How To Break A Dog S Separation Anxiety
Throw in the fact that living in such proximity to other dogs may cause them to become unwell and you have a recipe for discomfort.
How to break a dog s separation anxiety. The goal in treating separation anxiety in dogs is twofold. You have to treat the root cause. This is accomplished by setting things up so that the dog experiences the situation that provokes his anxiety namely being alone without experiencing fear or anxiety. And once sa has taken hold it can be a complicated process to treat.
Instead let your dog know that everything is going to be okay by projecting the confident energy of a pack leader. Simulated separation anxiety is manifested when the dogs lack self control. But with patience and care you may be able to reduce your dog s suffering and the destructive behaviors it causes. Vets may prescribe drugs which tend to calm a dog s senses a little but they are not a cure.
There is true separation anxiety as well as simulated separation anxiety where the dog behavior appears to be real but it s a learned one. Separation anxiety happens when a dog that s hyper attached to his owner gets super stressed when left alone. True separation makes the dog experience real stress during the owner s absence. Separation anxiety isn t always preventable despite your best efforts.
Separation anxiety is caused by a fear that a dog s owner will leave them and not return and as far as a dog is concerned being left in kennels is akin to abandonment. Helping a dog get past separation anxiety takes time and patience unfortunately there s no such thing as a quick fix for stress based behaviors. When treating a dog with separation anxiety the goal is to resolve the dog s underlying anxiety by teaching him to enjoy or at least tolerate being left alone. It s a serious condition and one of the main reasons owners get frustrated with their dogs and give them up.
Drugs only provide a support mechanism to assist the owner in rehabilitating the dog it is only a temporary fix for the underlying problem. Separation anxiety in puppies and dogs isn t always preventable despite your best efforts. A calm and assertive leader can ease separation anxiety in dogs. How to prevent dog separation anxiety.
Leave your dog alone for five minutes then extend the time to twenty minutes then an hour. Simulated dog separation anxiety.