment make sure that you don't just leave |
| everywhere you go and immediately becomes | | | | your dog outside to get all worked up and stressed. |
| distressed if he can't be near you.4. When you arrive | | | | The trick is to start out leaving your dog out for a few |
| home your dog is over the top with his greeting and | | | | seconds, then going out and reuniting before he shows |
| takes a while to calm down.Why Do Dogs Suffer | | | | any signs of Separation Anxiety. Give your dog a treat |
| From Separation Anxiety?There are many theories on | | | | or dog toy to keep his mind off missing you. Only |
| this one. In some cases the cause or trigger can be | | | | initiate contact with your dog when he is calm and |
| pinpointed to a particular event, but often there | | | | quiet.Step 3The next step in fixing Harry's Separation |
| appears to be no explanation for the Separation | | | | Anxiety problem was to eliminate the distress caused |
| Anxiety to commence. What I can say is that | | | | by me getting ready to leave the house for work. |
| Separation Anxiety in dogs regularly occurs: | | | | What I did was write a list of all the triggers that |
| Straight after a change in routine. Such as your work | | | | started Harry's anxiety. I then set about desensitizing |
| hours changing or a family member leaves home. | | | | him to these triggers. I'd put my shoe's on, and not go |
| Remember dogs are creatures of habit and any | | | | anywhere. Put my coat on, then sit down to read the |
| changes can be very unsettling to them.If you have | | | | paper. Pick up my car keys and just carry them |
| been on vacation or unemployed for some time and | | | | around with me, jangling along as I went about my |
| have been spending heaps of time with your dog. | | | | business. After a while (about 3 weeks) Harry barely |
| When you go back to work your dog becomes | | | | offered a sideways glance at my shenanigans.Step |
| anxious and distressed.Unfortunately dog's rescued | | | | 4When Harry was completely calm in situations that |
| from animal shelters contribute a highly disproportionate | | | | would have unsettled him in the past, I left the house. |
| number of Separation Anxiety cases.After your dog | | | | At first I just stepped outside, shut the door and came |
| experiences a traumatic event while on his own. If a | | | | back inside within 20 seconds - before he made a |
| thunderstorm lashes your home while your dog is | | | | sound. Again this was a slow process, similar to step 2. |
| alone, this can trigger Separation Anxiety in the future.If | | | | I extended the time outside the front door and then |
| your dog is rarely left alone and becomes overly reliant | | | | graduated to starting the car, then driving around the |
| on his pack.When you move house to a new | | | | block before I came back inside. You can provide a |
| neighbourhood. | | | | tasty treat to your dog on your way out the door, |
| How Does Dog Separation Anxiety Manifest Itself?- | | | | something that he can work on for a while. Harry's |
| Barking | | | | favorite was a frozen Kong stuffed full of peanut |
| - Whining | | | | butter and a few liver treats, this eventually kept him |
| - Licking | | | | occupied for hours. Remember that when you return |
| - Destructive Behavior | | | | home, don't make a huge fuss. Come inside, get |
| - Chewing | | | | changed, pour yourself a nice hot coffee, then greet |
| - Howling | | | | your calm dog.This process did prove effective for me |
| - Panic Attacks | | | | and my anxious dalmation. All up the 4 steps took |
| - Digging | | | | about 5 weeks to work through and fix Harry's |
| - Inappropriate Urinating | | | | Separation Anxiety problem. My Vet suggested that I |
| - House Soiling | | | | supplement this training with some medication. I didn't |
| - Self Mutilatio | | | | go down that path, but it would have been my next |
| - Escaping | | | | step if required.Whichever method you choose to treat |
| - Diarrhea | | | | dog separation anxiety, be sure to stick with it and |
| - Loss Of Appetite | | | | don't expect any immediate results.Chris Smith is a |
| - Excessive Salivation | | | | dedicated dog owner and creator of out the best way |
| - Vomiting | | | | to correct dog behavioral problems and properly |
| - Jumping Through Windows | | | | obedience train your dog. The latest cutting edge dog |
| - CryingWhat Can You Do To Help Your Dog | | | | training techniques, for you to apply at home. |
| Overcome Separation?The treatment administered to | | | | |