What Is Dog Separation Anxiety and How to Reduce It

This problem is seen quite often in shelter dogs. I am dealing with this issue as a dog that I just adopted from a shelter has separation anxiety. If the problem is not treated or worked on it can lead to more stressful problems. This problem is not seen in every dog.

Some of the signs to look for are:

Some dogs have a more extreme case of separation anxiety and are more destructive than others.

Destructive like chewing on shoes or furniture, scratching, digging or going to the bathroom on the floors.

Barking, whining, howling.

Depression, lack of appetite, trouble breathing.

Following you from room to room.

The dog starts running in circles as you are getting ready to leave.

Some dogs may attempt to escape from the house to look for you.

Here are some tips to reduce the separation anxiety in your dog.

For a shelter dog that has been adopted is to have patience. The dog will learn new commands better to help combat the issue if he feels that the new home is safe, secure environment. Need to bond with your dog like playing and going on walks. This will help to use up his energy and be ready to relax alone. Create a quiet safe space for the dog only. Over time your dog will learn that he will be safe in that space while you are gone.

Next is to keep departure and arrival low key. This may be hard at first. For departing try not to pay attention to the dog for 10 to 15 minutes before leaving the house. After arriving home ignore the dog for a few minutes, then acknowledge him with some calming petting or hugs.

Offer some more comforting things for the dog by leaving a piece of clothing that will have your scent on it. This will help relax and some sense of familiarity because of your scent. Also, don't forget to leave his favorite toys and treats. Buy some treat games to him busy and the brain mentally stimulating while you are gone.

You could introduce a safety cue to be used such as "that you will be right back" for every time you leave the house. Start small by using the safety cue when you are going outside with the trash. Most of the time you are only gone a few minutes. Then keep building up the time you are away.

At first practice your departure routine by gathering your things that you take every day with you and sit down. Repeat this routine till your dog show no signs of distress. This way you are establishing a routine. Most dogs love having a daily routine with it master.

Don't be cruel to your dog by yelling or ignoring him. This may cause the problem to get worse. Try to calm him down with relaxing petting and talking softly to him in a low tone.

The best piece of advice is to be patient, consistent and persisted in the technique you are using.

Separation anxiety is not a result of lack of training or disobedience but it's a panic response.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Dog-Separatuion-Anxiety-and-How-to-Reduce-It&id=9958037

Why Do Dogs Howl?

We all know that dogs bark and whine and cry and whimper. These are all perfectly normal ways for a dog to communicate. But you may forget that dogs howl, too. They may not do it very often, but your dog is just as capable of howling as any wolf or coyote.

Barking, whining, whimpering and howling are all ways for your dog to communicate and they all signify some particular feeling or desire. We're most familiar with barking and other daily sounds our dogs make. We can identify the way our dog barks to let us know he's hungry or he wants out. We usually know what it means when a puppy whimpers. But it can be quite startling to hear a dog howl.

Dogs may howl for several reasons and they are similar to the same reasons that wolves howl. Anyone who has ever heard the haunting, lonely sound of a wolf's howl probably won't soon forget it. A wolf may howl when he's alone to give his position to his packmates. He may howl, in essence, because he's lonely and he wants to be found.

Your dog may howl for much the same reason. If you have to leave your dog home alone it's possible that your dog can develop a habit of howling in your absence to express his loneliness. In a way he's letting others know where he is. His "pack" (that would be you) is missing and he wants to be found, or he wants you to make your way back home to find him. The howl is like a beacon so the two of you can find each other.

Of course, your neighbors probably won't appreciate your dog's howling.

The howl of a dog can carry for long distances so, for both wolves and dogs, howling is very useful when the animals are separated. Howling can be a way for the animals to try to re-establish contact with each other.

Fortunately, most dogs don't howl this way very often, or for long periods of time. They may bark anxiously, or bark for pleasure or as a nuisance, but howling itself isn't that common among domesticated dogs. There are exceptions, of course. Some hounds enjoy a good baying session. Baying is somewhat different than howling since it usually has some prey as an object - a squirrel up a tree, for instance - but, again, your neighbors probably won't appreciate the subtle differences.

Some dogs may also howl when they hear sirens or music. No one really knows why dogs feel the need to accompany these sounds with their own howl. The answer could be anything from the sound hurting their ears to just wanting to join in.

If you have a dog who howls there's probably not much you can do about it. If the howling seems to be related to separation anxiety you can work on ways to reduce your dog's anxiety by consulting with your veterinarian and/or a canine behaviorist. Otherwise, your dog probably won't howl very often. If and when he does you should pay attention and see what triggers the event. It could be something important.

Source:https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Do-Dogs-Howl?&id=8149605