How to Treat Your Dog's Separation Anxiety
Barking, whining, escaping, destructive behavior or, in severe
cases, self-mutilation can be your dog's way of expressing
anxiety over your absence.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately challenging
Instructions
-
-
1
Consult your veterinarian to get a correct diagnosis of separation anxiety. Your veterinarian will help you with treatment or refer you to an animal behaviorist who can prescribe effective drug therapies to alleviate your dog's anxieties.
-
2
Practice leaving your dog alone for short periods of time. Pick up your keys and leave for 1 minute.
-
3
Gradually increase the amount of time you stay away. This will accustom your dog to your absence.
-
4
Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings. Instead, pat your dog on the head and offer a quick good-bye or hello.
-
5
Keep your dog confined in a safe area while you are away. Be sure to leave a bowl of water and plenty of chew toys.
-
6
Exercise your dog for an hour each day in places other than your yard or home. This helps your dog feel comfortable in other locations and lets her blow off steam.
-
7
Praise your dog often to build self-confidence, rather than punishing her for exhibiting frightened behaviors. Punishment only increases anxiety and makes the situation worse.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The first time you administer medication to control separation anxiety, stay with and watch your dog carefully in case she has an adverse reaction. Take her to the veterinarian if you witness odd behavior, as the dosage may need adjustment.
Related Searches
Comments
-
we rescued a dog from the local dogs home about 2 months ago, we left him to have full run off the house and he destroyed everything that was on the floor including a full box of chocolates he found under the couch. We tried moving everything out of reach and our house was very minamalistic but he then started on the carpets and the blinds on the window. I tried a bit of training, fencing him into one room and keeping in site then move away for a while and come back but that didnt work, we tried blocking him into a "safe" room but he just destroyed the carpets in there. He now runs about free and doesnt touch anything. We didnt follow any of the "recommended" steps to treat it we just tried different things, showing him lots of love, walking him for about an hour and a half each day, i think the bit that helped most was letting him off the lead and having a run for himself (he's a german short haired pointer cross lurcher so he has a lot of energy!). Now he is settled in and use to the way things are he is fine about it. This sort of problem doesnt just go away in a week or 2 if some signs stop another will appear eg he stops chewing but then start chewing on his own limbs! If anyone doesnt have the patience to see it through then they shouldnt have a dog. Dogs are like children they dont like change and take a while to settle to it.
-
rhartland
Jul 23, 2009
Step #4 (Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings) is something I need to really work on. I do a fast goodbye but my dog is so excited once I come home. I usually spend a good ten minutes with her. I initially tried fencing her into the kitchen with food and a pad but she ended up eating our wall and cabinets. She is fine now that I put her in a kennel although I wish she would have been fine in a more open area. -
amjurgena
Jun 25, 2009
My 11 year old golden mix has started to urinate on my couch. There has been a lot of change in his life, I recently divorced and moved him with me into an apartment, separating him from his playmate of 4 years a husky, who now lives with my ex. I also have a new male roommate. He has no problems going to the bathroom outside, and he never goes on the carpet. I tried gating him in the kitchen when I leave, but he starts barking and I can't have him doing that in an apartment. I've even tried putting baskets and things on the couch so he can't jump up there when I'm gone, and I'll come home to them knocked off onto the floor and pee on the couch. I've used an enzyme cleaner and got the couch back to normal....but I'm still worried about his behavior. I know there is something wrong, and I'm afraid he's depressed or anxious or something???? What is going on??
-
sunkissed2009
Jun 21, 2009
Hello, I have an 8 month old Chihuahua who is for the most part a very good puppy. He has never chewed any our furniture or shoes, all he chews on is his toys, but he whines really loud when my husband and I leave need to leave the house. Any suggestions with how to get the whinning down to a minimum?
-
annajane69
Feb 09, 2009
my 5 month old puppy is the perfect little man except he cries and howles as soon as you walk 2 metres away from him. if you get out of the car to get something from a shop or tie him up even if it is a metre away from you and he can see you he cries and barks and it is getting worse. i have tried many different ways to stop this but nothing works..can anyone help?
