How to Prevent Dog & Puppy Separation Anxiety

There is an alarming number of dogs that suffer from separation anxiety, statistics show up to 14% is possible in the dog population. Not many dog owners understand what this condition is and when they try and fix the problem, they fall short because they have a different viewpoint to the cause and problem. The solution is quite simple on how to help a puppy with separation anxiety or a dog of any age. Establish that you are the pack leader and your dog will no longer be burdened with anxiety. Let me elaborate.

The first step in treating anxiety in your dog is to familiarise yourself with the behavior your dog is presently showing and if the behavior dissipates when you return? If this is the case, I can guarantee that not being present with your dog is directly linked to the cause. Now to look at the key puppy separation anxiety symptoms.

Chewing - Similar to when humans do it with gum, this releases endorphins (a chemical in the brain that makes you experience pleasure) that provide a calming sensation.

Excessive Barking, whining - This is what dogs use when they are trying to call their owners back to the pack, an example of this in a family would be if you were to call your children if you don't know they're whereabouts.

Escaping when you are not there - Often very destructive, extreme and sometimes dangerous. Your dog is looking for you. So many people are told to try and exercise the problem out of their dog but it will not solve the problem

Pulling the Houdini Act of Escaping when you're not home - Your dog is searching for you, this can often result in very destructive, extreme and sometimes dangerous behavior on behalf of the dog.

Digging, destruction - This is typical of a dog who is presenting stressful and anxious behavior

Self-harming - Chewing on themselves, licking excessively or drooling is a sign of stress and can be confused with medical conditions but are all related back to the dog being under immense stress.

Toileting - If you notice that your dog is toileting inside when normally they don't and you suspect it's a behavioral problem it's more than likely the case. If this only happens when you're away from your dog then this can be seen as key puppy separation anxiety signs.

Whilst there are lots of places that you can find advice on how to treat all these symptoms there is only one way to treat the cause of the problem. If you are serious about how to stop separation anxiety then you must become the pack leader.

There are many different sources of information on treating this condition but if you are serious about putting a stop to separation anxiety then you must become the pack leader.

The main cause for separation anxiety in puppies and dogs is they think they themselves are the pack leader and whenever you leave the house it's a member of their pack leaving! In the wild dogs tend to keep grouped together and will always make sure they are close by to each other. When you leave the house your dog's anxiety will return, however, if you establish yourself as the pack leader you will find your dog is completely calm and fine with you coming and going as you please.

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What Is Dog Separation Anxiety and How Do I Fix It?

Dogs can sense whether their handlers are leaving or not leaving the house. They usually bark, whine and would watch from the window as their owners are leaving. This kind of behavior is often disregarded by dog owners but you need to be aware that this is a serious matter. You should not ignore this kind of separation anxiety because it may cause a threat to your dog's health. 

Here are some tips to help with separation anxiety.

THE DETAILS

• Stress and behavioral problems can easily be noticed in dogs with separation anxiety. Dogs will bark and whine when they are left alone or when they notice that you are making preparations to leave.

• Dogs frequently follow their owners as a sign of separation anxiety. One of the common indications to determine that your dog has this kind of illness is when he frequently follows you in every corner of the house. They want you in their sight!

• A dog with this illness will react quickly when you leave. It doesn't matter whether you're gone for a few minutes or hours. This anxiety in your dog takes place immediately when they sense you are leaving.

• There isn't a definite cause for this kind of anxiety. Dogs may come up with this condition due to many reasons. It may be past experiences at a different period in their lives.

• There are different indications of this illness in different kinds of dogs. Some dogs will whine or bark excessively, destroy things at home, scratch at doors, walls, or floors, immoderate salivation, or strives to escape from a crate or a room.

• Think about the scenes that can arouse the illness. Be prepared to make immediate changes in your habits. When you start with a new dog you need to learn what it expects. You can train the dog, but at times, it may be easier to change the way you do things.

• Don't make a bad situation worse. If your dog suffers from mild separation anxiety, teach him to build his confidence so that he will understand that your absence is not a big deal. To do this, ignore him for few minutes before petting him again. Sometimes it is the simple things that make big differences.

• Give him something to keep him busy before you leave. Being busy may make the separation easier for your pet. Give him something like toys to play with, but make sure it won't cause him any harm.

• Make him a comfortable shelter. Turn his shelter into a comfort zone with plenty of toys to avoid boredom. A piece of clothing with your scent on it works to help your pet relax.

• Crating a dog with this illness is not a good idea. It can make the situation even worse. Dogs with separation anxiety might hurt themselves trying to get out a crate. They may also urinate and defecate.

• Avoid punishments. They have already suffered emotionally so punishing them is too much. Dogs with symptoms of this illness must be treated with love, patience, and understanding.

• Seek veterinary care if your dog's separation anxiety becomes severe. Professional help is a must when the condition becomes severe. You want your pet to be happy so you can enjoy them for many years.

BOTTOM LINE

All indoor pets become a little distressed when their handlers leave the house. But most understand that it won't be too long before their owner returns. But dogs with separation anxiety fear that their owner is never coming back so they become mentally and emotionally stressed and may even try to escape the house. Sometimes it is annoying but keeping the fact that it is our responsibility to provide for our pet. If we don't treat the condition it will get worse. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, take action as soon as possible!

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Dog's Separation Anxiety - How to Help Your Dog Overcome This

Dogs with their undulating love and the sparkle in those eyes definitely power your day. But, have you ever come across a situation that your dog suddenly starts behaving in an abnormal way. Among the many stress faced by a furry pal, separation anxiety is one that most dogs incline to show due to the attachment to their human partner. They show up in a way of excessive barking, destructive behavior, aggression, self-mutilation due to extreme attachment to one person.

The crucial factor here for a pet parent to understand is not to mistake medical conditions with stress problems as a treatment for both of them may vary dramatically.

Stress

Dogs that experience extreme anxiety can be danger to the environment. They can even be more dangerous to their own safety as well as for the society. Chemical imbalance, lower immunity and other hormonal changes occur due to stress and anxiety. Medications can help significantly but you cannot totally rely on that. There are other factors too that play a major role in reducing stress and anxiety.

One Pill Not a Solution for All Stress Factors

Behavioral and anxiety medications have evolved largely in the past few years. A single formula can never work alone. Pet parents need to realize this and should look around for a program of behavior modification along with making some changes.

How can you help your dog for this? For various situations, various techniques have to be used.

Tough Love

Some dogs develop serious anxiety problem due to too much attachment to one person. To avoid such a situation, that person maintains a policy of aloofness. When returning home that person should not praise or show any attachment to the pet, especially when the dog is going mad with joy. Give attention, when you find that he is relaxed, this gives him the message that your attention comes once he is settled.

Use of Pheromones

Pheromomes for Dogs

Dogs have natural scent through which a mother dog ensures her offspring that they are secure and can relax and everything is fine. This component has been synthesized and is available in the form of collars, diffusers and sprays. This artificial dog scent helps them to relax and lower anxiety. It is highly effective when used in accordance to behavioral training. Adaptil collar and diffuser spray are the best selections to reduce stress and help your dog to feel safe and secure.

Give a Task

Normally, an idle dog is likely to fall in the trap of behavioral problem. Lot of stress and anxiety occur when your dog has nothing to do. Schedule his whole day with exercise, walk and playtime along with going on a drive with you whenever you have planned. This will not give any room for stress and anxiety to buildup.

Talk to your Vet

If you are finding it difficult to cope with the existing separation anxiety problem in your dog, the ultimate option is to take him to a vet. Your veterinarian would help by giving dog's medication that can help towards improvement. Many times the holistic program is developed for your dog to control anxiety and stress.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dogs-Separation-Anxiety---How-to-Help-Your-Dog-Overcome-This&id=9846085

Why Dogs Lick

When a dog licks a person it can be irritating and uncomfortable, but it all depends on if you have a liking to dogs because otherwise, it's a nice feeling. It's not everybody who would like to be licked by a dog. Dogs also lick other dogs and themselves constantly. It's best to first know the cause of the licking in order to know how to curb it if it gets out of hand. The following are some of the reasons.

For cleaning purposes.

Dogs lick themselves clean. They will use licking as a way to groom themselves, this is by licking their face clean, their pawns and also the body.

We taste good.

Yes, our bodies have a salty taste that the dogs enjoy licking, this will lead to the dog constant licking so as to enjoy that taste. A dog will lick you when you have a new smell and it wants to taste it.

As a form of communication.

A dog may be licking so as to pass a message; maybe it's feeding time, grooming time or it may need something. It's good to check out and see what may be needed and as soon as it's sorted the licking will stop. If its licking another dog maybe it means that it likes the dog.

Attention seeking.

The dog may be neglected and therefore it's seeking to be noticed and recognized. As soon as you take note the licking may stop. A dog may simply want to be included in whatever the owner is doing, maybe they are having a talk and the dog is just out watching.

As a form of affection.

The dog uses licking to show its affection towards the owner and other family members and also towards other dogs. When the dog is constantly licking you, it's a form of affection towards you.

Skin irritation and allergies.

The skin maybe irritable as a result of maybe being dirty and therefore have bred flies which causes constant itching and scratching which the dog will calm down by licking. Allergies also result in a lot of scratching and the dog will resort to licking to calm down. Therefore check the skin so as to be sure.

Injuries and pain.

If the dog has been injured, he will lick the wound constantly to clean it and also because saliva from the dog helps in speeding the healing process. The dog will lick an injured body part to help relieve the pain.

Stress and boredom.

The dog may develop a liking to licking, the reason being bored. When it has nothing to do with its alone, it turns to licking. When the dog has stressed it turns to licking which is good since it helps in relieving stress.

In conclusion, it's advisable to visit a veterinary officer for consultation and also to ascertain the reason behind the licking. When a dog continuously licks one part it should be stopped so as to avoid it turning to a serious wound and to also avoid hair loss.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Dogs-Lick&id=9817422

Don't Let Moving Traumatize Your Pet

We know how stressful and energy depriving moving can be for our children and us. What about our pets? They have grown up in a certain place that feels familiar and safe. Can they overcome the stress and adapt to their new home?

Picture it from their point of view. They had a yard they loved to play in where they could smell their scent all around and feel comfortable and they had a territory to protect. Maybe they had animal friends in the area that they were used to seeing. They even knew the mailman and were on friendly terms with them.

Take all that away, put them in a new place, with new smells and new animals, and a new mailman, can you see why they may feel a little distressed? All of this can give your dog stress and anxiety. This affects their health and their appetite.

You may begin to notice when your dog is feeling stressed if they have diarrhea, vomiting, or lose their appetite. This can start even before the move takes place when the structured schedule of the dog's life is turned upside down. There are things you can do to try to prevent this from happening.

Try to keep their meal times the same as always. Play with your dog every chance you get, it stresses them when they are ignored. Take them on outings to minimize the craziness of the house.

When you begin the move, keep your dog with you at all times. It can add to the stress if they constantly are being dropped off and see you leaving. Bring old toys and bedding with them to the new house so that the new place smells familiar to them. Play with them in the new house to encourage positive behavior and help ease the strange situation.

Make sure you initiate all the old rules again because sometimes a dog can think new place new rules, and accidents can happen because of this. Avoid extra stressors, like bathing or grooming, this only adds to their anxiousness. Give them time to adjust to the new place and new rules before throwing parties and gatherings.

If you notice your dog seems stressed, you can find things like calming tablets that are natural and effective. You can visit the vet and make sure they are just stressed and that it is nothing more than that. Always take precautions with your pet so as not to let them get loose in the neighborhood.

Sometimes we forget the impact our decisions have on our beloved little pets. But they are constantly watching us and looking to us for direction and stability. Be mindful when you move that it can be traumatizing to them and do your best to make the transition easy for them.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dont-Let-Moving-Traumatize-Your-Pet&id=9097519