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If separation anxiety in dogs is a problem for your canine friend, there are several dog behavior modification techniques you can use to change his behavior.

How To Handle Mild Cases Of Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing to do is to keep your comings and goings low-key.Your dog’s joyful behavior at your return shouldn’t last longer than a minute.

Don’t encourage your dog to get too excited and worked up when you get home.Although you may think it’s harmless, you’re really training him to view your homecoming as the highest point of the day.  The problem is that when you need to leave again, it makes it even harder for him to see you go.

Try leaving your dog with a piece of clothing that has your scent on it.  Dogs with separation anxiety often find it reassuring to sleep on an old sweatshirt or t-shirt that you’ve worn recently.

Without knowing it, you’ve already established “safety cues” for your dog.  A safety cue is an action you take upon leaving that tells your dog you’ll be back soon.  For example, when your dog sees you going out with the trash, he knows you’ll be right back, and he doesn’t get upset.

A good technique is to use safety cues with your dog.  If you know you’re going to be gone for a short time, you can leave the radio or tv on, or give him a certain toy to play with.  Use these safety cues when you’re practicing with your dog so he gets to know what they are.

Be careful though.If your use a safety cue for too long, your dog will learn not to trust it, and it will lose its effectiveness.  These cues are useful for shorter absences.

Canine Behavior Modification For More Severe Cases

If your buddy has a severe case of separation anxiety in dogs, you may want to try these dog behavior modification techniques.  Keep these sessions short, but do them several times a day.

You’ll start by making a lot of noise with your car keys while you put on your coat like you’re leaving, but instead, sit down again.Keep repeating the lesson until your dog isn’t bothered by it anymore.  Next, you’ll do these things and go to the door and open it, and then sit back down.  Again, keep doing it until your dog shows no interest.

Next, go out through the door, leaving it open, and then come back in.  The next step is to go though the door, and close it behind you.  Immediately come back in.  Progress to staying outside for a few minutes and coming back.

Remember to keep your exits and returns very low-key.  You don’t want your dog to get excited that you’re back.  His attitude should be, “ho-hum, it’s you again.”  If your dog gets upset at any point, you’re going too fast.  Go back to any earlier step, and start again.

You can see how you’re desensitizing your dog by teaching him that you can go away for longer and longer periods of time and still return safely.

Don’t Make The Mistake Of Teaching Your Dog The Wrong Lessons

You can see how easy it is to unknowingly train your dog to do what you don’t want him to do.  If you need to solve the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, just click on any link in this article to find help.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can solve this problem once you understand how your canine friend thinks.

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Separation Anxiety is fairly common for dogs. This anxiety results in an intense feeling of panic when a dog is left on his own for and extended period of time. The nervous anxiety a dog feels can intensify quickly. Understanding the reasons for anxiety separation in dogs can help you prevent the problem.

Dogs are social animals who need companionship. The need for companionship and social interaction is as important as food, water, and shelter. In order for your dog to be happy and contented he needs a lot of attention and plenty of interaction with you.

It is not uncommon for dogs to experience anxiety if left alone for a long time. There are some other factors that can contribute to separation anxiety.

For a comprehensive guide that will help with dog separation anxiety, as well as other dog behavior problems, check out Secrets to Dog Training by Daniel Stevens.

Certain dog breeds show a predisposition towards separation anxiety. German Shepherds, Springer Spaniels, Weimaraners and Springer Spaniels seem to be prone to anxiety. Separation anxiety can rear its ugly head if a puppy has been taken from his mother too early. Dogs that have grown attached to a family and found themselves in a “dog pound” often develop this fear. Neglect is the prime reason for separation anxiety in dogs.

You know your dog is suffering from separation anxiety when he becomes anxious if it looks like you are getting ready to leave. Your dog may become aggressive in an attempt to keep you home or he may begin to cry.

Once you leave your dog may scratch at windows and doors in an effort to go after you. Your dog may bark incessantly and chew anything he can find. Some dogs will even urinate or defecate in your home. Licking a part of his body until it becomes raw and bleeding is not uncommon if your dog is suffering from anxiety.

There are some things you can do to help your dog deal with his anxiety:

You must help your dog learn that it is okay for you to leave and that you will be back. You can put on a coat or take out your keys and jingle them while you pretend to leave. You can even open the door. Then sit down and don’t go anywhere. Do this step until your dog does not react in fear to the idea of you leaving. Be sure to praise your dog and give him a treat when he does not react. You can now leave and then return immediately. Continue with this step of the process until your dog does not react negatively. You must be patient.  This will take time and you must go through these steps slowly.

Check out Dog Separation Anxiety for a complete guide on how to prevent this common behavior problem.

Giving your dog enough exercise is also important. Your dog needs plenty of exercise. You should be in the habit of taking your dog for a long, fast walk before you leave your home for an extended period of time. Your walk should take 15-20 minutes.

Provide toys for your dog to chew on. Giving your dog a nice bone to chew on is also helpful. This will help distract him as you leave.

Playing classical music, at a low volume, is also beneficial. This will help to calm your dog and give him a sense of not being alone.

It will also help your dog if he has a place to see what is happening outside. He will not feel so isolated if he can see what is happening.

If you are gone for eight hours or more arrange to have someone walk your dog half-way through the day. This will meet your dogs needs for attention and exercise.

It is important that when you return home you do not seem overly concerned for your dog.  Simply greet him calmly and act like everything is all right. You must not validate his feelings of panic by being overly sympathetic. If you are too sympathetic your dog’s anxiety will increase because you are affirming his feelings of panic.

Since spending adequate time with your dog is important you should consider your family’s life style before getting a dog. Are you away from your home for long periods of time? Do you understand the time a dog requires?  Are you willing to give a dog the time and attention he needs? Every dog has the right to be healthy and happy. That can only happen with proper social activity and exercise. Not every family’s situation is best for a dog.

I hope this article has been helpful. For additional help with dog training go to Dog Secrets Discovered.

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Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone?Separation anxiety in dogs is a common reason why dogs chew up furniture and clothing, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone.   By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem.

You have two goals with this training.  The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.

Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training

It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order.  The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top.  Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family.  Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.

Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you, as this leads to canine anxiety.  We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap.  It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast.  It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you.He should learn that even if you’re not there, he can still be happy.

Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you.  If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed.  Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom.He’s learning to become a happier, more independent dog.

Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has.  A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.

This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home.  Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there.  It’s best to ignore your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, and again when you return.

Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone

Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands.  He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.

Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv.  Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave.  At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you.Slowly and gradually increase the amount of time that you’re gone.  Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back.  He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded.

You’ll also want to find a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy anything.  Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself.  Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you.  Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat.  Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. When you’re done with the training session, be sure to put these toys away.

What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return.  This is teaching him that being away from you isn’t so bad after all.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it.  You’ll want to avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your canine anxiety problems.  Just click on any link in this article to learn about a great dog training course that may help to solve your problem.

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If canine separation anxiety is a problem for your pet, there are many things you can do to help.  There are also many things you can do to make the problem worse.  Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for dealing with dogs with separation anxiety.  We’ll look at the “don’ts” first, and then finish up with the “do’s.”

If You’re Dealing With Dogs With Separation Anxiety, Avoid Doing These Things

The most important thing you need to know is that you should never punish your dog when he’s acting out because he’s scared.  This will only make him even more anxious.  Plus, unless you catch him in the act of destructive dog behavior, he won’t know what he’s being punished for.

You need to rethink how you interact with your dog. Separation anxiety in dogs is a problem that’s often related to dominance issues.  A dog who thinks he’s the pack leader will be anxious when his followers leave.  This is because in the wild, although the leader can leave the pack for a while, the other members of the pack can’t leave the leader.

To assert your position as pack leader, try these suggestions.  Instead of giving your dog attention every time he asks for it, you should be the one initiating contact with him.  Feed him after you eat, because pack members eat only after the alpha dog has eaten.When you take him for a walk, make sure he is either walking next to you or behind you.  Don’t allow him to pull on his leash ahead of you, because the pack leader always goes first.

Discourage your dog from becoming too attached to you.Enforce a distance of three feet away from you when he sits or lies down.To keep him from getting too close, you may need to rearrange the furniture or put something on the floor.

Don’t let your dog sleep on your bed.  Ideally, he shouldn’t even be in the same room.  Start out by making him sleep at the foot of the bed, and then get him a dog bed to sleep in.  Eventually move his bed out of your bedroom.

If there are other people in the household, take turns feeding the dog and taking him for walks.  This way your dog won’t become too dependent on one person.

Here Are Things You Should Be Doing To Help A Dog With Canine Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to find out that your dog knows you’re leaving a lot sooner than you think he does.  You may go take a shower, comb your hair, put on your work clothes.Your canine buddy pays attention to these things, and he associates your doing them with your leaving.

Your goal here is to desensitize your dog to these cues that you’re leaving.  Do these same things, but then stay home.  Get your car keys, and put on your coat.  Then sit back down.  This is a slow process, and you’ll have to do it many times over several weeks, but eventually your dog won’t get upset when you do them.

Do make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise.Take him for a long, vigorous walk before you leave in the morning, and again in the evening.  This will use up excess energy, and help him to remain calmer in your absence.

Keep your exits and entrances low-key.  Ignore your dog for twenty minutes before you leave, and again for twenty minutes when you come home.Don’t encourage him by giving him your attention when he gets worked up when you come home.  You want him to learn to accept your comings and goings in a matter-of-fact manner.   

Does your pet have a problem with canine separation anxiety? Just click on any link in this article to learn  about a dog training course that will help to solve your buddy’s problem.

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Your dog’s usual barks or “bow wows” may not always carry the same message. As your dog approaches you, don’t be fooled.Your pet, that may very well be your best friend, may not be asking for the same doggy munchies. Maybe - just maybe - your mutt-friend is experiencing an overwhelming feeling of fear – separation anxiety in dogs.

Separation anxiety in dogs commences after they sense a hint that their master is about to leave. Getting the car keys, turning of the knobs, and other usual morning routine - these hints act like stimuli, or more appropriately, warning signs that tend to get the dog’s attention.

This scenario can lead into disaster as dogs, due to separation anxiety, start to behave destructively. How can you make Funny dog pictures when your dog is destructive? Destructive behavior may include leaving furniture, shoes and other objects inside the house or near the dog’s spot full of paw marks, bites, and scratches.

Sometimes, just like how the puppy howls after being separated from its mother, dogs will bellow unhesitatingly as manifestation of its separation anxiety.Studies prove that dogs, like humans, can also feel an overwhelming fear whenever they feel being left behind. Fortunately, similar to how human anxiety is taken cared of, separation anxiety in dogs is also treated via several methods and medications.  To be sure, treatment of animal boredom and anxiety is quite different. Separation anxiety in dogs usually occurs in due to the “super close” attachment between dog and master.  Dogs that are “too close” to its master tend to demand constant attention from its handler. 

Even the most fervent animal owners must understand that while showing love is important, it is also vital to train a dog to be independent and accept temporary periods of separation.  Animals, dogs in particular, that struggle with separation anxiety will show anxiety-related behavior whenever it feels alone or understands that it will eventually be left alone.Having a pet that behaves oddly because of separation anxiety is definitely a problem.In mild cases, your animal may just show a bit of panting or less destructive behavior.In serious cases, dogs may cause intolerable damage to your property and those of your neighbors. You wouldn’t want an annoying neighbor to pester you with qualms about your dog right?

At this juncture, it is important to have information on how to deal with your mutt menace. anxiety treatments are very hard to handle. There are several practical solutions to effectively address separation anxiety in dogs. Check them out.

Encourage Independence

A little distance isn’t always equal to cruelty and neglect. Train your animals to be independent by not always giving in to all its whims. Let them also play with other people so whenever you are forced to get out of the house, your dog wouldn’t end up having shredded sofas and paw-markings on the front door.

Promote Independence

It is also important to make your dog’s house or spot clean, habitable and healthy for your pet.  The less conducive the place is, the more the animal would like leave in oder to go to you. This would further strengthen the animal’s attachment with the owner. However, if you let the animal feel comfortable where it is supposed to stay, eventually, your dog will learn to “stay”, and actually enjoy it.  Treating separation anxiety in dogs is important to the health of your pet and to maintaining order in your home.

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I highly recommend that all dog owners crate their dogs.   Some people believe that crating your dog is cruel.This is completely untrue.Instinctually, dogs feel safe in their den. It is a greate way to give them a place to sleep and relax.   By nature, a dog in its den will be calm and settled.I highly recommend to crate your dog.  It will help with dog separation anxiety

There are a couple of added benefits to crating your dog separation anxiety.  The first thing that crating your dog gives you is peace of mind while you are gone.Dogs are comfortable is crates that are big enough for them to stand and lay sideways in.You dogs collar should be removed before you put them in their crate.Collars can get stuck in Vari-Kennel and wire crates.Unfortunately, dog have been killed from this.

If your pet has chewed your furnishings or caused household damage, this is the quickest and most simple way to ensure that this no longer happens is to crate you dog while you are away.Bitter Apple from the pet shop can be used to cover the spots in the crate your dog chews.If your dog has escaped from it’s crate, get one that is sturdier and harder to break.   Some people need to buy aluminum crates to hold their dogs.

Another positive thing about putting your dog in a crate is it is less likely to go to the bathroom at home. Your dog will try its hardest not to soil its den.If your dog has accidents in the house and has severe separation anxiety, keeping your dog in their crate can reduce accidents and minimize the damage to your home.

Most dogs accept thier crate! I recommend having a crate available for you dog all of the time. You can always remove the door once your puppy has grown up and can be trusted. Of course, if your dog has separation anxiety, you’ll want to keep that door on!

Dog separation anxiety can be become a major, expensive problem when left untreated.  Be sure to spend the time to get the issues solved now!

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Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.In fact, it’s the second most common reason for people to give up their dogs or even have them put to sleep. 

You can improve your dog’s life by identifying the signs of the condition, and learning how to deal with it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

The severity of bad behavior can vary widely in dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself. 

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• The destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he’s amusing himself by destroying things, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s by himself.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.Not only does he follow you all over the house, but he wants you to hold him all the time.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

If your pet does some, or all, of these things, his dog behavior problem is because of separation anxiety, not boredom.

How To Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own. 

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.He feels responsible for his pack members, and if you go away, he thinks something might happen to you.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

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