Why do dogs develop separation anxiety? “Separation anxiety is a behavioral problem that can cause great emotional distress to both the pet and the owner. Why do pets get “separation anxiety”? To solve the problem we must first find out the cause: 1, change of guardians or residence: dogs abandoned, or given to new guardians or moved to a new environment can trigger the dog “separation anxiety. 2, the routine is disrupted: dogs like humans do not like the routine is disrupted, once the daily life is disrupted, they will have Once the daily life is disrupted, they will have a lot of pressure, which will lead to “separation anxiety”. For example, if a dog owner usually works at home and stays with his dog all day, but finds a new job that requires his dog to stay alone for seven or eight hours or more. 3, changes in family members: the sudden addition or removal of family members or the arrival of other pets. 4, illness: many diseases such as urinary tract infections, bladder sphincter weakness, digestive disorders, cognitive disorders in old age, etc. can cause Separation anxiety disorder can be caused by many diseases such as urinary tract infections, bladder sphincter weakness, digestive disorders, aging cognitive disorders, etc.
Common symptoms of separation anxiety when the dog and the owner together, we will find that the dog will usually be very well behaved, once the owner is out they may try to stop, or even do something very destructive, such as: poop: the dog alone or separated from the owner will urinate and defecate anywhere. Barking: A dog suffering from “separation anxiety” may bark or howl when left alone or separated from its owner. This barking or howling is usually constant. Chewing, digging and destroying: Dogs with “separation anxiety” will chew on objects such as door frames, windows, furniture, etc. when left alone, which can lead to injuries such as broken teeth, cut paws, damaged nails, etc. Escape: Dogs with “separation anxiety” may try to escape from the room when they are alone or separated from their owners, chewing on doorframes and windows, etc. Abnormal walking: When a dog is home alone or separated from its owner, it may pace back and forth in a regular pattern or trot back and forth, while some dogs walk in circles or back and forth in a straight line. Swallowing feces: When dogs are left alone or separated from their owners, some dogs will defecate and then eat all or part of their feces. How to deal with dog separation disorder? In our lives, we often hear many pooper scoopers complain that their dogs cause havoc when left alone at home, such as urinating and defecating, barking, destroying items in the house, and scraping on walls, doors and floors. In fact, all these phenomena may indicate that your dog is suffering from “separation anxiety”. When faced with a “separation anxiety” dog, we as pooper scoopers should learn to do something to solve his potential anxiety problem. (1) For dogs with mild separation anxiety, it’s a good idea to make a connection between a solitary dog and a tasty treat. For example, after you have trained with your dog for 5 to 10 seconds, give your dog a stuffed food toy (such as a puzzle toy filled with peanut butter) before you leave the house. These stuffed food toys can be used as a safety cue to tell your dog that it is a “safe” separation. This method is only suitable for mild separation anxiety, as highly anxious dogs usually do not eat when the guardian is not home. 2) Remember to act calmly when the owner is entering or leaving the house. Especially when coming back, you should be calm for the first few minutes and not pay too much attention to your dog, not to mention intimate behavior. 3) Leave some of your recently worn clothes because they smell like you, which can also help your dog to relieve “separation anxiety”. 4) Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise before leaving the house. When you are ready to leave, you can play training games and fetch with your dog. A tired and happy dog will also be appropriate to reduce the “separation anxiety”. Generally speaking dog anxiety time is within 40 minutes of the owner’s departure most of your dog’s anxiety reactions will occur during the first 40 minutes he is alone. Once your dog can tolerate 40 minutes of separation, you can add more time away (5 minute increments at first, then 15 minute increments). Once your dog can be left alone for 90 minutes without being upset or anxious, he can probably be left alone for 4 to 8 hours. (To be on the safe side, try leaving him alone for four hours first, then slowly increase to eight hours.) This training process needs to be completed within a few weeks.
