Behavior problems
are at the top
of the list
of unhappy
dog owners. Each year dogs
are abandoned, put out
of their adapted homes, or put
to sleep
because of bad behavior. Destructiveness, excessive
vocalization, and house
soiling are
the most common signs
of separation
anxiety. These
bad habits occur when
the dog is separated from its owner.
Dogs are
considered pack animals,
so they prefer
to be part
of a group,
and have a
pack leader
to follow and look up to. The
dogs owner becomes
the pack leader
in the
eyes of the
dog, and when the leader
isnt there to follow, the
dog feels
abandoned. This
abandonment leads
to anxiety and frustration
which the
dog has
to deal
with, the
only way he knows how, what we call bad behavior.
Positive indications
of separation anxiety are bad behavior primarily when
your dog is left
alone, he follows
you everywhere
you go, he becomes
overexcited when
you return home, he becomes excited or
depressed when you prepare to leave home, or
if he dislikes being alone out of doors.
Separation anxiety is not due to disobedience or lack of training.
It is
an instinctive behavior and should not be punished. The key to
treating this problem is to
gradually train or
condition your dog to get used to your absence.
When you leave home or
return home make it a
low key event.
Begin by leaving your dog alone at home
for only a few minutes for the
first few
days or so. Then gradually lengthen your
leaves in the weeks
ahead. Also you should try to very your leaves at
different times of the day so
as not to create a pattern or habit. To
yelp ease his anxiety, you can leave your dog an article of clothing that has your
scent on it.
Remember, you are attempting to break your dogs old
habit of dependency on you, so you must develop
new habits and condition your dog to accept
them. It takes time, patience, and love, but in the end it is well
worth the effort.
Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones
have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed
http://Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and
more. Check
them out at
http://www.joncopets.com