Dog separation anxiety frequently leads to heartache when we leave our pets alone. But, before we get started on tips and tricks for training your furry friend, its important to understand that there are two different types you may be dealing with here. If your animal appears stressed when you leave home or even just leave the room, it could be for one of two reasons.Dog separation anxiety training can solve both issues.
It is quite easy to recognize separation anxiety. Your dog may whine and dribble excessively, or bark and start trying to destroy your home. If your dog is in a crate she may try everything possible to escape. There are two different issues here, true anxiety and simulated. Separation anxiety training can help with both.
Your pet may suffer from true anxiety issues, or he or she may simply lack leadership and self-control. Simulated separation is a learned behavior and can be compared to how a toddler may react when you leave the room. Toddlers can also suffer from simulated or true type issues on being separated from their parents.
If we are dealing with simulated behavior, your animal has learned that if she acts up you will pay her attention. This attention seeking behavior is often learned as you are not giving your dog enough attention. Negative attention is enjoyed by your pet as it is better than no attention at all. Thankfully, this type of anxiety can be corrected quickly and easily. All you need is a crate, an exercise regime, and some discipline. Don't give in to your pet and only reward them when they deserve it.
Cases of true anxiousness however impose a bigger challenge to dog owners. You may have unknowingly caused the problem yourself; making a fuss every time you leave or come home. If you have had your pet since he was a puppy, you may have created the problem yourself. As a puppy, you took your dog with your everywhere. As she grew older, you would suddenly start leaving her alone. If you leave it too long before you start to leave your animal alone, you will create separation issues and your pet will become anxious.
The underlying problem you have here is the change you made to your pets routine. If however your pet is also destroying everything in its path, your dog may be bored and lacking in exercise. Dog training is therefore needed in order to reverse the behavior. Affection should only be given to your dog when she has deserved it, and strict discipline and exercise should come first. What you need to do here is establish a balance between patience, confidence, and obedience.
Your furry friend should be confident in himself as well as in your leadership. This way he will learn to be confident when left alone, trusting that you will return soon. If you fear your home being destroyed, then the use of a crate is perfectly acceptable. You should start as soon as you get a puppy. If you adopt an older animal then you will need more patience and the process will take longer.
Your new regime should ideally start from day one. On leaving the room you need to teach your dog to stay calm and settle. The crate used should not be filled with toys or other distractions such as food and water. It should be a simple safe haven for your pet that is big enough for her to stand up and turn around in. If you have brought up children, then all of this will sound very familiar. Teaching your pet to be calm when you leave him alone is very similar to teaching your baby to not cry when you leave the room.
It is quite easy to recognize separation anxiety. Your dog may whine and dribble excessively, or bark and start trying to destroy your home. If your dog is in a crate she may try everything possible to escape. There are two different issues here, true anxiety and simulated. Separation anxiety training can help with both.
Your pet may suffer from true anxiety issues, or he or she may simply lack leadership and self-control. Simulated separation is a learned behavior and can be compared to how a toddler may react when you leave the room. Toddlers can also suffer from simulated or true type issues on being separated from their parents.
If we are dealing with simulated behavior, your animal has learned that if she acts up you will pay her attention. This attention seeking behavior is often learned as you are not giving your dog enough attention. Negative attention is enjoyed by your pet as it is better than no attention at all. Thankfully, this type of anxiety can be corrected quickly and easily. All you need is a crate, an exercise regime, and some discipline. Don't give in to your pet and only reward them when they deserve it.
Cases of true anxiousness however impose a bigger challenge to dog owners. You may have unknowingly caused the problem yourself; making a fuss every time you leave or come home. If you have had your pet since he was a puppy, you may have created the problem yourself. As a puppy, you took your dog with your everywhere. As she grew older, you would suddenly start leaving her alone. If you leave it too long before you start to leave your animal alone, you will create separation issues and your pet will become anxious.
The underlying problem you have here is the change you made to your pets routine. If however your pet is also destroying everything in its path, your dog may be bored and lacking in exercise. Dog training is therefore needed in order to reverse the behavior. Affection should only be given to your dog when she has deserved it, and strict discipline and exercise should come first. What you need to do here is establish a balance between patience, confidence, and obedience.
Your furry friend should be confident in himself as well as in your leadership. This way he will learn to be confident when left alone, trusting that you will return soon. If you fear your home being destroyed, then the use of a crate is perfectly acceptable. You should start as soon as you get a puppy. If you adopt an older animal then you will need more patience and the process will take longer.
Your new regime should ideally start from day one. On leaving the room you need to teach your dog to stay calm and settle. The crate used should not be filled with toys or other distractions such as food and water. It should be a simple safe haven for your pet that is big enough for her to stand up and turn around in. If you have brought up children, then all of this will sound very familiar. Teaching your pet to be calm when you leave him alone is very similar to teaching your baby to not cry when you leave the room.
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