Separation Anxiety
What to do and what not to do
What to do and what not to do
WHAT TO DO:
- Whenever you are getting ready to leave the house, make your routine less predictive and
obvious. You can ignore the dog, practice obedience behaviors, such as "Sit" and "Down"
and "Stay, or distract the dog with a chew bone or toy.
- Keep your departures and arrivals low key so the dog doesn't associate comings and
goings with arousal and stress.
- Practice short absences and gradually build up the time you are gone.
- Use reward-based training, practice "out-of-sight" and "Down Stays" around the house so
you can be in one room and the dog in another.
- When not training the dog and, until you have the problem resolved, arrange for someone
to be with the dog at all times when you are away.
- Teach the dog mannerly ways to gain your attention, such as "Sit" "Down" and "Bring a toy
". If your dog has learned to gain your attention when you're home by barking, pawing, and
mouthing, then it should come as no surprise that your dog has temper tantrums when you're
away.
- Give your dog plenty of physical exercise before leaving your dog for lengthy periods of
time, especially if you leave first thing in the morning.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Do not confuse your dog's anxiety with revenge, spite, or dominance. Your dog is
genuinely upset and distressed and needs your help. Punishment will only exacerbate the
dog's anxiety.
- Do not continue to confine your dog to a crate or room if the dog is injuring himself trying
to escape.
- Do not attempt to reduce your dog's attachment to you by constantly ignoring him. Some
experts believe that "breaking the bond" will fix separation anxiety. This can actually make
the dog become even more desperate for your affections. If done repeatedly, this approach
can even be "inhumane” because canines so need social contact.
- Whenever you are getting ready to leave the house, make your routine less predictive and
obvious. You can ignore the dog, practice obedience behaviors, such as "Sit" and "Down"
and "Stay, or distract the dog with a chew bone or toy.
- Keep your departures and arrivals low key so the dog doesn't associate comings and
goings with arousal and stress.
- Practice short absences and gradually build up the time you are gone.
- Use reward-based training, practice "out-of-sight" and "Down Stays" around the house so
you can be in one room and the dog in another.
- When not training the dog and, until you have the problem resolved, arrange for someone
to be with the dog at all times when you are away.
- Teach the dog mannerly ways to gain your attention, such as "Sit" "Down" and "Bring a toy
". If your dog has learned to gain your attention when you're home by barking, pawing, and
mouthing, then it should come as no surprise that your dog has temper tantrums when you're
away.
- Give your dog plenty of physical exercise before leaving your dog for lengthy periods of
time, especially if you leave first thing in the morning.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Do not confuse your dog's anxiety with revenge, spite, or dominance. Your dog is
genuinely upset and distressed and needs your help. Punishment will only exacerbate the
dog's anxiety.
- Do not continue to confine your dog to a crate or room if the dog is injuring himself trying
to escape.
- Do not attempt to reduce your dog's attachment to you by constantly ignoring him. Some
experts believe that "breaking the bond" will fix separation anxiety. This can actually make
the dog become even more desperate for your affections. If done repeatedly, this approach
can even be "inhumane” because canines so need social contact.
Back to Separation
Anxiety
Anxiety