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Does your pet love you so much that when you leave she can't stand it?
Does she get so upset that your rugs, furniture, and anything else
she can reach or knock down show signs of her affection? If she is a
well-behaved dog when you're home and only turns into a nut case
when she can't be with you, then your pet is probably suffering from
separation anxiety. It is estimated that 10-15 percent of the canine
population experiences some type of separation anxiety. Separation
anxiety is tied to a dog's natural instinct to be part of a pack,
which explains why cats do not seem to suffer from this problem. But
there are many things you can do to help your lonely pooch out. She
certainly deserves the help; after all, she acts out because she's
longing for you. The difference between separation anxiety and just
plain bad behavior is easy to your pet: pets with separation anxiety
only act out when they are unable to get to their owners. In severe
cases, anxious pooches will act out even when their owner is simply
in another room with the door shut. Common ways of acting out
include destructive behavior, excessive barking, house soiling,
attempts to escape, loss of appetite, inactivity, sadness or
depression, and psychosomatic disorders such as vomiting, and
excessive coat licking. Also, a dog suffering from separation
anxiety will often closely shadow her owner when they're together.
 Why your pet?
Why does your dog suffer from separation anxiety while your
neighbour’s dog is fine? The possibilities abound. Some dogs simply
do not ever gain enough confidence in themselves to be on their own.
For some, it's because they were left alone for too long when they
were puppies. Others have had the misfortune of being abused or
neglected. Then there are the poor pups who are pushed from home to
home until they finally end up in an animal shelter; needless to
say, they might be afraid of being left again. Often a beloved pet
is fine for years, and then suddenly begins to act out. If her
behavior seems inexplicable, take a look at the changes in your
lifestyle that occurred around the same time your pet decided she loved
the taste of your favourite chair. Maybe Mum went back to work, or
the kids left home. Or maybe you got a new job requiring longer
hours. Whatever the reason, your pet is spending more time alone, and
she doesn't know what to do with herself. She worries: "What if they
don't come back?" When the stress is more than she can take, she
acts out.
Taming the trauma
Dealing with separation anxiety is different than dealing with just
the problem behaviours. First, you must learn to check your anger at
the door. Punishing your pet will not fix the problem--it will create a
bigger problem. Once she associates your absence and return with
punishment, her anxiety will increase. There are many different ways
you can help your dog deal with her fear. Your number one goal is to
teach your pet that you can be trusted to come back. One of the first
exercises to practice is sit and stay. This will prepare your
panicky pet for practice departures. Make your pet sit and stay while
you move from one place to another. If she obeys, give her a treat.
If she couldn't stand it and didn't stay, try it again for a shorter
time and distance. Once you find something that works, even if it's
just moving from the living room to the dining room, you can slowly
increase the time and distance. The next step is to change your
habits. Think about your routine. Do you do the same things every
time you walk out the door? Kissing your spouse, grabbing your bag,
closing your briefcase, or even picking up your keys can tell your pet
that you're leaving. She associates your preparations to leave with
her destructive behavior. Your goal is to change your pattern,
teaching her new cues that let her know that you're always coming
back and help disassociate her learned, destructive behavior from
your absence. Do something unusual and different from your normal
routine: turn on the radio or television, or give your pet a treat.
There are many toys and treats designed to entertain your pet while
you're out. A Kong toy stuffed with food is a popular option--she
will spend many distracted hours working to get the food out.
New cue review
Begin using your new cue when you start doing practice departures.
The key here is to take baby steps. When you first give your pet the new
cue, leave the house for just a minute or two--a time short enough
that you know your pet will be all right. When you come back, avoid a
big fuss and simply go about your business. The expectation of a big
to-do when you come home only increases her anxiety level. The
principle behind practice departures is the same as that of sit and
stay; you're teaching your pet that when you leave you will come back.
Slowly, you will increase her confidence in you and in herself.
Continue to practice your departures all day long for increasingly
longer amounts of time. Stay away a couple of minutes longer each
time, but remember to take it slow. If your pet becomes upset at a
certain point, cut the time in half and be patient. For example, if
your pet acts out after two hours, then decrease the time to one hour
and work your way back up from there. Repeat the cycle over and over
again, until your pet is confident that you will always return. Ideally
you will be able to spend at least a week gradually easing your pet into
a new level of self-confidence. If you don't have that much time,
try to begin early on a Friday evening and continue the practice
departures throughout the weekend.Another strategy to help you deal
with the problem is to take your pet out for a good walk before you
leave the house. Not only will you spend some quality time together,
it will also help tire her out, making it more likely she will spend
her time away from you sleeping. Another benefit to the long walk is
that once your pet sees the pattern, she will have something to look
forward to when you leave. And the exercise will be great for both
of you. With these tools, you should be well on your
way to boosting your pet's self-confidence. With enough time and
patience you can teach your pet that you love her just as much as she
loves you. Eventually she will realize that you won't leave her, and
that destroying your house may not be the best way to tell you she
misses you. Don't be afraid to seek professional help. Ask your
veterinarian for suggestions, or if the problem persists, ask your
veterinarian to recommend a behaviour specialist. Chances are both
you and your dog will benefit from some one-on-one guidance.
Together, you can transform her anxious love and your tattered home
into a secure peace you both can enjoy.
source: healthypet.com
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