Bad dog or separation anxiety?

Many times, dog separation anxiety looks like simple bad dog behaviour.

• whining, crying and barking excessivley when you're out
• destructive behaviour: chewing up your things, furniture, blankets, doors and more
• peeing and pooping all over - what happened to potty training??
• coughing, wheezing, choking when you leave
• diarrhea, vomit or self-mutilation such as chewing on themselves or excessive licking

The key difference is: this behaviour happens when you leave the home.

The experts at the University of Saskatchewan define it well: "separation anxiety in dogs is the fear or dislike of isolation which often results in undesirable behaviour."

There are a number of underlying causes of dog separation anxiety, including:

• Traumatic events in a young dog's life (being taken too early from his mother, being kept in pet shops or animal shelters)


• Big changes to the dog's household (death of a family member, moving, divorce, a new baby)


• The particular dog's unique disposition

Dog Anxiety No More will change your life and your dog's life forever. It's a solution that will help you:

• Teach your dog that it's okay to be alone


• Let your dog know that you will return home


• Understand why a dog suffers from separation anxiety


• How to use canine DNA to your advantage


• Effectively leave and re-enter your home


• How to greet and say goodbye to your dog (Hint: DON'T!)


• Understand what the best dog trainers in the world know about treating separation anxiety

End Your Dog's Suffering Starting Today!
To find out more about this program, Dog Anxiety No More just click the link.

1. Before your dog becomes anxious... let him spend time alone when you're home. Be in another room or outside.


2. Don't overgreet your dog on return.


3. Don't try to calm his anxiety attacks (yes, it's true!)


4. Ignore your dog for a few minutes when you return home, then make your greeting very low key


5. Give your dog plenty of exercise


6. Make sure your dog has her own area or room, with blankets, toys and treats for when you're out

Dogs are very, very quick to pick up on our habits, an anxious dog even more so.

That's a good reason to change your departure routines - when you get your car keys or your bag, your coat, and so on.

Try to do these routine activities a little differently every day.

Leave your dog for just a few minutes at a time.

You can let your dog know that you leaving isn't the end of the world, by showing him tiny separation periods are fine -- go out for just 5 minutes. Come back in. Later, extend the time to 10 minutes, 15 minutes and so on.

Make your homecoming really low key.

No high voices, welcoming shout-outs or calls to your dog. In fact, don't engage your dog at all for the first few minutes you get home. Don't even make eye contact. Go about your own routine, THEN calmly greet your animal.

If you've taken active steps yourself to manage your dog's anxiety and you're not seeing good results, it may be time to see your veterinarian.

She can recommend:

behaviour modification training

medication

Anti-anxiety medications are sometimes used to suppress anxiety. But they are not a long-term solution on their own.

or a combination of both.

I
n severe cases the owner may also have to take steps to weaken the dog's dependency upon a person. This requires the owner to ignore the dog for a period of time, sometimes up to three weeks . This is really, really tough - but it will result in a better, healthier and happier lng term relationship.