Train your dog to deal with separation anxiety
Posted on 13. Jul, 2012 by admin in Dog Training, Train Your Dog - Top 20
You should know that your dog cares very much about you and will miss you greatly if you leave for a long period of time. You must have already noticed how happy he is when you come back from work and have a little free time for him. However, some dogs and puppies, about 10% of them, develop a separation anxiety disorder. This is a very serious matter that should immediately be dealt with.
How do I know if my dog suffers from separation anxiety?
The signs of separation anxiety disorder are quite obvious and you should learn how to notice them. First of all, your dog will become more agitated when he notices that you will leave home. For example, when you put on your coat or take the car keys. Another sign of this disease would be bad behavior when you are gone. If you dog behaves normally when you are around but tends to bark, destroy things or urinate inside while you are gone, he might be suffering from separation anxiety. You should also be careful if your dog becomes distressed when not being able to follow you wherever you go.
How can I treat my dog’s separation anxiety?
This treatment varies from dog to dog depending on the disorder’s severity. There are many approaches and I will try to tell you about one of them. First of all, you should try to teach him how to spend some time by himself even when you are at home. You should do this step by step, starting with small periods of time. Secondly, try to leave him outside the house when you are inside. Do this only for a couple of minutes and then give him a treat. A third step would consist in finding out what habits of yours start your dog’s separation anxiety and try to do them even when you don’t have to leave. For example, getting your shoes on or changing clothes or even playing with the car keys. Last but not the least, you should repeat your leaving routine and exit your house for a few minutes. Come back before your dog begins to bark but don’t give him attention right away: wait for a while, so he can learn that it wasn’t the end of the world when you left for work.
Never, under any circumstances do not use violence and make sure you are patient. Your dog will eventually get rid of this dangerous disorder.
