Fear Of Separation (fear Of Separation) In Dogs

Fear Of Separation (fear Of Separation) In Dogs
Fear Of Separation (fear Of Separation) In Dogs

Video: Fear Of Separation (fear Of Separation) In Dogs

Video: Fear Of Separation (fear Of Separation) In Dogs
Video: How to STOP Your Dog's Separation Anxiety (MUST TRY) 2024, March
Anonim

Dogs are social animals, so it's no surprise that they get very anxious when you leave them alone. With your help, your dog can learn to behave calmly when you leave him alone for a while. If you teach this to your dog, you will take care of it and it will make its life more peaceful.

What is considered a manifestation of fear of separation, and what is not? A dog at the age when it chews everything so that its teeth develop normally does not feel the fear of separation. If you leave her alone in the house, where she can chew on anything so as not to feel the discomfort associated with the growth of teeth, it will be a real disaster for you.

The pug looks out from behind the chair, photo photo of the dog
The pug looks out from behind the chair, photo photo of the dog

A dog that is not accustomed to living in the house, and a dog that has been left alone for too long, also does not experience separation anxiety.

When the first "chewing" period passes and when the dog seems to be accustomed to life in the house, the owners usually decide that it is time to leave the puppy alone. This usually occurs between 5-7 months of age. Some time passes, and suddenly the puppy begins its "destructive chewing". This is an indicator that your puppy's teeth are growing properly, but you may think that this is a fear of separation.

Be prepared for your puppy to need your help to learn not to chew anything. Do not leave your dog unattended when surrounded by things that are dear to you or that could harm him until he is really ready for it. And the dog will be ready when he learns to chew only his toys and not touch the things of the owners. This also takes time - up to two years, depending on the breed.

Where to begin? So that the dog can safely stay at home alone, it is better to start accustoming it to this from childhood. Dog breeders can be advised to find small boxes for each puppy and gradually train them to sleep in them separately. The puppy will know that he has to spend a certain amount of time in the box and his body will adjust to this regime - so he will not want to go to the toilet while in the box.

Regardless of whether the puppy is accustomed to a separate box or not, the first night in your house will be stressful for him, because he will be away from the canine and human family, which he associated with safety. It's no surprise that your puppy will call someone for help when you leave him alone. If such a puppy is left alone in the wild, he will die.

Puppies have a full set of instincts that develop as they get older. If you want to support your puppy's instinct to cry for help when no one is around, then just run to your puppy every time he whines. Soon you will achieve that your puppy will be hysterical every time he is left alone.

If you still cannot bear it and go to the puppy when he calls for help, then next time he will bark and whine even more persistently. The puppy will understand that he just needs to be more persistent, and then you will certainly come to him. That is, it turns out that you will reward the puppy for his long screams. To avoid this problem, stay away from your puppy when he is noisy. Always wait for him to calm down.

You can make it easier for your puppy to get used to the box by first placing the box in a room with people until he gets used to it. The box should be a resting place for your puppy. Dogs sleep more than 14 hours a day. The box is needed to keep the dog safe - a relaxation haven, not a prison.

The fear of separation and the intense stress of being in the box can only develop if the dog is kept there for too long. If this happens, then it will be very difficult to get the dog to sit quietly in the box. It is very important to avoid such an oversight.

To calculate how many hours a puppy can be alone in a box, use this formula: puppy age (months) + 1. In other words, an eight week (2 month) puppy needs a short break after 3 hours. The absolute maximum time spent in the box is 8 hours (at any age).

Some dogs simply cannot physically endure an eight hour stay in a box. Some may take longer, but with each such case, the risk of separation anxiety increases. If you are at home and awake, periodically remove the dog from the box (until the parenting process is complete - at least once an hour) so that he can go to the toilet.

Leaving your dog with his favorite toys can also help reduce his risk of separation anxiety. Different dogs like different toys. Three toys of different structures that can be chewed will suit the puppy. Check the safety of the toys with your puppy before leaving him alone with them. If all goes well, at the same time your puppy will learn to chew only specially designed toys and behave calmly in your absence, as well as develop the ability to hold back the bladder and intestines.

If you have several dogs, you need to separate them from each other sometimes. Long-term cohabitation is unfavorable for their mental health. Separate them from each other periodically during your absence. Then your dogs will get used to it, and will not experience severe stress when, for any reason, you have to separate them for a while.

You come and go. No matter how old your dog is, you should be calm when you leave and when you come. Many people do it with difficulty.

You may feel guilty when you leave your dog alone. Therefore, you say goodbye to the dog for a very long time and emotionally. Or maybe you are worried about what the dog might do in your absence, and you are severely berating the dog in advance. Either way, you are simply increasing the dog's anxiety. Don't be tempted. Just walk away calmly.

The same happens to some when they return home - this is an emotional moment. Some people really like it when a dog greets them like crazy. If you encourage this madness, you may encounter problems such as a scratched door, damaged window frames, your dog can attack another dog or cat, and damage everything in the house if you delay opening the door even a little. The risk of breaking up fear will be increased.

You shouldn't indulge your dog if it thinks you are the most wonderful person in the world and expresses its love for you in the craziest way possible. There are other, more appropriate ways in which your dog can express his love and respect for you. Come into the house calmly, and let the dog understand that your arrival is an absolutely ordinary situation, that he has no reason to go crazy.

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