Acknowledge the signs dogs show when dealing with separation anxiety.
When your dog picks up that you will be leaving the house soon (keys jingling, putting on outdoor clothes, etc) they may begin to follow you around becoming very anxious (whining, trembling, etc). Some dogs become so upset that they can be aggressive toward the owner to try and prevent them from leaving.
Once you are out of the house, your dog's anxiousness amplifies and typically peaks within the first 30 minutes. Some common behaviors associated with separation anxiety include: incessant barking, scratching &/or digging at windows and doors, chewing on inappropriate items, and urination &/or defecation inside the house. In severe cases, the dog may self-mutilate by licking or chewing their skin until it's raw, pulling fur out, or engage in obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as spinning and tail-chasing.
When you return home, you can barely get inside the door before getting tackled and licked to death. Your dog's excited greeting will last for an extended period of time, and the dog may even tremble and whine because they are so overwhelmed by your return. A well balanced dog typically will only greet you for less than a minute.
Break the cycle. This will require what may seem like "tough love" to some owners.
Even though we dog owners like to think of our dogs as humans, they aren't and for both of our sakes we need to start treating them like dogs. They will be a lot happier if we stop making a huge fuss over them before we leave and when we return home. Lavishing your dog with attention right before you leave actually makes the separation even more difficult for your dog. One minute they are on top of the world, and the next they are at rock bottom.
To have a well balanced dog we need to stop encouraging this bi-polar behavior. One way to cope with this is to give your dog all the attention you want at least 30 minutes before you plan to leave or get ready to go out. When you do finally leave, don't make a big deal about it, and don't give hugs and kisses to your dog or say "bye" to them.
It is not good to fuel your dog's fire by encouraging them to get overly excited when you return home. The best way to deal with this is to enter your house, put down your keys, get a drink, etc, and then after a minute of "you" time, go and greet your dog. This way your dog's anxious behavior is not reinforced as soon as you walk through the door. However, we all know that dogs love praise, so it is best to acknowledge them after a minute or so and let them know they are a good dog.
Consistency is key!
It is so easy to slip back into bad habits, but if you want a happy dog and a happy you, then it is imperative to stay consistent. Dogs are creatures of habit, and they are much more content when they have a healthy routine.
Sally Canela is an expert dog trainer with more than 15 years experience; specializing in training dogs rescued from shelters with behavioral issues.
If you would like to find out more information on how to cure your dog of separation anxiety, please take a look at
Secrets To Dog Training.
The-True-Review.info also has reviews on many different dog training guides.
