Friday, May 13, 2016

What Causes Separation Anxiety In Dogs ?

By Walt Jensen


A very common complaint amongst dog owners is that their dogs get into trouble when they are gone. They will become destructive by chewing things around them, going potty where they shouldn't, or try and escape.

When you are leaving your home and you notice that your dog is drooling or gets hyper, it probably is not because you did not train them properly, Rather it could be a sign that they have separation anxiety, and do not want to be left by themselves.

Separation anxiety in dogs can cause them to try and escape. This means they will try and get out of the room they are in, which can cause injury and or household destruction, especially with windows and doors. If you see your dog getting agitated or anxious before you leave, or even depressed before you go, your dog suffers from separation anxiety and sometimes will try and prevent their guardians from leaving.

If you close the door and get into your car and hear that your dog is barking or howling, this is a distress signal they they might have separation anxiety and are upset with you leaving. If your dog treats you as if it has been years since they last saw you, this could be another sign. Listed below are some of the common separation anxiety in dogs symptoms.

Chewing, digging or destruction is a very good sign that your dog suffers from separation anxiety, and they can hurt themselves in the process. They can chew on door frames and window sills, and dig at doorways. The damage they obtain from this behavior is broken teeth, damaged nails and scraped paws.

Dogs can persistently howl or bark when left alone because they are upset you left them. Another sign of separation anxiety in dogs is pacing. Thia is when your dog is trotting along a specific path, either in a circle or a straight line. When your dog paces in your presence, then it is most likely not a separation anxiety issue.

There are a number of reasons why your dog may suffer from separation anxiety, though there is no conclusive evidence why dogs develop this. The dogs that have been adopted from shelters seem to have separation anxiety more than dogs that have been raised by a single family since it was a puppy, which tends to make the loss of an important person or people in a dog's life can cause separation anxiety in them.

When you change your residence or their schedule, or if they are bored when you leave, these could be separation anxiety in dogs symptoms.

You can treat mild separation anxiety in dogs by a technique called counterconditioning, which is a treatment process that changes the animal's aggressive, anxious or fearful reaction to being pleasant and relaxed. You can accomplish this by associating the sight of a disliked person or thing with something that the dog enjoys.




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