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SEPARATION
AND
ISOLATION ANXIETY
Isolation Anxiety - Separation
Below are some
ideas that may prevent
ISOLATION ANXIETY from becoming a problem:
Crate train your dog using the following
steps:
- Leave the dog in the crate for short periods of time
to teach the pet that you WILL return to release it.
- Continue to extend the length of periods until you can
leave the pet alone for several hours.
- Vary the time of your return, so the pet will not
expect you to be there at an exact time.
- Teach your pet to stay in a kennel or run in the yard
by moving the crate outside, leaving the crate door open. Once again, leave the pet alone
for short periods of time to adjust to its new environment.
- Ask a neighbor to assist you in determining your dog's
ability to handle being left alone. How does it spend its time when you are not home? Some
dogs seem to be less affected by periods of isolation. Others can suffer both mentally and
physically. Dogs are pack animals, and will almost always prefer spending time with the
family rather than being isolated in the yard. If you are planning on a new adoption or if
you currently have a dog, please consider the social needs of the animal. Don't set
yourself and your dog up for a disastrous relationship.
Using the above steps with a new dog will help it
adjust to spending time alone. This technique of conditioning will minimize potential
problems associated with leaving your dog alone while you are at work. If your dog will be
alone for 8 or more hours per day, be sure that you spend DAILY time with it. Like with
children, quality time is more important than quantity.
If your dog has developed serious problems
please call us.
One Final Thought: THE GARAGE
IS NOT PART OF THE HOUSE and not a sufficiently stimulating environment for a dog unless
you spend a large part of YOUR time there. Garages are also generally unsafe areas to
leave a dog unattended.
Separation
Barking - Digging
- Escaping - Destructive Behavior
- Self-Mutilation
How often have we seen dogs who are left
in the yard all day and then sleep in the garage all night with only an occasional hour or
two spent in the house with people? Unfortunately for the dogs, many dog owners feel this
is an adequate life for a pet. Unfortunately for the owner, this type of a lifestyle leads
to many dog behavior problems including (but not limited to):
BARKING
Bored, lonely dogs often vocalize loudly. This leads to upset and angry neighbors.
DIGGING
Bored, lonely dogs need an outlet for their frustrations and often resort to digging as a
release. Unfortunately most of us don't care to have our yards look like mine fields.
ESCAPING
Bored, lonely dogs will try to find places that are neither boring nor lonely.
Unfortunately accidents often happen to dogs running at large and these can be quite
expensive for the owner if not fatal for the dog. Escaping also becomes a habit for a dog
- one that can be very difficult to break.
DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
Bored, lonely dogs will find ways to "entertain" themselves - often by chewing
on patio furniture, garden hoses and/or anything else within reach.
SELF-MUTILATION
Bored, lonely dogs who do not use other means of release will often vent their frustration
by chewing on their own feet, flanks or other body parts. This can lead to many health
problems.
There is a simple prevention for boredom
and loneliness for most pet dogs. MAKE THEM A PART OF THE FAMILY. Dogs are pack animals
and the owners are the members of the dogs' pack.
Don't isolate the dog endlessly.
This doesn't mean that he should never be
apart from you.
It means that when you are home the dog is
with you in the house.
It means that the dog sleeps in the house.
It means that the dog is part of family
activities.
Often enrolling in a training class
teaches you and the dog to communicate with each other and gives you the means to teach
the dog desired behaviors which will make him pleasant to have in the house.
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