Dog Separation Anxiety
Separation Anxiety is one of the most common problems besetting dog owners. Anxiety causes the dog to display annoying behavior such as barking when it is left in the house. If this is tolerated, ignored or allowed to advance, your dog might become a menace, or it might create so much noise when left alone.
The Sources of Dog Separation Anxiety
By instinct, dogs are social animals. They belong to a pack and they have a strong attachment to their master. When a dog is left behind by its master, it has a tendency to get overly excited. It is important to note that most of the anxiety that dogs feel is caused by their attachment to specific actions that you take relative to your absence. Dogs don't like to be left alone, there's no question about it, but there's no direct connection why they should be so disturbed when you leave.
Actually, the reason behind your dog's display of anxiety is the attention you give it before you leave or as soon as you get back home. If the sequence of activities you make each time you leave is repetitive, your dog can easily tag it overtime. You should remember that one of the things that dogs love to do is to watch you. It is only natural for it to be able to memorize your pattern of ritualistic pre-departure activities. Your own sequence of activities gives your dog the signal that you are leaving. This will make it anxious and agitated because it already knows your next move.
Reducing Dog Separation Anxiety
Dealing with separation anxiety comes in many ways. Here are a few tips to consider:
Change Your Routine. Change the sequence of your activities before you leave. Make sure that you are not consistently repeating the sequence of activities. Dogs have the ability to tag a patterns of activities are consistently repeated overtime. Change your pre-departure habits every now and then will help to reduce your dog's anxiety.
Don't Reinforce it. You don't have to contribute to your dog's separation anxiety by petting it before you leave or by giving it lavish attention when you return. This act only reinforces the dog's anxious behavior. A dog's separation anxiety can be eliminated if you can remove the connection between your arrival and departure from the lavish attention that you shower upon it each time you depart or arrive home. It is best to ignore your dog for at least 10 minutes as you get home, and don't pet it before you leave. In short, simply ignore it no matter what it does to attract your attention. This anxiety elimination method can be perfected with the crate training or by simply putting your dog in a separate room to make it forget its attachment to the lavish attention you once accorded it.
Building Up to Longer Times. If your dog can already detect your slightest detection of leaving, you've got an anxiety problem to deal with. You can start by leaving for very short periods and coming back at once. Changing the dog's anticipations on the length of times that they will be separated will help to reduce its separation anxiety. The dog will not be anxious if it sees you return each time. You can make your absence longer as your dog adjusts.
You're Not Being Mean
Putting a stop to dog separation anxiety is not a cruel act. It is in fact a way to help your dog to behave properly and giving it an assurance that you are coming back. The mere act of changing your movement patterns and to ignore the dog's attention seeking efforts is a show of control and the dog should abide by it. Reducing a dog's separation anxiety is reinforcing its physical and mental health.
It is important to note that persistent, severe anxiety issues warrants immediate action from you. Teaching your dog not to associate your departure or arrival with its sense of survival can greatly lessen its separation anxiety. It can be traced to a dog's feeling of being abandoned.
The Sources of Dog Separation Anxiety
By instinct, dogs are social animals. They belong to a pack and they have a strong attachment to their master. When a dog is left behind by its master, it has a tendency to get overly excited. It is important to note that most of the anxiety that dogs feel is caused by their attachment to specific actions that you take relative to your absence. Dogs don't like to be left alone, there's no question about it, but there's no direct connection why they should be so disturbed when you leave.
Actually, the reason behind your dog's display of anxiety is the attention you give it before you leave or as soon as you get back home. If the sequence of activities you make each time you leave is repetitive, your dog can easily tag it overtime. You should remember that one of the things that dogs love to do is to watch you. It is only natural for it to be able to memorize your pattern of ritualistic pre-departure activities. Your own sequence of activities gives your dog the signal that you are leaving. This will make it anxious and agitated because it already knows your next move.
Reducing Dog Separation Anxiety
Dealing with separation anxiety comes in many ways. Here are a few tips to consider:
Change Your Routine. Change the sequence of your activities before you leave. Make sure that you are not consistently repeating the sequence of activities. Dogs have the ability to tag a patterns of activities are consistently repeated overtime. Change your pre-departure habits every now and then will help to reduce your dog's anxiety.
Don't Reinforce it. You don't have to contribute to your dog's separation anxiety by petting it before you leave or by giving it lavish attention when you return. This act only reinforces the dog's anxious behavior. A dog's separation anxiety can be eliminated if you can remove the connection between your arrival and departure from the lavish attention that you shower upon it each time you depart or arrive home. It is best to ignore your dog for at least 10 minutes as you get home, and don't pet it before you leave. In short, simply ignore it no matter what it does to attract your attention. This anxiety elimination method can be perfected with the crate training or by simply putting your dog in a separate room to make it forget its attachment to the lavish attention you once accorded it.
Building Up to Longer Times. If your dog can already detect your slightest detection of leaving, you've got an anxiety problem to deal with. You can start by leaving for very short periods and coming back at once. Changing the dog's anticipations on the length of times that they will be separated will help to reduce its separation anxiety. The dog will not be anxious if it sees you return each time. You can make your absence longer as your dog adjusts.
You're Not Being Mean
Putting a stop to dog separation anxiety is not a cruel act. It is in fact a way to help your dog to behave properly and giving it an assurance that you are coming back. The mere act of changing your movement patterns and to ignore the dog's attention seeking efforts is a show of control and the dog should abide by it. Reducing a dog's separation anxiety is reinforcing its physical and mental health.
It is important to note that persistent, severe anxiety issues warrants immediate action from you. Teaching your dog not to associate your departure or arrival with its sense of survival can greatly lessen its separation anxiety. It can be traced to a dog's feeling of being abandoned.
About the Author:
Stan Beck has helped many pet owners with his Dog Training Methods. Visit his website to give you valuable insights about dog behavior training and how to reduce your dog's Separation Anxiety.
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