Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘dog separation anxiety training’

If you’re on the lookout for a cure to your dog’s separation anxiety, there are several approaches you could take. Some of them will give you more instant results than others, while other approaches may bring more enduring benefits.

Dog Anxiety Medicines

One approach to curing separation anxiety in dogs is to use some form of medicine, from non-prescription herbal remedies, to prescription drugs, and other mood altering products.

Anti-anxiety drugs are only advised in significant cases of anxiousness and must be be prescribed by your vet. They can take a fortnight to reach the right levels and work best, usually must be given daily, and must be carefully monitored as there may be side-effects.

There are a group of non-prescription drugs that’ve been developed to help calm and ease dogs with anxiety. They’re put forward as safe, non-addictive and natural treatments and are said to cut out acute symptoms of fear and nervousness. They can be got over the counter or on the web and generally come in easy to administer, liquid or granule form.

Another product created to reduce a dog’s stress is a treatment that works by exposing them to an artificial copy of the pheromones produced by a lactating female dog, which would naturally calm her puppies. The pheromones are introduced to the air via a diffuser, which works like a plug in air freshener. It is odourless to us and aims to be a natural solution that should not have a sedative effect on the dog.

Distraction Techniques

Distracting techniques are usually used to either stop a dog’s anxiety feelings from developing, or reducing it’s power.

These methods include:

• Walking your dog prior to going out – because it’s thought a worn out dog is more inclined to sleep and less likely to be fretting about where you have disappeared to.
• Feeding your dog – because a dog with a full and satisfied stomach is less likely to be stressed.
• Using exciting toys – because playing with their favourite toys will occupy them.
• Leaving the Television or radio on – as the noise will be comforting.
• Leaving your dog with an old jumper of yours – because being able to smell you will be comforting for them.

Dog Separation Anxiety Training

A training program particularly aimed towards dogs with separation anxiety is typically recommended by veterinarians. This will either be used alone, or alongside medication or other products.

The training should aim to alter a dogs behaviour particularly in relation to the triggers to their stress, this is sometimes referred to as de-sensitisation training. It should also help you continuously increase the quantity of time you spend separated from your dog, and teach you the most effective way to leave an anxious dog and what to do when your return.

Choosing A Technique to Suit You and Your Dog

While medicine or distraction methodologies may reduce symptoms and help your dog cope with the initial issues of separation anxiety, they are unlikely to cure the issue alone. Both strategies are likely to need the addition of training to create a long-term solution.

Whichever approaches you take to curing your dog’s separation anxiety, it is going to take time, patience and persistence on your part, because dogs learn at different speeds. There’s no instant magic wand and don’t believe anyone that tries to tell you there is.

Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a Dog Anxiety internet site, which provides help and information for owners handling dog anxiety. You’ll get more information about dog separation anxiety cures, when you head to the site.

Is separation anxiety in dogs a problem for you and your canine friend?  Is it bad enough that you’re thinking of giving up your dog, or even having him put to sleep?  Don’t despair.  Dog separation anxiety training can help solve this problem.

Dogs And Separation Anxiety

The fundamental point of any dog training program is to establish that you’re the pack leader.  Doing this will nip a lot of dog behavior problems in the bud.  This is important because many dogs with separation anxiety think that they’re the pack leader, or alpha male.  In the wild, the pack leader may leave the pack for a while, but his followers never leave him.

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha male, he’ll get upset when you leave.  He feels responsible for you, and thinks something may happen to you while you’re gone. 

Another issue to avoid is allowing your dog to get too attached to you.Remember that you should be the pack leader when interacting with a dog struggling with separation anxiety.You, not him, should be the one who initiates the contact. 

You want to encourage your dog to be more independent.It’s important to let other people in your household feed and walk the dog too, so he doesn’t get too dependent on you.  Don’t let your dog sit or sleep within three feet of you.  This means no sleeping on your bed.  If he is already, train him to sleep at the foot of the bed, and then in his own bed.  Eventually move his bed out of your bedroom completely.

Don’t make a fuss when leaving or coming home.  It’s very tempting to encourage your dog to jump around and get excited when you return home, but it’s a bad idea because it reinforces your dog’s notion that your return is the high point of his day.

Dog Separation Anxiety Training

You’ll want to use positive reinforcement techniques to teach your dog that being alone isn’t a bad thing.  Do this by rewarding his good behavior and ignoring bad dog behavior.

An example of this is using the “sit-stay” command.Repeat this action many times over the course of the day.Your plan is to walk away, out of your dog’s sight, while he’s in the “stay” position.Reward him with a favorite treat when you come back, if he’s still in the “sit” position.  This teaches him that he can be in one place and be happy while you go someplace else. 

You can start this training very easily when you’re watching tv.  You get up for a snack, and tell your dog to “sit-stay.”  When you come back, reward him.  Repeat this as often as you can throughout the day.  Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog, and the length of time he waits for you to return. 

Always reward him with a tasty treat for waiting quietly for your return.  This is the positive reinforcement he receives for waiting quietly for your return. 

If your dog follows you, return him to the “sit-stay” position and work on him staying as you walk away.  Never punish your dog during these sessions, as it will only make him more anxious. 

A Good Dog Training Course Is Essential

It’s very easy to give your dog the wrong idea during dog separation anxiety training.  Be sure to find a course that will teach you how your dog thinks to avoid inadvertently teaching him the wrong things.

Now’s the time to start putting these ideas into action.

Learn more about dog separation anxiety training by visiting No More Bad Dogs, and find a dog training course that will help to solve your dog behavior problems.

Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone?The reason dogs chew up clothing and furniture, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone is often due to separation anxiety in dogs.   By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem. 

You have two goals with this training.  The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.

Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training

It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order.  The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top.  Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family.  Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.

Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you.  We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap.  It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast.  It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you.He should learn that he doesn’t have to be in constant contact with you to be happy.

Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you.  If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed.  Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom.Your want him to become a happier, more independent dog.

Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has.  A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.

This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home.  Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there.Don’t pay any attention to your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, or after you return.

Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone

Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands.  He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.

Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv.  Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave.  At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you.Gradually increase the amount of time that you’re gone.  Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back.  He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded. 

Choose a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy anything.  Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself.  Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you.  Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat.  Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. When you’re done with the training session, be sure to put these toys away.

What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return.This is teaching him that being alone isn’t so bad after all.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it.  You’ll want to look for a good dog training course, so you can avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your dog behavior problems.

Learn more about dog separation anxiety training, by visiting No More Bad Dogs to find an effective dog training course that uses these principles.