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.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Prevent-Dog-and-Puppy-Separation-Anxiety&id=9305973

5 Common Signs of Dog Separation Anxiety To Watch Out For

If you notice that your pet dog has been acting up lately and you don't know why, he may be experiencing separation anxiety which is a common issue in canines. It is when they feel stressed when left alone resulting in negative behavior. Any dog parent or pet owner should be able to tell the difference between a dog being sad when their owner leaves the house and the more serious separation anxiety. Knowing the symptoms will be a great deal of help to fight the issue or even prevent it.

Here are 5 common signs of dog separation anxiety that should be observed:

Barking

Barking or whining (or both) is the most common sign of separation anxiety in dogs. They would usually start this behavior once their owner leaves and won't stop until they return. The barking is a cry for their owner to come back to the pack.

Chewing

While dogs naturally love to chew on just about anything, excessive and destructive chewing is a separation anxiety symptom. This behavior in canines is similar to when humans chew gum in order to stay calm.

Digging

When a dog is stressed, one usual behavior would be digging. This is usually accompanied by general destruction so if you find that one of your shoes have been chewed on, papers in your house are scattered and played with and other similar scenarios while you were gone, you should start observing your pet, especially if it is accompanied by digging.

Drooling

While almost all dogs drool, it can be a sign of stress when excessive. It is hard to tell whether excessive drooling is medical related or due to the stress of separation anxiety, so try to be more observant. If your pet has this issue all of a sudden and you're not sure of the cause, it is best to consult with your veterinarian.

Peeing and Pooping

Another common sign of dog separation anxiety is urinating or pooping inside the house, especially if your pet is potty trained or knows how to do his business outside. If this happens only when you are away, it means that your pet is indeed stressed.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition. Canines are naturally loyal and loving and it makes them sad when they are away from you which they see as the leader of their pack. Watch out for these signs to help fight the issue!

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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.

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