MARCH 2008 ISSUE

“Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust……" Roger Caras

Ideally, we need our dogs to feel secure and safe enough to be left alone and let us occasionally lead lives outside their domain. Do you have a problem with your dog howling, raiding the trashcan, chewing up your belongings, vomiting, soiling the rug or floor, or even digging and scratching around doors or windows when left alone?  Other compulsions include obsessive licking and scratching to the point of injury and refusal to eat food until the owner returns.

This month we’ll focus on Separation Anxiety and so-called ‘Velcro Dogs’.

As pack animals, dogs are social creatures and prefer company. One who is well socialized and left alone early on may simply resign itself to temporary separation and wait calmly for your return. He’s probably not happy about being left alone, but experience tells him you’ll be back before long. (And, even dogs well cared for from birth can become overly attached to their owners; more on that, below.) However, if your dog was separated from his mother too early or has a history of being abandoned and/or unsuccessful adoptions, he’s learned from experience that you might never be coming home.

Following are other factors known to bring on or contribute to anxiety:

- The family’s move to a new location.

- Changes in routine, such as a close family member going back to work or school.

- Divorce, or the move or death of a family member or another pet.

- An addition to the family of a new baby or pet.

- A traumatic weather related event occurring while your pet was alone.

Though this is a complicated (though common) condition and can’t simply be talked (or barked) about to reassure your pet, following are some strategies to calm and change anxious behavior:

 - Never punish your dog for misbehavior due to anxiety; this will only reinforce her stress.

v Most likely, your dog’s hearing is finely tuned to your actions and the sounds of impending departure: a closet door opening, a jacket zipping and keys jiggling will put her in a state of high alert. Try to condition her out of this by occasionally performing these acts throughout the day without leaving. 

v Gradually desensitize your dog to being alone by leaving for very short intervals; 5 minutes at most and extend to 10 and than 15 minutes. If your dog doesn’t appear stressed, try 30 minutes. Very gradually lengthen the times until you’ve reached an hour and a half to two hours without signs of stress. If your dog can reach that time frame alone, it’s safe to assume he can be left for longer stretches.

v If you have a new puppy or older dog, be sure to crate-train early on and follow the above time steps.

v  If your dog is already trained and feels most secure in his crate, leave him there if you won’t be gone too long and if you’re sure he will be safe while confined.

v Try exercising your pet before leaving; he’s more likely to sleep if tired out.

v Provide a chew toy or stuff a ‘Kong’ with goodies to occupy your pet.

v Don’t ‘stimulate’ your dog’s anxiety by making a fuss about either departures or returns. Quietly leave and return without announcement and without praising your dog. You want her to believe that your absence is no big deal.

v If your dog doesn’t associate a radio or T.V. with previous isolation anxiety, leave one playing softly in the background.

v Limit your dog’s space; a large empty house can be overwhelming to an already anxious pet.

Many owners now leave their dogs at ‘Doggy Day Care’ Centers while they work. For those who can afford it, this can be a great solution. Day care workers, however, report that owners complain of a higher incidence of weekend separation anxiety, since their dogs have gotten used to being around other dogs all day!

For further guidance, see Patricia McConnell’s book: ‘I’ll Be Home Soon.

Our Chantilly shop is delighted to announce that Alison Wolfe gave birth to a baby girl in January. Her name is Alexandra Grace Hall.

Written by Rebecca Nilson-Owens

FEATHERLE PET CARE

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