Dog Separation Anxiety

Anybody who has ever had a pet with separation anxiety will more than likely agree that it was and is a painful and stressful time for both dog and owner alike. It is important to know that some of the things you here about dog separation anxiety is only a myth and you will need to separate the facts from these myths.

A few ways that will let you know if your pet truly has anxiety problems are:

No matter where you go in your house he is there, and letting you out of his site is not an option; The pets demeanor changes, even a little bit as you prepare to leave;He acquires the nasty behavior of going to the bathroom all over the place anytime you leave him alone.

Should your pet show any of the symptoms mentioned above he is more than likely suffering from a little bit of dog separation anxiety. Now, here are a few of the myths surrounding the problem.

#1- Our dog destroyed the house just because we left him home alone.

Even though some pets that are experiencing some form of dog separation anxiety will destroy certain items, it isn’t there way of punishing you. No, it is the result of a lot of stress building up because he feels all alone.

#2- Crating Your Pet Will Fix The Problem

Sure, if you crate your pet he won’y tear stuff up, but it isn’t going to help his anxiety problems one little bit. There is the chance that by handling the behavior this way with a dog with this kind of problem, he could injure himself in his attempt to get free.

#3- Dog Separation Anxiety Can Be Fixed Through Punishment.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The dog has already begun to feel the stress and anxiety building as a result of you leaving. Now just imagine how your dog feels when you walk through that door and he is met with some sort of punishment. Your dog is just feeling a lot of panic which is causing him to act in a certain way, he is not doing these things on purpose.

How can dog separation be treated? The answer will vary according to the severity of the condition. You can use simple methods for mild forms of anxiety. Try this, ignore him for a short time when you get home and then gently pet on him and avoid “Big Productions”.

It has even been said that by leaving something with your scent on it can help your pet deal with the milder forms of dog separation anxiety.

You will not be able to fix dog separation anxiety overnight, especially if it severe. For severe cases, it may be best to leave your dog with somebody you know or some sort of “dog day care”.

Don’t forget, at this point your dog needs your help and he needs you to find a treatment for his problem.

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