Dealing with Separation Anxiety, it"s More than Dog Problem Behavior

Well, I’ve been lucky so far.  I never had to leave Max behind.  Since we adopted him, my parents have always been our back-up caregivers.  However, we’ve run into a scheduling snag.  What to do with the dog when we leave town?

If you have a dog with severe separation anxiety, you know how limited your choices are when you’re not home.  I can’t hire a petsitter unless they’re willing to stay with Max nearly 24/7.  Maybe, just maybe, they could slip out late at night but otherwise, they’re stuck.  With Max, he can’t be left for anything near 8 hours. 

Cages freak him out.  Plus, I know they won’t contain him; he’s broken out of padlocked cages.  So most boarding options are out.  However, I found a cagelessdoggie day care that offers cageless overnight boarding too.

Max tried his first day of doggie day care to see if the overnight care will work out.  With his wonderful temperament, I wasn’t too worried.  On his first day of doggie day care he followed the workers around with a big smile on his face.  Plus, as a bonus, he came home really exhausted.  He was too tired to be anxious at home.  It was like a mini-vacation for me.  I wasn’t tripping over an 80 pound dog for once.

One more doggie day care visit and then he can participate in the overnight program.  Fingers crossed!

Dog who used to destroy house is happy to stay home alone (with food)

Does my previous service dog, Max, look happy in this photo?  You bet he does!  He’s happy because he is about to stay home alone.

This wasn’t always the case.  Max used to destroy our house when he was home alone.  He’d go into such a panic that he’s ruined floors, walls, doors, door handles, etc. 

Max was a service dog and he was with people ALL the time.   When we adopted him, he totally freaked out when we left him home alone.  We were totally unprepared but if your pet has this separation anxiety problem, there is hope.

Today, Max is smiling and tail-wagging when he sees that I’m about to leave him home.  One of the biggest contributors to the transition is food.  Yes, food plays a major part in management of this dog’s separation anxiety. 

Our dog Max rarely is fed when we are home with him.  If he is fed, Max is getting his food out of a toy that makes him work.  The bulk of Max’s food, and especially yummy food, is delivered to him as we are walking out the door.  He’s been conditioned to expect that food time comes when he’s home alone.  And it works!

So what’s that in the photo you ask?  Well, Max has gotten so good at manipulating his food that we’ve upped the challenge.  Earlier, as Max’s separation anxiety improved, I started freezing food in Kongs for him.  Now, I also freeze the Kong so Max has a block of ice to work with too.  This was especially handy in the summer as I knew he’d enjoy the ice. 

Time to run, Max will soon be nudging me to the door so he can stay home alone!

Max visited my parents’ 10 acre home this past weekend.  He had fun but man did he stink when it was time to put him in the car to go home.  He romped in the wet lands and was covered with swamp sludge.  The muck really smelled awful.  We washed and washed and washed Max.  However, the DAP collar went in the trash.  It’s useless once it gets wet so we really couldn’t clean it. 

Max was such a pain until we put his new collar on him.  He followed me so much that he tripped me at least five times.  I have trouble getting the collar on so I had to wait patiently until my husband did it.  In the meantime, it was just me and my shadow – and, me falling over my shadow. 

When it comes to owning a dog with severe separation anxiety, I just cannot say how much the dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) collar helps keep us all sane!

Dog Appeasing Pheromone fights Separation Anxiety

My husband indicated that Max was not emptying his Kongs full of yummy food when he left Max home alone.  How strange.  Our dog rarely gets fed when we’re home so he should be good and hungry when we’re gone.

Plus, who ever heard of a Lab that leaves food unattended?  If you think this situation sounds strange, you’re right.  Unless Max’s magical treatment mix for severe separation anxiety is out of whack, this situation makes no sense.

Upon further investigation I noticed that we forgot to change Max’s DAP collar last month.  A few days later, and with the new collar firmly in place, Max is back to normal.  This oops really affirms that the phernomes in the DAP collar work to help control Max’s separation anxiety.

Now, I’m happy to report that once again, Max cannot wait for me to leave him home alone.  No, I don’t think it’s that he’s basking in the peace and quiet of ‘alone time’ as I would.  He’s just relaxed enough to enjoy his Kong full of food.  And when Max is relaxed, I feel better too.  We’ve come a long, long way.

It’s been a busy past few months.  Running a business and orchestrating family activities has left little time for writing.  I pledge to return.  Thank you for your patience.

Yippy, when I took my extreme-case-of-separation0-anxiety dog to the behaviorist vet, she said he looks great.  While it does not appear Max will go off his anxiety medication any time soon,  he’s doing well.  While weaning my nine year old dog off the anxiety meds would be ideal, it’s not mandator-whew!  I like that the pressure is off.  We can continue in this never gone for more than 4 hours at a time existence.  Good thing I work from home or I don’t know how I’d handle the dog that can’t stand to be home alone.  I’m feeling thankful today!

In a few days, I take my separation anxiety pooch back to his psychiatrist, er behavioralist.  I’m eager to hear what she thinks about Max since it’s been quite a while since they have seen each other.

Max has a new hobby, counter surfing.  Yup, when we leave him home alone, he surfs the kitchen counters.  You’d think we weren’t feeding the dog. 

Last week he pulled the entire fruit basket down to the floor.  Mind you, this fruit basket was tucked back into a corner and on top of some other stuff.  It was not easy for my four-legged friend to reach.  But he did reach the fruit basket.  Then he spread it’s contents throughout several rooms and devoured all of the apples.  The orange was not as popular; it only sustained a few bite marks.

Today when I left home, I made sure there was nothing resembling food out.  So instead, he took my daughters antibiotic.  It was a powder with mixing instructions.  He tore a hole in the instructions but could not open thechild proof, er, I mean, dog proof cap.  Luckily, the antibiotics are fine.

I’ll let you know how the dog behavioralist appointment goes. I’m thankful to have a great dog behavioralist verteriarin nearby in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

A week ago, I was complaining about the cold weather.  One day it was finally warm enough to leave Max out in the garage when I left him home alone.  Max and I were very excited.  He couldn’t wait to get to his really messy Kong filled with mac and cheese or spaghetti.

Oh, what a big mistake that was!  I didn’t think about all the sloppy slush that was melting off my cars.  The garage floor was quite messy.  Unfortunately my highly trained, service dog, decided to lay down in the slop and get busy with his food.  Did my intelligent dog lay on the bed I’d left for him?  Apparently not!  He was covered in dirt upon my return.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t really planned a dog bath in my day.  But, if I was to let Max into the house, a bath was mandatory. 

It was not pleasant but Max emerged a much cleaner dog.  And now, I’m going to watch what I wish for or I’ll be washing more mush off my mutt.

Baby, it’s cold outside. 

I’m in Michigan and it’s been cold for too long.  Are you remembering to keep your dog warm if you’re in a cold environment like me?

 

Dogs don’t get cold – wrong

Some people think just because dogs have fur, they don’t get cold.  No way!  Their paws are so sensitive.  Just like people, they can’t be outside for long in bitter cold unless a lot of precautions are taken.

 

Max hasn’t been getting enough walks lately.  With dangerous wind chills and icy streets, it’s been a challenge.  We need to do better.  He needs to get out.  Any ideas for how to stay motivated?

Our retired service dog, Max, loves the snow.  This very serious dog seems to find his inner puppy when he’s in the snow.  He is liberated; he’s free to succumb to his natural dog instincts.  He jumps, he frolics, he buries his head in the snow, and he rolls on his back like a maniac.  It is delightful to watch this dog play with such reckless abandon. 

 

Maybe this snow play seems so enjoyable since our retired service dog has been taught only recently how to play.  This “working dog” has not adjusted easily to the life of a retiree.  This new relaxed lifestyle is foreign and uncomfortable to our working dog.   

 

Max has come a long way.  It is a treasure to watch; especially when he’s romping in the snow alongside a child.  They belong together, playing in the snow.  Even though adopting a service dog is a challenge, when I watch Max and the kids play together, it’s worth it.

 

Since he was trained for interaction with blind people, Max was trained to show joy by opening his mouth (a smile perhaps or better yet, a very toothy grin).  He was also taught that playing involves rolling around on the ground.  Being a service dog for a blind person, he thinks every time someone lies down in the snow, they are ready to play with him.  This has been interesting. 

 

Considering Max outweighs two of my kids, he can knock them down in a heartbeat, especially on the slippery footing of snow. So, even a year and a half after we adopted our service dog, we’re still learning how to interact.   I’m just thankful he feels part of the family.

 

We all went sledding today.  I’m not sure who loved the snow more, Max or the kids.  All that matters is that it was a blast.  We all loved the snow day!

Dealing with Dog Separation Anxiety

Peel usual your dog or “bow wow” can not always carry the same message. As your dog approaches you, do not be fooled. Your pet, which may very well be your best friend can not ask for the same pe munchies. Maybe – just maybe – the mutt-friend is facing a strong sense of fear – separation anxiety in dogs.

Separation anxiety in dogs begins after they felt a sign that his master is about to leave. Getting the car keys, turning the knobs, and other usual morning routine – these tips to act as stimuli, or more appropriately, the warning signs, which tend to attract the attention of the dog.

This scenario can lead to disasters such as dogs, due to separation anxiety, begin to behave destructively. Destructive behavior can include the output of furniture, shoes and other objects inside the house or near room full of marks paw, dog bites, and scratches.

Sometimes, just like how the howling dog after being separated from his mother, the dogs down without hesitation as a manifestation of his separation anxiety. Studies have shown that dogs, like humans, can also feel overwhelming fear whenever they feel to be left behind. Fortunately, similar to how human anxiety is taken care of, separation anxiety in dogs is also treated by various methods and medications. To be sure, the treatment of animal boredom and anxiety is very different. Separation anxiety in dogs usually occurs due to close “super” attachment between dog and master. Dogs who are “very close” to his master tend to require constant attention from its handler.

Even the owners of the most ardent animal should understand that despite showing love is important, it is also vital to train a dog to be independent and accept the periods of separation. Animals, especially dogs, who struggle with separation anxiety will show anxiety-related behavior when you feel alone or is aware that it will eventually be left alone. Having a pet behaves strangely because of separation anxiety is definitely a problem. In mild cases, the animal may only show a bit of breathing or less destructive behavior. In severe cases, dogs can cause intolerable damage to their property and their neighbors. You would not want an annoying neighbor to harass you with questions about your dog right?

At this juncture, it is important to have information on how to deal with its threat mutt. There are several practical solutions to effectively treat separation anxiety in dogs. Check them out.

Encourage independence

Within walking distance is not always equal the cruelty and neglect. Train your animals to be independent, do not always give all his caprices. Let them play with other people, so whenever you are forced to leave the house, your dog would not end with sofas and foot-marks on the front door.

Promoting independence

It is also important to make the house your dog or a clean, habitable and healthy for your pet. Unless the site is suitable, more like the animal in oder to let you go. This would further attachment of the animal with the owner. However, if you let the animal feel comfortable where it is supposed to be eventually your dog will learn to “stay”, and really enjoy it. Treating separation anxiety in dogs is important for the health of your pet and to keep order in your home.

Dealing With Separation Anxiety? Here"s some scoop...

Dealing with Separation Anxiety

Working with dogs in shelters has always been one of the greatest passions for me in my career in animal welfare. Many dogs that come from rescues, shelters and humane organizations usually end up in one of these facilities because of some type of behavior issue. I have had several requests to talk about separation anxiety and how to deal with this behavior. I have studied several different books about dog behavior and the explanation of how many of these authors deal with separation anxiety is as varied as their opinions of how to best train a dog.

Separation anxiety manifests itself in a variety of forms. Many dog owners report that when they leave their dogs alone the dogs destroy furniture, eat doors, and shred anything from drapes, carpet and anything that is left in the room. Many times the advice is to crate train the dog and leave a dog in a kennel when the owner is gone. Sometimes this advice works and is easy, for other owners the dog becomes even more frantic and eats their way out of the kennel and then destroys other things in the room. What is the answer for separation anxiety?

There are many theories about separation anxiety and many theories about what the root cause of this behavior is. There are experts in dog behavior who believe separation anxiety is a possessive behavior rooted in dominance issues. There are other experts who subscribe to the school of thought that believe separation anxiety is rooted in deep psychological trauma caused by abandonment and fear. Some veterinary behaviorists believe that separation anxiety is so serious that it needs to be treated with antidepressants.

So what is the best way to handle separation anxiety? I can honestly tell you I don’t know. I have worked with people who have dogs that they claim have separation anxiety and can tell you that every case is different. I have managed a boarding facility and have been asked to work with several dogs where the owners claim that their dog exhibits separation anxiety behavior. In most of these cases as soon as the owner drops the dog off at day camp the dog transforms into a dog that is well adjusted, social and gets along great with humans and other dogs. When the owner comes to pick the dog up I watch as the dog totally walks all over the owner. So the theory that the cause of the separation anxiety behavior is possessiveness and dominance appears to be true. The advice in this case would be to teach the owner to take more of a leadership role with their dog and when this is accomplished the behavior amazingly vanishes. Dogs need stable, calm environments and many behavior issues can be solved when leadership is instilled within the dog’s pack environment. I must emphasize that leadership and structure are a powerful tool in curing behavior issues.

I have also witnessed dogs that have been through abandonment and unstable living environments for a long period of time. The dogs appear to have serious trauma and trust issues and there seems to be a genuine fear of being left alone. These cases require and extreme amount of patience by the owner to develop the trust that lets the dog let go of the trauma and fear of being alone. In many cases the owner has to apply the same philosophy that many child psychology experts advise to train young children to sleep by themselves. The advice is to acclimate your dog slowly to being left alone by leaving for short periods of time. Usually exercise is advised to burn off the anxiety and energy the dog has. Usually a tired dog will rest after exercise and it is a good way to calm the dog’s mind. If an owner can establish a routine based around exercise the dog will soon begin to understand the routine and become calmer when the owner leaves. The advice we usually give is to start out with small periods of time and then increase the time away from the dog. The dog should always be given some type of chewing device and usually a Kong Toy filled with a broken up dog treat will keep the dog busy for a few hours. Patience is the key to these dogs and many owners feel frustrated and feel like they can’t ever overcome the issue. Veterinarians may prescribe anti anxiety drugs in these cases. I don’t advocate the use of drugs in most behavior cases but this may be a short term answer until training takes hold. The use of anti anxiety drugs should always be a short term proposition and I am not an advocate of the long term use of drugs for behavior issues unless there are serious disease or health issues.

In concluding this discussion please think about what you are getting into when you bring a dog into your life. Many people get a dog to fill a personal need. Many people feel that a dog will cure loneliness or fill an emotional void that has been left by the loss of something or someone. A dog should always be brought into one’s life in an environment of calm, confident strong energy. Dogs should never be brought into one’s life in an environment of emotional turmoil or need. Dog’s are super sensitive to their environment and will respond in a negative way behaviorally to an environment of weak energy. As I have discussed previously always try to provide a calm stable environment, provide daily exercise and give your dog the leadership they crave and you will see tremendous results very quickly.

By Nick Fisher
President and Founder Balanced Dog LLC

About these ads

Dealing With Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Is your dog destroying your home every time you leave him alone? Are the neighbors complaining about his incessant barking? This may be a common case of dog separation anxiety. Ultimately your dog has become far too attached to and dependent on you. This is usually associated more with adopted dogs or second-home pets, but any dog can succumb to this anxious feeling when left on his own. The good news is that as this is a learned behavior it can become unlearned just as well.

Let us start by examining some of the telltale signs of separation anxiety in dogs.:

• following you around the home and watching your every move


• crying, barking, or howling for the first 20 minutes or so after you leave the home


• overly excited upon your return home


• vomiting, urinating, and having diarrhea (even though potty trained) when left home alone


• scratching at the doors or floors when left alone


• finding things to chew and destroy during his solitude


• self-mutilation such as chewing or licking paws and limbs excessively

This anxiety is very upsetting to your dog’s health. It has a psychological as well as physical effect on him and on you. When separation anxiety in dogs occurs both pet and owner suffer. Here are a few ways to handle the situation.:

• Try not to encourage your dog to follow you around and worship you. Rather, encourage him to have a life of his own. It is good for him to spend time alone playing or exploring while you are home too.


• Along the same lines, do not become overly affectionate with your dog, constantly calling him to you for attention and fawning all over him. Although our dogs are cute and it is tempting to shower them with love at all times this only makes them more dependent on us and more upset when we leave.


• Allowing, or worse, rewarding bad behavior is never good. If your dog shows any signs of separation anxiety when you are merely in another room ( i.e. whining or whimpering) do not let this continue. Let your dog know it is unacceptable, but try not to give him too much attention in the process because this is truly what he desires. It may be better in this case to ignore a whiny dog. 


• If you come home and find a mess in the house, whether it be that half of the couch is eaten or your dog has left his fecal droppings all over the house for you, resist the temptation to fly into a rage. Scolding your dog for these acts after the fact is not only confusing to him, but stressful as well. And causing added stress will only contribute to your dog’s anxiety. Although we find it hard to believe, dogs are not actually trying to teach us a lesson for leaving them home alone. They are not acting out of spite or revenge. Dogs are not capable of these emotions. They are just scared and nervous and acting on these fears. So, it is really pointless to try to reprimand the bad behavior unless you can actually catch your dog in the act of committing wrongdoings. 


• Get your dog used to your departures. You may even want to get him used to the motions of your going out without actually leaving. You can close the windows, turn off lights, put your jacket on; whatever your normal routine is before going out. Then, do not actually leave. Repeat this a few times a day until your dog does not seem too nervous anymore. Then you can try just going out the door and coming back in. Eventually you should be able to leave for longer periods of time. Always praise your dog when he behaved in your absence. 


• You want your departures and arrivals to be as low key as possible. Neither event should be a big deal in your dog’s life. Definitely downplay as much as possible. It is a good idea to even ignore your dog for a few minutes before leaving and for a few minutes upon your return. If you make a production of telling your dog how much you’re going to miss him when you leave and give him lots of attention you are only adding to his worry. The same applies when you return. If you immediately run to your dog and act extremely excited to see him he will feel his fears were valid. 


• Sometimes leaving a television or radio on for your dog can ease his tension. You may even want to leave a video camera recording what he is doing so you know exactly when he is most stressed and how you can battle this.


• You can also try giving your dog less space to roam around in. He may feel more secure in one room of the house rather than wandering about looking for you. I do not recommend locking a dog in too small a space however. I find that to be cruel. You should also try this when you are at home. Leave your dog in the bedroom while you are in the living room and reward him when he is calm and quiet. 


• Have a special treat or toy ready to give your dog. He should only have this item when you leave. That way he will associate good things with your departures. 


• Exercise is important in all aspects of a dog’s life, but extremely vital in cases of dog separation anxiety. If your dog is tired he will be less likely to care as much that your are gone and he will be more inclined to sleep. 

If only it were as simple as leaving a part of ourselves at home with our dog. 

Your dog may be the most obedient dog in the world and still be a victim of separation anxiety. It is crucial to reinforce basic training commands with your dog at all times. Right now, though, your main focus should be on getting your dog to be less clingy. As with everything, separation anxiety in dogs can be overcome with the proper training and time.

Dealing with Dog Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety in dog is a sad behavior problem to see but a very important one to address. Dog’s who don’t like being left alone are unhappy and unhealthy and the sooner you work on the issue the better for all involved. The problem is that much of the anxiety is being reinforced by dog owners inadvertently.

http://makedogsyourlife.com/dog-separation-anxiety/