Some dogs with separation anxiety have been mis-treated before in the past. In these instances, the dog may be afraid anytime the new owner leaves. These dogs bond with their new owners to a much greater extent than most normal dogs. Although the bond is strong, it can be destructive as in many cases dogs with separation anxiety destroy property. In addition to the destruction of property, a dog experiencing separation anxiety may also act as though he is not properly potty trained.
I have a dog with separation anxiety and when I've gone out of town for even just a few days, my dog has used the carpet as her potty. She's normally a very well behaved dog, but even though I hire wonderful pet sitters who let her out often, she chooses this method to act out. It's her way of letting me know she's not happy that I left. On one other trip, she even tore up her own dog bed.
While destructive and discouraging, there are some ways to control and hopefully lessen the degree of the dog's anxiety. They are listed below:
? Act as if you are leaving the house but before the dog starts to get nervous and bark, come back in. This way, the owner is not reinforcing barking but rather silence and relaxation. Do this many times. Next, leave the house, but come right back in. Again, before the barking. Continue this with longer times away, be aware you, as the owner must proceed extremely slow with this behavior modification training.
? Pick up your keys but rather than leaving the house, go sit on the couch and watch T.V.
? Change your leaving routine until your dog does not pay attention anymore.
? Do NOT give your dog a lot of attention when you leave the house. The bigger deal the owner makes out of leaving the house, the more upset the dog will become.
? Leave the T.V. on for the dog when you leave. Make sure the temperature is comfortable, there is light in the house, toys to play with, one of your old shirts on the floor with your scent on it.
? Upon return, do not may a big deal out of it by giving the dog lots of praise. Also, if they dog has done something destructive (chewed up a shoe?) do not punish him. He will then associate punishment with you coming home.
? Lastly, if the dog's separation anxiety is extreme and severe, there are medications available for this condition. Keep in mind it will not solve the problem, however it will treat it. See your vet.
So remember, while your dog wants to be good, separation anxiety is so powerful, your dog may not have a choice with his or her bad behavior during an episode. Your dog may be acting out without thinking. Try the tips above to help get your dog's separation anxiety under control.
If you are an owner that has a dog with dog separation anxiety, the thought of leaving your dog when you go away on a vacation may seem extremely frustrating and daunting. Dogs with separation anxiety feel extremely anxiety when they're away from their owners and you're probably worried about how he'll respond in your absence. In this article, we'll discuss how to choose a professional dog sitter for your dog with dog separation anxiety. We'll discuss how to find a great sitter as well as the questions to ask to evaluate their professionalism and credibility. In the end, you'll have the tools you need to find a great sitter. So, without further adieu, let's get started:
First of all, you should get sitter recommendation from other pet owners whose dogs have dog separation anxiety. If you don't know of anyone, ask your veterinarian or your local humane society for a referral. You can also look in your local phonebook and then contact local sitters to see if they have experience with this condition. Once you find some suitable prospects, write down their contact information.
Next, you will take your list and contact all prospects by phone in order to conduct a preliminary interview. Here are some questions:
-Are you available on XYZ date?
-What are your prices and what does this include?
-Do you have any experience with dogs with special needs?
-Are you available for home interview?
After you have narrowed down the prospects, invite them over to your house and see how they interact with your dog. Are they friendly, caring and trustworthy? Do they have a good animal rapport? Do you feel comfortable in their presence? Do they have good communication skills?
Next, you'll want to conduct an in person interview. During this process, your goal is to learn as much as you can about your prospects as possible.. Here are some samples questions you should ask:
-Can you explain what dog separation anxiety entails?
-Have you ever worked with dogs with this type of condition before?
-Do you have any special training or certification in the pet sitting field?
-What will you do if my dog becomes ill or experiences dog separation symptoms?
-Do you have any liability insurance that covers accident or negligence on your part?
-Are you bonded against theft?
-Do you have reliable transportation?
-Can you please confirm your costs, what this entails?
-During a visit, will you interact and play with my dog?
-Will you record my dog's daily activities for me?
-Are you comfortable administering medications to dogs?
-Do you have a replacement sitter in case you can't perform your duties?
If so, can I meet with the back up person?
Listen carefully to the prospect's answers and keep a visual record of their response. Before they leave, obtain references and other relevant documentations. Once they're gone, jot down your initial impressions. Once you make a selection, verify references and follow up with the prospect. You may even want to sign a contract at this point.
Before you leave for your trip, visit with your new pet sitter one more time. Be clear about emergency and administration of any medications. Make sure that your new pet sitter has your veterinarian's contact information as well as emergency contact for you while you're away. Once you do this, you should feel confident that you've made the right decision and that your dog is in good hands!
Both Lisa Nobles & Jacqueline Harris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lisa Nobles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Foreign Language, Cure Anxiety and Pets. If your dog's separation anxiety is getting you down and resulting in problems, then visit. Lisa Nobles's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Jacqueline Harris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cure Anxiety, Pets and Lose Weight. Is your dog traumatized when you leave him alone? Don't get mad or frustrated. He may be suffering from dog separation anxiety. Learn proven and humane tips to help him overcome dog separation anxiety once and for all! Visit. Jacqueline Harris's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.