Separation Anxiety is fairly common for dogs. A dog may suffer feelings of acute panic when he is separated from his owner for a lengthy period of time. The nervous anxiety a dog feels can intensify quickly. Understanding your dog and his needs will help to prevent this problem.

Dogs are social animals who need companionship. Companionship and social interaction is as vital as food, water and shelter. Your dog requires plenty of attention and social interaction to be happy and contented.

If your dog is left alone for a long period of time he will probably experience some anxiety. However, there are some contributing factors which can make the situation worse.

For a comprehensive guide that will help with dog separation anxiety, as well as other dog behavior problems, check out Secrets to Dog Training by Daniel Stevens.

Separation anxiety appears to be more of a problem with certain breeds of dogs. German Shepherds, Springer Spaniels, Weimaraners and Springer Spaniels seem to be prone to anxiety. Separation anxiety also seems to be more common among dogs who have been taken from their mothers at too young of an age. This fear is often present in dogs who were placed in a “dog pound” after developing an attachment to a family or individual. Neglect is the prime reason for separation anxiety in dogs.

Does your dog follow you around the house?  Does he become anxious when he sees you put on a coat or when he hears the jingle of your keys?  If so he is probably suffering from separation anxiety. When your dog thinks you are going to leave he may tremble and cry. Some dogs may become aggressive in an effort to try and keep you home.

Once you leave your dog may scratch at windows and doors in an effort to go after you. Your dog may bark incessantly and chew anything he can find. He may even urinate or defecate. In order to alleviate his fears your dog may lick himself over and over again until it becomes raw.

If your dog is experiencing separation anxiety there are some steps you can take to help him:

First, you must help your dog become accustomed to having you leave the house. You can pretend to leave by taking out your keys or putting on your coat. The next step can be to open the door. At this point you don’t leave the house but sit down and do something else. Do this step until your dog does not react in fear to the idea of you leaving. Praise your dog and give him a treat when he does not react in fear to the idea of your leaving. Your dog is now ready for the next step.  You should leave and then return immediately. You will need to continue with this step until your dog does not react with fear or anxiety. This requires time.  You must be patient.

Check out Dog Separation Anxiety for a complete guide on how to prevent this common behavior problem.

Another thing that will help is exercise. Your dog needs plenty of exercise. Taking your dog for a long, fast walk is one of the best things you can do for him before you leave for the day. Plan your time so you can walk your dog for at least 15-20 minutes.

Your dog needs dog toys to chew on. When you leave you can also give your dog a bone to chew on. In this way your dog will be busy with something else as you leave.

It can also be helpful to have some classical music playing on your radio while you are gone. Just keep it at a low volume. This will help to calm your dog and give him a sense of not being alone.

Your dog also needs a place he can see outside. If your dog can see what is happening he may not feel so isolated.

If you will be gone for 8-10 hours plan to have someone walk your dog in the middle of the day. This will meet your dogs needs for attention and exercise.

It is important that when you return home you do not seem overly concerned for your dog.  Simply greet him calmly and act like everything is all right. You will only validate his anxiety by being overly sympathetic. If you are too sympathetic your dog’s anxiety will increase because you are affirming his feelings of panic.

Is your family’s life style the best situation for a dog?  Consider that carefully before getting a dog. Are there long periods of time when you are away from home? Do you have the desire and the time to give a dog adequate attention? If you want your dog to be happy and healthy he must have adequate exercise and social activity. The needs of a dog cannot be met by every family.

I hope this article has been helpful. For additional help with dog training go to Dog Secrets Discovered.

Related posts:

  1. Dog Separation Anxiety – Simple Ways To Remove It
  2. Some Steps to Solve Canine Separation Anxiety
  3. The Simplest Way To Assess Dog Separation Anxiety.
  4. Why You Should Crate Your Dog with Separation Anxiety
  5. Dogs and Separation Anxiety

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