Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Many dog owners have experienced the distressing event of returning home to discover a scene of destruction caused by Separation Anxiety In Dogs . Their initial reaction will be to punish the animal, however this is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, since the dog committed the undesirable behavior previously they will make no connection with the punishment, and the effect will be lost. Secondly, this kind of anxiety in dogs is an uncontrollable psychological condition. It is called separation anxiety, and dogs that have it are not acting out to be bad, but to get attention. It occurs when a bond between a dog and its owner is so strong that the animal becomes distressed when apart from them for any length of time. Separation anxiety in dogs is thought to be caused by the fact that they are instinctively pack animals. When the leader of the pack, in other words their owner, disappears, their natural survival instinct is to become anxious about protection, security, and food.

There are other theories to explain separation anxiety in dogs, which refer to individual animals rather than the species as a whole. Some people think that dogs that have separation anxiety must have been left alone a lot as puppies, or possibly even rejected by their mother. Another theory is that a dog will become anxious on its own if it is in generally poor health. One final theory is that anxiety in dogs is caused by a lack of stimulation, and to combat this many owners will leave the radio or television on when they go out so that their dog can hear noises and voices.

There are several ways in which separation anxiety in dogs can present itself. As has previously been mentioned, they will often cause damage within a home, including chewing furniture and scratching at the doors and floor. This is an indication of them trying to escape their confined surroundings to reunite with their owner. Another symptom is that they will often urinate and defecate within the house, even if they are properly house trained. This is a physiological reaction to the anxiety rather than any regression in training. Another very common sign of anxiety in dogs is for them to bark or howl continually.

Separation anxiety in dogs

can be distressing for both pet and owner, but it is a condition which can be cured with some careful training. Some owners will leave their dog alone for only a few minutes at a time, and gradually increase the duration until the animal is comfortable being left for long periods. Another method is to alter the routine for leaving the house to break the pattern of behavior. It is also important not be too affectionate with a dog when returning to them, as it is a dependence on this kind of attention which contributes to the problem.

Separation anxiety in dogs

usually takes a lot of time and effort to cure. It is well worth it, however, to have a pet which is contented and secure, and a home which is free from damage.

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