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Many Canines With Separation Anxiety Are Suffering

If your dog seems to always over react to your leaving them home alone, then they could be suffering from canine separation disorder. This is a serious condition that can cause harm to your dog and your house. Canine separation disorder is a medical condition that should not be ignored. Your pet is suffering and needs effective behavioral directions.

Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety seem to have problems when the person who they have become close to leaves them alone, sometime even when they just leave the room. This condition is caused when a dog's level of frustration is not proportionate to their exciting feelings.

Younger and older dogs are the groups that are usually seen exuding symptoms of separation anxiety. Middle aged dog's majority of the time, do not suffer from the condition. Also, dogs adopted from shelters seem to experience this condition, possibly because they are scared of being left again. Reassurance that you will be back is the key to a more relaxed day alone.

If a pet has become accustom to spending all of its time with you and suddenly they are left alone, separation anxiety may occur. Some pets suffer from the condition even if their owner simply leaves the room. Most exude symptoms when you run to the store or away for work, rather quickly. Usually in around 15 minutes after your departure. They are afraid their loved one isn't returning for them.

Many of us parents probably have experienced some level of separation anxiety in our children when leaving them at daycare or school. Dogs are reacting the same way. They don't want to be left alone without us. The key is to reassure them, you will return.

A dog's anxiety experienced when their loved ones leave them alone, can range from mild to severe. Usually, they will react dramatically within 20 to 45 minutes of separation. A few signs of separation anxiety to watch for in your pet include barking, howling, whining, digging, chewing, scratching, attempts to get out of their surrounding and find their owners, and sometimes house trained dogs may poop or tinkle when in distress. As a result of a day of separation anxiety, your pet may terrorize your home or yard. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety may chew on your doors, window seals or anything they can find.

Some pets will require medical attention to help them deal with their anxiety, but there are steps an owner can take to help their pets deal with their condition as well. Do not punish your dog for the damage done when you leave them. This could actually make the condition worse.

To help your dog deal with their condition, don't make a big deal out of leaving or arriving home, leave them a piece of clothing so that they have your smell, and when leaving, always use the same words to show them you are leaving. This way they will eventually associate that you will return with those words. You could act out leaving by picking up your keys and going outside and coming back in several times. Letting them know that you do return, when they think you are gone.

Some other advice would be to enroll them in a doggy daycare, leave your dog with a friend or family member while you are away, or seek medical care for possible drug therapy. If your dog chews during their separation distress you could give them a chewing toy or bone to help.

The relationship between and dog and its owner is very close. Our pets miss us when we are going and they need reassurance that we are coming back for them. While canine separation anxiety may be stressful for both dog and owner it can be treated.

Author's Resource:

Matt Martinscontributes to articles on dog training methods at trainingdogshelp.com For more help on canine seperation anxiety click here

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