Letting your dog know you're not leaving for good
70Leaving your dog alone for long periods of time
This can make him or her stressed and uncomfortable. If your dog experiences large amounts of stress, then he may resort to destructive behaviors. Remember that this is a side effect of anxiety rather than revenge. Separation anxiety ails many dogs, while others are unaffected. The effects that separation anxiety has on dogs should not be confused with bad behavior. There are techniques you can use to try to ease your pooch's anxiety, but you should never punish your dog for feeling anxious.
Misbehaving or experiencing separation anxiety.
If your dog only exhibits destructive behaviors (i.e. chewing, urinating, defecating, vomiting, destroying household items, etc.) when you're away for long periods of time, then this is more than likely anxiety. Anxiety can also be diagnosed by observing your pooch. If he gets extremely excited when you return home, follows you from room to room, or doesn't enjoy being outdoors on his own, then it's safe to say that it's not a behavioral problem.
Why some dogs experience anxiety while others do not
In many cases, a change in the household routine will cause your pet to experience large amounts of stress. Consider for a moment that your dog is housetrained and has never acted up before. You get home one day, and the place is destroyed. You need to take a few minutes and reexamine the last few days in your home. Has anything changed? Did a family member or another pet pass away? Did your son or daughter leave for college? Often, such events can cause your pet to feel the effects of separation anxiety.
Once you have determined that your dog is experiencing anxiety, then it's time to make some changes to your routine. For starters, try taking your dog for a walk or run in the morning. You are both exercising, while spending time together. If your dog gets rid of energy early in the morning, then he is likely to spend more time sleeping during the day and less time worrying if you will return home. A morning walk also establishes a routine that your pooch can look forward to.
Don't continue with the same routine when you leave the house
Often, your walk-out-the-door rituals cause more anxiety for your pooch. You need to establish a new routine that your dog will not associate with you leaving. For instance, give him and treat and walk out the door. If possible, take this in baby steps. Leave for a few minutes and return. Each time you leave, try staying gone a little bit longer. Your dog will slowly learn that you will return. When you return home, don't make a big deal of seeing your dog. Walk in the door, pat him on the head, and continue with normal activities.
Never punish your dog for the things he did while you were gone.
This will only cause more anxiety. If you don't have time to slowly train your dog to accept new house-leaving rituals, then there are other solutions. Do your research, and find out what's right for you and your pet. Your veterinarian can prescribe your dog medication. Medication should not be used as a long-term solution. If it's absolutely needed, then use the medication while training your pet. Normally, obedience training does not help your pet deal with separation anxiety.
You hate coming home to a wrecked house just as much as your pet hates you leaving. He depends on you for comfort, and sometimes cannot handle extra stress. Many dogs experience separation anxiety for a number of reasons. A change in his surroundings is a common cause of anxiety. Never punish your dog for feeling this way. Punishment will only worsen the anxiety. Instead, look for ways to train your dog that work well for the both of you. If all else fails, talk to your veterinarian about other options. With a little patience and love, separation anxiety can be treated, making you and your dog happier! Also keep your dog safe while outside in an underground dog fence and polite with remote dog training collar.
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Comments
Fascinating...mostly because I do not have so much luck and I am a sucker for those pouty eyes right before I leave. I gotta learn because it gets me everytime. You must have the most organized house and I need to take some lessons from you. Thanks again for your posts. They really help me out with refining my writing.
We used to be suckers for the eyes, too, but after they tore up some expensive electronic equipment, we had to find a different solution.
Our house isn't all that organized, but that is something we've gotten down. :)
Boss, the creat IS a great place to put a dog with bad separation anxiety, but what if your dog escapes the crate. My mother's dog has had severe separation anxiety since we brought her home. My dad used to take her to his office daily, and one day he left her there while he ran up the street for lunch. When he came back, she had pulled down the metal blinds, and eaten them. Knocked over a plant, and threw up everywhere. Needless to say a vet trip was in due because of her eating the metal blinds. She was probably about 5 months old, and we had had her for 1 month by then.
Months later, we tried it at home (don't as why). But again, we lost mini blinds, plants, and carpet, where she dug up the carpet at all the bedroom doors b/c the doors were shut.
Then, we invested in a wire crate. After a few weeks, she bent the wires in the top of the crate and she escaped. Now the hole was about 6 inches by 4 inches, and he back hips are huge! Luckily, there was no injury involved.
So, we purchased a plastic kennel, which ended up rustying from her drooling all over the door. Needless to say the crate was not a 'safe place' for her. She hated it. It was never used as punishment. This dog has been good since day one, and usually never gets in trouble.
She has to get chained up with an outdoor chain to my mothers rather large and heavy chest, which she has chewed up and moved on occassion. We have to put weights in front of it so she can't move it.
She can't go outside because she digs out when left in a fence for too long. We've tried pills, plug-ins, sprays, etc. At this point, she's 5 years old and knows when we're going to leave, so she goes to her room by herself, waiting to get chained up. We still cannot trust her home alone, loose, because she freaks when she's in the house and everyone is outside.
But, anyway, sometimes the crate just won't work, usually, yes.
A funny story about the crate I have (I think it can go either way for pets depending on their personality) but my parents dog actually loves it. Although it was never used for punishment or even to contain her for that matter, just has a thing for it. She (the dog of course) just walks on in, hangs out, passes out leaves and will then go back. We started just leaving the door open all so she can choose. Boss and whitney - you are both bringing up great points. I greatly appreciate your comments...espcially when I am wrong.... which is often. Thank you
a kick up the back side!
Hi I am a new 1st time dog owner and its almost been his first hole year,he shows signs of anxiety,by eatting and shredding etc,at the time when he only shows these behaviors hes with me and my friends house with me. and he plays with his little buddy baxtor that my friend just got from the shelter and talk about a hole new outlook, but when we leave no matter if its 30 -45-120 mins or more he still trys to destory anything that he can get ahold of. even his own wee wee training pads for the other dog.Now that i do understand that this is a sign of seperation anxity i do not scold him by bragging him showing him what he did and that saying to him bad boy etc. and i put him out side on the patio with the door closed and curtin covered.sometimes they both are doing it so they both go out.is their a way besides leaveing a few minites coming back over and over that we can try besides cradle training him because the other dog is scared of cages,showers water,and he has been having night taries now nightmares bad ones too. any tips on the night mares that anyone has ?
Boss Number 1 says:
2 years ago
All three of our dogs at some point showed forms of separation anxiety. Our first dog would dump over the trash can and then rip all the paper to shreds. Our second dog would pull books off low shelves and tear the covers off. He also chewed up our sofa cushions. Our third dog would chew on shoes. You'd think we would have learned early, but we finally caught on: crate training! Each of our dogs is now crate trained, although we currently only crate one of our dogs while we're gone. The crate is a 'safe place' for your dog to go while you're gone. It prevents them from acting out, and enables them to recognize that there's a comforting ritual awaiting them when you leave. Even though we only crate one of our dogs, they all have a 'special place' to go when we're gone. We put them in 1 room, and put up a baby gate to keep them in. We don't even have to tell them anymore, when they know we're about to leave, they all go in that room (the one even goes in her crate), and wait for us to lock them in. It also gives us peace of mind that they're safe and un-destructive while we're gone.