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Seperation Anxiety
What is "Separation Anxiety"?
Why does it haunt so many Dog Owners everywhere?

By The Canine Caretaker
© Canine Caretaker


   If an owner purchases one pup and spends extensive amounts of time in the company of this pup whether it be just in the same room or house or with training, playing and cuddling.

    Then after a few weeks or maybe months (without much notice given by the owners) the owners decides to go back to school or work or spend increasing amounts of time away from the home visiting, shopping, gardening or something where the pup cannot attend or be by the owner's side.

    This can bring on "Separation Anxiety".

    The other scenario is in the opposite end when a pup is purchased and immediately brought into a life that offers possible daycare for large amounts of time during the day or kenneled for extensive amounts of time and possibly fed by numerous people at various times throughout any given week and basically has not been able to establish where he belongs or to whom or to set roots for security in a home environment.

    Any of the above circumstances may find the owners noticing destructive behaviour patterns in their dogs, mood swings from day to day or maybe from week to week, the lack of attention or willingness to learn, the need to revert back to puppy behaviour by soiling their beds or nearby surroundings and the list goes on.

    Sometimes these problems hit hard and fast and can be recognized for what they are and the owner feels responsible enough to seek help and/or advice into the new or strange behaviour. Sometimes these signs within the dog are noticed a little at a time with the owners not taking much noticed or giving it much concern, explaining it away as a puppy thing until it becomes a greater problem than they can handle or becomes more consistent to the point that they have to notice or show concern. By then, days, weeks and sometimes months have passed.

    The latter is the most difficult to determine and to solve because of the time lapse that can occur from when the "anxiety" first appeared in the dog and to when the owners finally noticed. In most cases the problem signs have gone on long enough that it is no longer just a personality quirk but and bad habit and a real behaviour problem. Every dog is different as is every owner. How well an owner reads their dog, how quick they are to recognize any strange signs and how fast they learn to seek help to curb these problems will also vary with every owner.

    To help solve an already on-going problem of 'separation anxiety’ ~ an entirely separte Article need be written.

    For those that need the help immediately, seek out a Behavioural Consultant or experienced Trainer to assist you on a more personal basis. To look into this situation a little deeper and find a way to ‘prevent’ this from happening to you and your dog, please read on.

    I believe the ‘key’ to minimizing ‘separation anxiety’ from occurring is to ‘Socialize’ your pup at a young age and continuously throughout their life.

    The word ‘Socialize’ can be a big word with many definitions but the true definition is as follows;
  1. introduction to a daycare for a few hours each day or a kennel by themselves for various amounts of time and various times during one day and at different times each week, the basement by themselves to play and amuze without the sound or presence of humans. (Crate Training is the perfect option in this case; a place to be away from human contact for short periods of time, to rest or sleep or maybe snack a favourite treat or chew a favorite toy.)


  2. introduction, on a regular basis, with strange people; of all ages, sexes, races, dress code, etc. This includes mailmen, police officers, children, handicapped people, quiet and loud people, relatives, etc..


  3. introduction to many different locations; parks, beaches, mall parking lots, airports, train/bus stations, etc..


  4. introductions to different environments; rain, sun, snow, dark days, bright days, stormy days, quiet days, country life, city life, etc..



  5. introduction to misunderstood objects; garbage cans, lawn mowers, brooms, ironing boards, steam from a train, rakes, event objects such as frisbees, baseball, soccer, playgrounds, etc..


  6. Mix’n’Match all of the above in a positive and reinforcing manner. Be patient. Do not force but do not buckle under pressure either. Use coaxing, treats, a friendly and a happy voice tone. (i.e.: to the beach on a hot summer day with children playing ball, building sandcastles and radios, bottles opening, people laughing - then maybe the same beach on a stormy day with few people that are dressed in dark clothing and hats and umbrellas, waves splashing, thunder roaring, perhaps place him in a crate while you go back to the car for that favourite toy, etc.)
    Now this is Not to say that All dogs Have to endure Each and Every one of the above suggestions - but . . . the More the Merrier.

    A Balance Must be struck between the ‘Quality’ time you share with your dog and the ‘Quantity’ of time away from you all together. You must try not to pamper too much but at the same time do not neglect.

    You might be saying to yourself that this whole article is a waste of breath. To you I say the following;

    "Consider yourself lucky. It is not that you have done the right things in raising your dog OR that you have acquired a sound temperament and balanced personality with your dog BUT All Of The Above."

    Congratulations! There are others that are not so lucky.



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