Dog Separation Anxiety Archives

Puppy Separation Anxiety Information

Loneliness has been associated with psychological stress. Spending a lot of time alone can be uncomfortable and distressing. Dogs also develop intense panic. Dogs are social animals that desire to be in the company of human beings whom they consider to be their pack members. Thus, when left alone in the house for long hours by their owners they display signs of psychological fear, a disorder commonly known as separation anxiety. This article will discuss a few steps on how to deal with puppy separation anxiety in an attempt of helping dog lovers cope with this common paranoia.

In most occasions puppies whine and bark when left alone in the house. They also become messy as they destroy anything in their way for instance furniture, shoes, clothes, makeup accessories, carpet and cardboard doors among others. The first step in ensuring your puppy does not suffer from separation anxiety is making sure the puppy is well weaned. Leave the puppy under the protection custody of its mother for the first 8 weeks to enable it gain independent tactics and the motherly affection it deserves.

Puppies from shelters or pet shops may have experienced a traumatic life. Therefore, it is essential to show the puppy utmost affection for it to win your trust and loyalty. This can be achieved by creating a working, exercising and playing schedule from the first day you bring your puppy home. This will help him to get accustomed to periods that you are not around him. To further enhance this create short separation periods which should gradually be increased.

Another tactic of dealing with puppy separation anxiety is instructing him when you are about to leave. Ensure the puppy is surrounded by things such as toys that will destruct him for about 1 hr when he discovers you have gone. This will help him to calm down. It is also advisable to provide toys that will extensively tire him to the extent of making him fall asleep. However, do not provide toys to the puppy only when you are about to leave. These creatures are intelligent and with time will discover the provision of toys is only a set up for you to get away.

When dealing with puppy separation anxiety it is also important to remember that puppies cannot connect the destruction they have made in the house to scolding aimed at making them recognize their mistakes. This will only psychologically affect them more worsening their separation anxiety syndrome. Therefore, instead of being frantic and showing them you are angry. Train them to stop this behavior, for instance teach them to use their crates. This can be done by feeding them in the crate and regularly cleaning the crate. This will slowly lure the puppies to spent most of their time in the crate because they will perceive it to be safe. This will in turn tame their fears.



Using Medication to Cure Canine Separation Anxiety

Perhaps one of the most important feelings we usually have in dog ownership is the tight bond we share with them. The bond that we share with our dogs can come under severe stress when our dogs develop dog separation anxiety. This article discusses the use of medication for resolving dog separation anxiety.

Canine separation anxiety treatment often involves both behavioral and medical intervention. The course of treatment is influenced by the severity of the anxiety and how quickly your dog responds to exercises and medication. Every dog is different, but all dogs will progress during the course of treatment. Some dogs will be take longer than others.

Dogs that have severe separation anxiety problems are often treated with medication. Some of the most commonly used types of medication include Fluoxetine and clomipramine. This medication must be prescribed by a vet after a consultation.

Since the medications might take some weeks before the achievement of effective levels, short acting drugs are sometimes given in the mean time. For instance alprazolam might be resorted to first. Remember every anti-anxiety medication that is prescribed through your vet must be delivered as directed.
Because the long term anti-anxiety drugs can take a couple of weeks to kick in, your will need to have patience. You can try a combination of medications or several drugs so that you can know what exactly will work best for the dog. Make sure you have a list of questions written down before you see your vet.

There are also other medications used to cure canine separation anxiety. However, it is important to try non-drug therapy before you have tried individual medication. There have been strong signs that some selected serotonin inhibitors are effective in the treatment of canine separation anxiety in dogs and other pets. Some vets prescribe tricylic antidepressants such Valium and Elavil for the treatment of disorders as well.

Some of these drugs do have side effects. Use of Haldol or haloperidol to cure canine anxiety has been can cause a lack of coordination and alertness. They can be debilitating. Any of these drugs may affect the way your dog acts, looks and thinks.

Separation anxiety in dogs can not be cured by medication alone. A behavior modification program is crucial for the success of your dog. Failure to train your dog will cause your dog to return to its past anxious behavior once you take them off medication.

Fix Dog Separation Anxiety – 4 Key Concepts

As dog owner you probably enjoy spending time with your beloved pooch. Make sure you temper your desire to be with your pet by giving them time to themselves. Failure to teach your dog to be on its own may cause fits of panic every time you leave them alone. Seeing your pet in this state is quite agonizing. Luckily, you can fix dog separation anxiety.

Some people think that the damage caused by the dog during its anxiety attacks is actually meant to punish you. Your dog actually doesn’t have a vendetta. The real cause for the dogs behavior should be pinned on their severe stress and panic.

There are many symptoms of separation anxiety in canines. Look for the following symptoms while you are home. If your dog won’t leave your side, they may be a ‘velcro’ dog, and may be overly attached to you. This is called hyper attachment. Also check for changes in your dogs body language when you are getting ready to leave.

Here are some tips to solve your dogs separation anxiety.

Try ignoring your dog once you get home. Make them think that coming and going are normal non-events. You should practice arrivals and departures so often, that your dog doesn’t associate you putting on shoes or grabbing keys with leaving.

Leaving an object that carries your scent near the dog may help once you have left. Dog appeasing pheromone can also be used. It is a scent that mothers produce when they are nursing puppies. It can be found online and in pet stores.

Exercise your dog and get them tuckered out before you leave. A tired dog is a good dog.

Have patience and discipline! You will see results over time. Focus on the positive progress.

Solutions For Dog Separation Anxiety

Several treatments for dog separation anxiety are applicable in a variety of situations. You have the choice to select the kind of cure that will work well on your dog depending on the severity of the anxiety. One such cure for the anxiety can be behavioral therapy. Another available alternative is the use of antidepressants. Such antidepressants should however be administered by a vet. Dog experts specifically advocate for the usage of the behavioral approach before you resort to medication.

Treatment for dog separation anxiety with behavioral modification should be your first approach. Make sure that you never make a big deal that you are either leaving or arriving. Try to be as casual as you can. Plan your exit the moment the dog is not interested in you. Another behavioral approach is giving your dog as much exercises as you can. Take them for a walk before you leave. Also, feed the dog prior to leaving since a dog that is hungry can be very anxious. You can also get another pet to offer the dog company. Just make sure they get along.

For some, aromatherapy has worked wonders for treating dog separation anxiety. It calms the dog perfectly, more so when you have placed calming scents like lavender within the dogs surrounding. If behavioral treatment for dog separation anxiety is not working, you can then comfortably incorporate medication. This approach to anxiety is perfected through the usage of non-sedative medications. The most holistic treatment for dog separation anxiety is the blending of medicines and behavioral approaches.

The usage of anti-anxiety medicine aids the dog to calm down and relax. In fact, these anti-anxiety drugs have become a crucial part in the treatment of anxiety in pet dogs. The available types are as many as there are dog vets. The most popular however are the clomipramine and amitriptyline pills.

The medication should be administered as prescribed by the vet. The prescription drugs are only for dogs having serious symptoms. Medication treatment for dog separation anxiety might take about two weeks so have patience. A side effect of the medications used in anxiety is seen as over-sedation. This includes the family of drugs in the benzodiazepine sphere such as valium. Drugs from Tri-cyclic antidepressants have a lesser sedative effect.

Clomipramine is effective especially with the augmentation of neurotransmitter actions of serotonin. Serotonin is found within the brain and is connected with feelings of happiness. The combination is a perfect control for obsessive compulsive behaviors as well as avoiding house soiling. Nonetheless, you need to be careful when using clomipramine medication as a cure for anxiety in dogs unless directed by the vet. After the intake of the drug, it takes a couple of weeks prior to any effect being manifested.

Hyper Attachment and Dog Separation Anxiety

Hyper attachment is the need to be close to somebody at all times. This also happens to dogs as they desire to be near the vicinity of their owners. They follow them from room to room and display sadness and dissatisfaction if they detect that their owners are about to leave them. In most occasions hyper attached dogs emanate separation anxiety syndrome when they are left alone in the house by their owners.

Dogs are social animals that desire to be in human company at all times. Dogs in nature are pack animals and thus desire to spend and undertake any activity with their pack mates. Beings man’s best friend, dogs perceive human beings as their pack mates. They therefore develop fondness towards humans which may become dangerous both to the psychology of the dog and the owner. This article will therefore discuss various aspects that create hyper attachment between you and your dog, its effects and how it can be overcome.

Dog separation anxiety syndrome is the behavior of dogs’ portraying intensive panic and psychological fear signs when left alone in the house or home compound by their owners. Dog separation anxiety syndrome is either emanated through constant barking, whining and growling. Increased levels of this panic makes the dog to result to more drastic measures such as destroying everything it comes across by chewing, scratching or tearing. For example if locked in a room the dog may result to chewing and scratching the furniture inside that room.

Hyper attachment between you and your dog can be created by constantly cuddling the dog and giving it excessive affection even when leaving the house and after returning. This attachment can also be developed if the owner does not create some separation time between him and the dog when within the house. Much still the owner rarely trains its dog to positively respond to the action of opening and closing the door. Thus any time the dog owner opens or closes the door the dog is always behind him.

Although it is adorable and enjoyable, this kind of attachment can ruin the relationship between the dog owner and the dog. Also the separation anxiety syndrome that the dog emanates when left alone can make the dog to mutilate itself while trying to find escape routes. For instance it may cut itself with pieces of glass while escaping through the window. The relationship between the dog owner and his neighbors may become sour because the constant barking or whining of your dog creates nagging noise that may interrupt their usual activities such as taking a day time nap.

Therefore, to effectively reduce the hyper attachment between you and your dog it is essential to train the dog to spend long hours alone. This can be achieved by making the dog believe that its kennel or crate is a safe haven or introducing separation moments between you and your dog. Stay away from your dog for a period of 5 minutes then gradually increase the time lapse for the separation. This will eventually help your dog to control its anxiety when left alone.

Dogs are social, pack animals in nature and therefore desire to spend their time with their human pack mates. However, they develop separation anxiety when separated from the company of human beings for long periods of time. Dog separation anxiety is the build of intensive fear because of being left alone by their owners. Dog separation anxiety can be depicted in many ways. One of the most common symptoms is constant barking and whining while you are away. This article discusses dog barking problems and solutions for you.

Extensive dog barking can be a major pain especially when neighbors start to complain. Barking noise can be very annoying and tiresome especially if one is trying to sleep or concentrate on something important. This can in turn fray and strain your relationships with your neighbors. A dog that constantly barks is usually expressing their fears, panic and loneliness, also known as separation anxiety.

The following dog barking solutions can be implemented:

  • Put your home phone on speaker phone, and call your cell. Listen for your dog barking. Correct your dog when you hear barking.
  • Designate sometime from your busy schedule to walk the dog, exercise it or play with it before you leave. Try to keep a consistent routine. This will help the dog by preparing it for alone time every day.
  • A citronella or static shock collar can be used. I highly recommend the use of a static shock collar. Because you can’t be there to correct your dog when they are barking, this is an excellent solution.

Treating Separation Anxiety in Puppies

Just like human beings, puppies experience separation anxiety. There are very many causes of separation anxiety. It might be because of abuse by the previous owner, a naturally nervous personality, being abandoned at an early age, the move to a new home, lack of proper socialization and many possible causes. Whatever might be triggering your puppy’s anxiety is best handled when first diagnosed and understood. For these distinct causes, there are distinct means of curing the anxiety. This article describes options for effectively treating your puppy’s anxiety holistically.

There are a number of ways of solutions that works fast and effectively. Your treatment options depend on the severity of the anxiety.

Serious cases of separation anxiety may require a veterinarian. Your veterinarian may have some medications that work well in calming down the puppy. For these medications to work optimally you need to combine the drugs with training. Training and medication treatments must be combined to ensure your dogs underlying behavior problem is resolved.

One important training principle is called counter conditioning. Counter conditioning takes your puppies negative experiences and turns them into positive ones. For instance, when you walk to the door to leave, your puppy gets nervous. To avoid these situations, practice going to the door without leaving, and do this a lot, until the dog doesn’t associate the door with you leaving.

When treating your dog, do your best to avoid situations which cause the underlying anxiety. Learn about your puppy identify any other causes of anxiety so that you can initiate remedial measures. Teach your puppy to calm down by rewarding calm behavior with attention. Ignore anxious behavior.

Are you sick of coming home to find your lawn ruined, and you dog missing? Dogs dig for a number of reasons. If your dog digs while you are away, they may be digging due to dog separation anxiety. Dog separation anxiety is a very common problem. Symptoms include digging, barking, excessive drooling, and nervousness. Some dogs will dig even at the carpet inside the house. In order to stop your dog from digging under the fence, you first have to learn why they are digging in the first place.

Dog Separation Anxiety and Digging

Your dog digs under the fence because they are in a panic and trying to reunite with you. Dogs are pack animals and rely on you for everything. Dogs with separation anxiety become extremely nervous and panicked when you leave. They will dig frantically through soil, doors, and flooring in an attempt to escape the confined space and search for you. This is also called barrier anxiety. If your dog only digs while you are away, it is highly likely they are digging due to separation anxiety. Look for other symptoms like changes in behavior when you are about to leave, barking while you are gone, and over excitement when you come home.

Stop Digging Under The Fence

There are a number of ways to stop the digging. One technique is to bury chain link fence, or some other material in the ground where the dog digs. This may stop some dogs from digging in that area, but they will soon move on to another space. Dogs with separation anxiety are in a compulsive, panicked state when they dig, and are more likely to injure themselves trying to get through the buried material than to give up digging in that spot. The secret to stopping dogs from digging while you are away is to use behavior modification training to remove the anxiety the feel while you are gone. They will no longer panic, and no longer dig.

One of the most common behavioral problems in dogs is Separation anxiety.    All dogs display separation anxiety differently. This article describes 3 of the most common separation anxiety symptoms, and what to look for in your dog. Separation Anxiety can be a serious issue. Many dogs in shelters were send their due to their behavioral issues.

Excessive Vocalization:

Excessive barking is seen in dogs with moderate separation anxiety. Typically, your dogs will be anxious before you leave.  As the dogs anxiety increases, they will whine, bark, and yelp. Your dogs barks sometimes become high-pitched yelps.   They are truly in a panic because they think that you are not coming back and need to be with you.

Digging, Scratching, Chewing:

The next level of separation anxiety is when a dog moves beyond barking and starts get physical. This type of scratching chewing and digging is an attempt to escape from the confines of the room, house, or yard so that they can find you.   I call this “barrier anxiety”.  Some dogs will be so anxious and compulsive that they will injure themselves by breaking through glass, tearing down walls, and otherwise injure you or your property to get to you.

Over Excitement:

When you get home, watch your dogs behavior.  Look for actions like jumping up on you, licking you, and greeting you excessively.   Excessive and prolonged greetings are a common symptom of separation anxiety in dogs.    The greeting is not normal and calm, it is frantic and uncontrolled. Your dog thought you would never return, so they are not just saying ‘Hi’, they are thrilled to be reunited with you..

Not all dogs display these behaviors, some display mild symptoms such as whining, others will destroy a room that they are left in until you return. Separation anxiety is a serious condition and robs both you and your dog of a healthy relationship.

When dog separation anxiety is left untreated, it can develop into a serious, destructive and expensive problem. To see a complete list of []dog separation anxiety symptoms, visit []

I created this site to share my knowledge and help you cure your dog.

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