How to Stop Separation Anxiety

As I seek to find my visitors higher quality information regarding how to stop separation anxiety, I quite often stumble on a great piece of content that genuinely attracts my interest. The following piece of writing about the said subject unquestionably fits that description. It really does a pretty effective job telling you what to look for when you're trying to stop separation anxiety in your pet, and I believe that you’ll find it really beneficial just like I did.

What is Pet Separation Anxiety?

Pet Separation Anxiety can be one of the most common problems that dogs develop. Just like humans, it's an anxiety disorder, which is a state of intense panic brought on by the dog's isolation/separation from its owner(s). Or in plain English, in the morning, when you leave for work, your dog goes into a state of nervous anxiety and usually will intensify very quickly.

Dogs are social - they want lots of company, love and social interaction to keep their tails wagging. There is no dog that likes to be alone for long stretches of time, however there are some dogs that do much worse than others: these are the ones that will suffer the most to separation anxiety. Here are some of the contributing causes to the Pet Separation Anxiety:

There are particular breeds which are genetically predisposed towards insecurity and anxiety. This is extremely important to know and should be considered when deciding which breed you're most interested in (especially if you have long work hours or take a lot of trips that would leave your dog alone for long periods of time).

Most notably, breeds such as Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales fall into this category. It's extremely sad to witness a dog that has major separation anxiety. My neighbor owned a Weimaraner and the poor dog would wail and cry the entire time she was gone during the day. She even tried keeping him in a crate, but his crying could still be heard from inside my house.

Another large proportion of dogs from rescue shelters develop Pet Separation Anxiety.  Many of these 'shelter dogs' have experienced extreme trauma in their lives - they've been abandoned by their previous owners, leaving them extremely confused and unable to trust their new-found owner (you). Dogs are very sensitive and it could take them a long time to understand that you won't abandon them too. When dogs are separated from their mothers and siblings too early, they can also exhibit signs of Pet Separation Anxiety.

As an example, puppies from pet stores can be taken from their mothers and siblings well before the earliest recommend age (considered to be 8 weeks) Then, on top of that, they are confined to a small glass kennel in the pet store from any length of time between just a few weeks all the up to two months. Taking the puppy away from mom and siblings, coupled with lack of exercise and affection while in the pet store, is psychologically traumatic for the dog.

So what is the biggest reason for Pet Separation Anxiety? Not surprisingly, neglect is the number one cause of Pet separation anxiety for dogs. If you're at work or away from home for longer periods than you're at home, Separation Anxiety is pretty much inevitable. Your dog needs your love, affection, and attention to stay content and happy.

There are methods to positively dealing with Pet Separation Anxiety. It takes lots of love and patience both from you and your dog. There are so many actions that we as owners think is helping our dog, but in reality, these actions can be very negative signals for your dog. In the next part, "How to Cure Pet Separation Anxiety", we will go into more detail about what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do.

Also, if you're interested in a more detailed look at dealing with your dog's Pet Separation Anxiety, or any problematic dog behaviors, such as digging and chewing, How To Train Your Dog is a fantastic resource. It's definitely a wonderful learning tool for anyone who wants to deal constructively and in a positive light with their dog's problem behaviors. All of the common behavioral problems are examined in great detail. There's also a very informative section on obedience commands, as well as tricks too.

Tracy Middleton

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