Posts Tagged ‘dog separation trauma’
Dog Separation Anxiety
Anybody who has ever had a pet with separation anxiety will more than likely agree that it was and is a painful and stressful time for both dog and owner alike. Something that needs to be said is that many myths surround the dog separation anxiety discussions and you will need to understand the difference between fact and fiction.
A few ways that will let you know if your pet truly has anxiety problems:
Your dog sticks to you like glue as you move around the house; The pets demeanor changes, even a little bit as you prepare to leave;He acquires the nasty behavior of going to the bathroom all over the place anytime you leave him alone.
If any symptoms from above are displayed in your pet, he is more than likely dealing with dog separation anxiety. Below are some of the better known myths about this behavior.
Help Your Dog Separation Anxiety
Our dog tore up the house all because we left home without him.
While there are some pets who are dealing with dog separation anxiety that will destroy things, they are not doing so to punish you. No, this problem was formed because of an ever increasing amount of stress that your pet is feeling as a result of being left alone.
Crating Your Pet Will Fix The Problem
Sure, if you crate your pet he won’y tear stuff up, but it isn’t going to help his anxiety problems one little bit. It is true that using the crating method on a dog with separation anxiety issues could prove harmful to him as he could hurt himself trying to get out of the crate.
Really Getting After Your Dog Can Fix Dog Separation Anxiety.
This method will produce an opposite effect. The dog has already begun to feel the stress and anxiety building as a result of you leaving. Imagine that when you arrive home and he is met with some screaming, maybe some hitting or another type of punishment. Don’t forget that your pet isn’t doing these things to be bad, it is just happening because he feels panicked.
How can dog separation be treated? There are different answers and they all depend on how severe the condition is. If the anxiety is mild, then you can use simpler methods. For example, do not put on a big show after you arrive home, just stay calm and give him a short comforting pet.
By leaving behind an item with your scent on it has helped some dogs with mild anxiety issues find comfort.
There are no quick fixes when it comes to dog separation anxiety, especially the more severe cases. If it is the severe form of anxiety you may want to leave your dog with friends or family while you are gone.
Don’t forget, at this point your dog needs your help and he needs you to find a treatment for his problem.
