Dog Training - Causes of Separation Anxiety
Dogs, same as humans, suffer of separation anxiety. Your dog might have experienced separation anxiety, but since you are not in the house when he shows this behavior you might not be aware of it.
How do you recognise if your dog suffers from separation anxiety? There might have been a time (or maybe even presently) when your dog displayed destructive conduct and you’ve actually arrive home to discover the home in disarray — newspapers were broke up all over the place, the garbage can was tipped over with scraps spilling over, your shoes and clothes were chewed into pieces and shred.
You were amazed as the devastation could not have been done by your angelic dog. After all, he’s been with you since he was a little puppy and he always had a sweet disposition, always avid to delight you, and forever desiring to be close to you.
A different way to determine if your dog has separation anxiety is by inquiring to your neighbour is he or she heard the dog barking overly. If any of these are true, read on.
Conceive it or not, if your dog presented any of these behaviors, your dog had (or is presently suffering from) separation anxiety. It’s a condition that’s really very common amongst puppies and dogs. Dogs display this panic disorder while their owners are not close by. Dogs with separation anxiety get really afraid of being left behind and this fear manifests itself in damaging and destructive behaviors.
You are probably already aware that dogs are social animals. Beginning from birth, dogs become dependent and attached to their mother and other litter mates. If you got your dog when he was still a young puppy then he would have transferred this dependency and adherence to you. Therefore,when you often leave your dog alone in the home, he would suffer from separation anxiety.
Your dog might suffer separation anxiousness whenever you notice the following conduct in your dog:
- destructive behaviors
- excessive barking, exclaiming, howling and whining
- house soiling
- self-mutilation
- constant pacing
- excessive salivation
- scratching or chewing a piece of furniture, doors, windows, walls, rugs and other objects
- hyperactivity
- depression
Separation anxiety in dogs could be induced by anumber of things. In a few dogs, separation anxiety was induced by previous experiences such as loss or abandonment by their former owners.
Separation anxiety might not show up immediately in many dogs, and the best method to care for it is by training your dog to understand that you’re only gone for a temporary time, but unfortunately, some of the times medicines may be required. If the separation anxiety is too severe and dog training didn’t help, you’ll want to consult with your vet.
Here are a a few more things that might cause dog separation anxiety:
1. A traumatic experience suchlike an accidental injury, an alarm going off or a thunderstorm while
the dog is alone.
2. A new family member or the departure of one.
3. Untimely separation from the mother and their litter.
4. Introduction of a new pet, and spending more time with the new pet.
5. An abrupt alteration in life-style, schedule or even surroundings (e.g., Relocating to a brand-new home).
6. Physiological and mental changes that happen as dogs aged.
Have a great "dog training" day,
Dr. Alfonso
