Many of us know the terrible sound of our dogs crying and whining when we leave them home by themselves. Some of them destroy valuable items or get into things that are very dangerous to their health. My own dogs have gotten into prescription medications and ended up at the emergency room costing more money and heartache. I would like to share with you the dog separation anxiety cure that worked for me and my dogs.
The first thing you can do is to not make a big deal about leaving and returning. Be sure to practice leaving and returning. Make sure you exit and enter for varied periods of time, going through the same routine you would go through for a five minute outing as you would if you were going away for the entire day. This way your dogs will never know if you are gone for a two minutes or ten hours. This is the most important aspect of the dog separation anxiety training.
When you return be sure to take no notice of the dog, showing them that it is not big deal that you were not home. Once they have calmed down you can give them a brief pat. Do not reward excitement.
The next most important thing you can do to cure separation anxiety in dogs is give them something to do when you are not there. The thing that works best for me is a Kong stuffed with things your dog likes, their dinner, applesauce, blueberries, or whatever treats your dog likes best. I like to use a mix of wet and dry ingredients and freeze the kong so that it takes them a long time to get the filling out. This way they get a mental workout and might even take a little nap while you are away.
In order to cure separation anxiety in dogs do not leave the dog with access to watch the outside world go by. This may cause additional stress to the dog if he/she sees other dogs or people walking by and they feel they need to guard the house. Also leave a radio on. Studies have shown that classical music is the most soothing to dogs with separation anxiety.
A couple other important aspects of the dog separation anxiety training More tips from the separation anxiety cure: purchase Rescue Remedy and put a few drops on their gums or inside ear flap about an hour before you leave. You can also get a plug-in of Dog Appeasing Pharamone (DAP) or a spray that you can spray on their bed or on a bandanna around their neck to help them stay calm while you are away from home.
Make sure to give your dog plenty of exercise physically and mentally every day. Dogs who do not get out of their house and yard are not having their needs met and may have built up energy that comes out as anxiety. A minimum twenty-minute walk most days is a great way to help them meet their need to roam with their pack. If you have an energetic dog you may need to bike or jog to help cure separation anxiety in dogs
Equally as important is to integrate mentally stimulation into your daily routine. Dogs need to be challenged mentally as well as physically. Take an rally-o course so that you can build a deeper connection with your anxious dog. Training with your dog can be just as tiring (if not more) than physical exercise and is a great way to build your connection!
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