Do you have a dog with separation anxiety disorder, also known as canine separation syndrome? Perhaps you do but do not realize it. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety will try to express themselves to their owners in ways that are often misinterpreted.

Does your puppy follow you everywhere and try to climb into your lap or snuggle up close to your feet when you sit down? Do you have the perfect cute and cuddlesome puppy?

Is your new dog overly protective towards you when anyone or anything comes close to you or your home? Do you have the perfect guard dog?

Do you have a puppy that chews your table leg or rips up cushions when you are away or a dog that is continually digging under the fence, scratching at the door or being generally destructive?

These may be the actions of an anxious puppy dog that we unwittingly reward or incorrectly punish.

How you react to any of the situations above will determine the behavior of your dog. Our reaction is usually wrong because the actions all point to one thing, Canine Separation Anxiety Disorder and we did not know.

So how do we know they have the illness and what do we need to do.

1. Understand the symptoms.

The symptoms of separation anxiety may emerge as chewing, biting, involuntary urination, barking, scratching, as well as acting overly clingy and more.

It usually manifests itself:

  • Just before a departure – When she knows you are leaving, she will be overly clingy and distressed.
  • During a departure – She will try desperately to get to you by scratching the door or possibly digging under the fence.  If left in the yard she may chew and destroy everything in sight due to panic and frustration.
  • Immediately upon return – She may be excessively anxious to greet you. Her excitement may also cause involuntary urination.

2. Understand what contributes to separation anxiety.

If you got the puppy from a breeder, was she removed from the litter too early? The first 6 – 8 weeks is the formative period when the puppy is learning social skills and establishing itself in the pack. To be removed too early can cause devastating effects on a puppy’s life.

If the dog came from an animal shelter or city pound, there is no telling what they lived through before being abandoned. The usual thought with rescue dogs is that they have had a harsh life.  However it may very well be that they had a very good home and are now separated from their family for whatever reason.  It is important to take things like this into account when dealing with your puppy-dog.

3. Do not add to the problem.

If your dog indicates any of the symptoms such as following you everywhere or climbing in your lap all the time, do not encourage it. It may appear cute which, let’s face it, is probably one of the reason that you got her in the first place, but it is important not to let it develop into a dependency problem.

Alternatively, if she is destructive or causes problems while you are away, do not punish her. She will not be able to relate the punishment to the action and it will only exacerbate the problem. Besides, you cannot punish your puppy for doing something that you did not train her not to do.

There is a proper cause of action to correct this behavior.

4. Remove the anxiety.

There are actions that we take which actually trigger the anxiety in our dogs. The trick is to recognize those triggers and remove them. Triggers may be extra stimulus from us by fussing the dog in an effort to remove anxiety or simply putting on a coat before we leave.

Do not use punishment, use correction. Punishment will only increase the anxiety and does not remove it. The correct action is obedience training to improve their behavior.

5. Learn how to obedience train.

This is something that you can do at home and has several benefits:

  • You do not incur the expense of a training class.
  • The training relates to actions at home, such as departure,that cannot be taught in a class room.
  • You interact and create a bond which will remain with you forever.

The important thing about obedience training is that you be consistent in your commands at all times so that both you and your dog know what is expected.

Take time to use the correct exercises to train your dog if he suffers from Canine Separation Anxiety Disorder. It does take time but it does work.

Learn more about Canine Separation Anxiety Disorder – What it is and How to Control It as well as other dog training information.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ian Patterson has over 30 year’s experience in dog behavior and obedience training. He is currently documenting his extensive knowledge about dogs on his website Obedient Dog Behavior His ever growing site gives information on dog behavior, care and obedience training and will soon become a leading online source of canine information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Patterson

Edited by Dog Training Tips <http://www.dogtrainingtips.com>

Filed under: Separation Anxiety

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