Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Separation Anxiety: Soothing The Savage Beast

By Garrett McMahan


When the dog owners leave the house, dogs often get anxious and uneasy and this is normal because dogs love to be with their owners always, and they can get upset when the owners leave house. There are dogs that scratch on doors or furniture, when this happens, and others bark or urinate anywhere. There are some ways to comfort and soothe your dog, making the time that you leave home be less troublesome for them, because separation anxiety is common among dogs.

Surprisingly, simply having a well-trained dog can help ease some of the anxiety. A dog that has completed obedience training knows what to expect from their owner and they have a close, trusting bond. Well-trained dogs tend to be happier in general because they simply understand their world and how it works. It's hard to feel secure when you don't really know what to do or what is going to happen.

While our dogs aren't born knowing how to behave properly, owners also aren't born knowing how to train their dogs. A dog training DVD program can be a great option for those needing help with obedience training as this can be more convenient than scheduling a class or time with a professional trainer. The Dog's Way is one video dog training program to consider. It includes 12 lessons and with about five or six weeks of dedicated training, your dog should be able to obey a wide variety of dog training commands.

You can also begin desensitizing your dog, and this is in addition to the dog training. What can trigger anxiety on your dog can be some observations like when you put on your shoes or jacket, and dogs associate this with you leaving. Put on your shoes and jacket but don't leave house, but instead just sit or take some snacks or read books, and this will desensitize your dog. These are behaviors that your dog will not see as signs of you leaving, and he will learn this eventually.

It can also be best to ignore your dog before and after leaving. Instead of coddling them or saying loving words before you leave or arrive, pay no attention to your dog. Others use a dog crate when leaving home and this can be a good option to some, but there are also dogs that panic when placed in a crate. You can however think of placing them in a room and one that is confined but with a baby gate. You can place toys or a dog bed in the place and also spend time here with your dog, coddling and caring them and giving love. This will be a lesson to teach them and have positive feelings for this place.

It can be a great idea to make sure your dog has had some good exercise prior to leaving the house. A dog that is tired and whose energy has been expended is less likely to become anxious or exhibit troublesome behavior. You can also leave them with a special, favorite treat when you leave so that they associate your leaving with something positive. You might consider a toy that contains a treat as this might distract them and keep them busy as you are leaving the house.




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