Introduction
Some
dogs are genetically more relaxed
than others. However any dog
can exhibit signs of anxiety
such as whining, barking, digging,
escaping, inappropriate elimination
or household destruction. More
subtle symptoms include trembling,
salivating, hiding, or lack
of appetite. Common causes of
dog anxiety include separation
from the owner, inappropriate
punishment, lack of exercise,
lack of training, unclear hierarchy,
or medical discomfort. The diagnosis
of Separation Anxiety is only
true when the symptoms occur
within 30 minutes of leaving,
or while the key attachment
figure is gone.
If
Separation Anxiety is confirmed
in your dog, follow these steps
in order, and under the supervision
of an animal behaviorist.
Medical
Workup
Rule out physical stress. If
there is any underlying minor
source of pain or discomfort,
this will be accentuated during
separation anxiety. For example,
mild, minor dental pain or bladder
inflammation. During stress,
the jaw and abdomen are clenched,
resulting in increased pain,
contributing to the perceived
problem of separation. The exact
tests are up to the veterinarian,
but the goal is to rule out
conditions that do NOT CURRENTLY
HAVE SYMPTOMS. This might routinely
include the following tests:
|
Veterinary
Test |
Looking
for: |
| Complete
Physical Examination |
Any
source of pain: Dental;
Skin; Joints |
| CBC |
Anemia
(Cerebral Hypoxia); Allergy;
Infection |
| Serology |
Internal organ function:
Liver; Kidney; Pancreas |
| T4
|
Thyroid
is the most common hormone
to cause problems |
| UA |
Urinary tract infection
or inflammation; crystals;
stones |
|
Fecal |
Intestinal Parasites; Diarrhea;
Dietary Intolerance |
Begin
Psychoactive Medication
With many cases of separation
anxiety, medication is routinely
used. The goal of the medication
is to increase serotonin levels
in the brain, which are associated
(in people) with reports of
a calm relaxed mental state.
The medication is used both
to alleviate the symptoms, and
to speed up the retraining process
to get results more quickly.
In most cases, the medication
is tapered and discontinued
after a few months. In some
cases the medication is necessary
for life. Medication can only
be prescribed by a veterinarian
after a medical exam and workup.
These meds cannot be used in
dogs with heart disease or seizures.
Most veterinarians consider
the new medication, "CLOMICALM"
both safe and effective in 80%+
of cases, when combined with
behavior modification.
Document
Existing Departure Symptoms
What symptoms are present associated
with owner leaving? (Check all
ever observed)
| _ Withdrawal/Hiding |
_
Licking causing skin lesions |
| _ Pacing/Non-destructive
activity |
_ Loud
disruptive vocalization |
| _ Yawning |
_ Urination |
| _ Temporary
anorexia |
_
Defecation |
| _
Soft vocalization |
_ Diarrhea |
| _ Trembling |
_ Vomiting |
| _ Salivation |
_ Destruction |
| _ Licking
environment |
Other
_______________________ |
Desensitize
Departure Cues
Use decreasing
Departure Symptoms to
monitor progress
Try to determine if the onset
of any departure symptoms, are
linked to a cue the owner gives
the dog that departure is about
to take place. This departure
cue is the event, which
triggers the departure symptom
in the dog. Once identified,
begin to desensitize the cue,
by implementing it repeatedly,
and randomly in the dog's
presence without involving the
dog. The only interaction should
be praising calm behavior if
it is observed. Examples of
departure cues might include:
|
_ Keys |
_
Briefcase |
| _ Shoes |
_ Jacket |
| _ Purse |
_ Opening
a specific (closet?) door |
Ignore
Any Attempts At Attention Seeking
Receiving attention acts as
anxiety reducing on demand.
Since this can only be done
when the owner is home, it emphasizes
the difference; home vs. gone.
Make the dog "earn"
any attention by sitting, or
practicing the long down stay.
After the dog earns the attention,
give brief calm praise. Gradually
increase the duration of the
DOWN-STAY as part of the therapy
of teaching the dog to be calm
while separated by gradually
increasing distances.
|
Dogs
with an anxiety complex
always see punishment as
an unpredictable attack,
and it increases anxiety.
|
Praise
Calm Behavior
Begin to look for any time the
dog is laying or just relaxing
around the house. Praise this
using the word "Settle."
For example, "Good Settle,
Good Settle Fido." The
goal is for the dog to get more
attention for calm, than for
anxious behavior.
Avoid
Punishment, Seek Reliability
If you find destruction, house
soiling or other signs, do not
punish the dog, or let the dog
see you clean up the mess. (Cleaning
up a mess may be misinterpreted
by the dog as indirect attention.)
Dogs
with an anxiety complex always
see punishment as an unpredictable
attack, and it increases anxiety.
Instead work daily (30x/day)
on Instructions like SIT or DOWN-STAY,
where the dog can count on a
reward in exchange for following
a reliable course. Verbal corrections
such as "NO" or
"AT AT" when caught
in the act is acceptable to
interrupt the bad behavior,
then give a Instruction like SIT
and reward, or redirect into
chewing and praise chewing on
a chew toy.
Initiate
Increased Exercise
Try to double or triple the
current level of exercise outside
the premises. The dog should
be panting and lay down immediately
upon returning home. If arthritis
is a factor, use 1 aspirin per
50 lbs. after exercise, and
limit exercise as per attending
DVM instructions. The ideal
time to give exercise is ending
at least one half hour before
the regular departure. This
strategy leaves the dog tired,
and yet the timing is not associated
with the departure.
Avoid
Emotional Greetings Or Departures
These events are linked to the
canine reality of loneliness.
The goal is to de-signify these
events. Instead of greeting
a dog who is acting wild, give
the SIT Instruction. If (when) the
dog ignores this opportunity
for a greeting, just walk past
and ignore the dog for several
seconds. The rule is when the
dog is calm enough to sit for
a greeting, the greeting occurs.
Begin
Independence Training
While owner is home, teach long
down-stay Instruction, crate training,
and close tether training. Start
with the dog confined near the
owner, and praise calm posture
and behavior. Begin to confine
the dog gradually farther away.
Keep under the stress symptom
threshold. Ignore attempts to
solicit attention. Praise calm
quiet. The goal is to teach
the dog that calm independence
is associated with eventual
return of the owner.
If
the dog tends to follow the
owner from one room to the other,
begin to close the dog on the
other side of the door for gradually
increasing periods. Here is
a sample scenario:
Close
the door with the dog on the
other side, and immediately
begin praising quiet.
- "Good Quiet, good dog
Fido; Good Quiet."
Open the door after only a few
seconds, give calm brief praise,
then close the door (separated).
- "Good Quiet, (wait 5
seconds), "Good Quiet
for 5 seconds, good dog"
(Wait 10 seconds)
Open the door and give calm
brief praise, then close the
door (separated).
- "Good Quiet,"
(work up to timed 1 minute of
separation) then move away from
the door.
Praise quiet, calm behavior
in gradually increasing increments.
There can be some variation,
e.g. 1 minute, 3 minutes, 2
minutes, 5 minutes, etc. However,
the overall trend should be
to gradually teach the dog to
be relaxed, while separated
from the owner.
Off
The Furniture
Until the symptoms are gone,
do not allow the dog on any
furniture, and especially it
is not allowed on the owner's
bed. Either crate the dog next
to the bed, or tether on a pet
bed on the floor. Avoid any
extended contact between dog
and person.
Avoid
Extended Physical Contact
Separation Anxiety dogs tend
to like to be touching their
favorite person, whenever that
person is home. This is flattering
to the person, but worsens the
symptoms. The dog should not
be allowed to touch the owner
without SITTING first, and then
for only brief petting. The
dog should work on DOWN-STAY
with plenty of praise, for laying
gradually farther away.
Use
Distractions When You Leave
The House
The goal is to make the dog
see the owner leaving has its
own reward. The dog should see
that something good happens
when the owner leaves. The critical
time is approximately one hour
after the owner leaves. Feed
the dog as leaving to associate
food with leaving. Even better
is to make the meal last longer
with the use of a Buster Cube,
Kong Toy or other device. The
food is hidden inside these
toys, and the dog spends time
trying to get at the food.
It
is advisable to teach the dog
how to use these toys when the
owner is home at first. If the
dog tends to ignore the toy,
increase the taste stimulus
of the food treat. Examples
are soft cheese, pieces of hot
dog or freeze dried liver, peanut
butter or liverwurst. Teaching
the dog to use the toy consists
of the owner showing interest
in the toy, and praising any
interest shown by the dog. The
owner may have to hold, or turn
the toy to release some food
at first. Then the owner praises
the dog for consuming the material.
Once the dog is using the toy
regularly, it can be introduced
at departure. Another trick
is to freeze the dog food, slowing
its consumption.
Vary
Your Departure
Try leaving through a different
door. If you commonly leave
in a group, stagger the departures.
Try parking your car a short
distance away. Leave on the
TV and lights that are commonly
associated with your departure.
Take
The Dog On BORING Car Trips
In some cases, the dog might
think you are going to the park
to play ball alone. Therefore,
if you often take the dog to
fun places in the car, begin
to take the dog on short BORING
trips. Be careful about leaving
the dog in the car too long.
Avoid both heat and destruction.
Give
Rewards For Correct Chewing
Praise should be given ANYTIME
the dog is chewing any approved
chew toy. Attention can be withheld
unless the dog is chewing appropriately.
If the dog is not interested
in chewing, purchase a wider
variety of chewtoys, and return
them if no success. Try soaking
them in warm water for 2 hours
to soften them. Try rubbing
some peanut butter or liverwurst
on the outside. Act interested
in the toy yourself, and praise
any interest expressed by the
dog. Ignore the dog unless it
is chewing.
Choose
chews that are small enough
to be picked up, but too large
to be swallowed. Some pet stores
will allow you to bring the
dog to help select the toys.
If the dog is very interested
in chewing, only allow 10-15
minutes of chewing at first.
Take the chew away by offering
a tasty food treat in exchange.
Gradually increase the time
the dog is allowed to chew,
and gradually increase the toughness
of the chew to make it last
longer. Chewing is a stress
reliever, so encourage proper
chewing!
Crate
Training
If the problem is quite severe,
consider using a crate to wean
the dog from your attention.
Introduce the crate as the dog's
own bedroom and favorite place
in the world. Feed the dog there
and provide a comfortable dog
bed inside. When you are home,
ignore the dog unless he is
inside the crate, then praise
lavishly and even give a food
treat. Provide the favorite
chew toy in the crate. Once
the dog is comfortable being
crated, begin to space out your
praise. Praise every few seconds
at first, then gradually increase
the interval between praises.
Each session, let the dog out
of the crate after at least
5 seconds of quiet; not when
whining or barking. The key
is for the dog to get more attention
from you when inside the crate
than when next to you. Once
the dog can be left in the crate
without stressing, try putting
the crate in another room. Once
any negative behaviors are corrected,
you can gradually allow more
time together when home.
The
first time you leave the dog
locked in the crate for any
period, should be next to your
bed while you are sleeping.
The dog can hear and smell you,
and so is reassured. The dog
can then gradually become accustomed
to being locked inside the crate,
and associate that with your
presence.
Departure
Training
Begin to leave at odd times,
for short periods, and without
any contact with dog for 30
minutes before leaving. If practical,
exercise the dog vigorously
at least 30 minutes before you
leave so the pet is somewhat
tired.
During
departure training, associate
a unique smell (e.g. puff of
new air freshener) with planned
departures. Spritz, go outside,
walk away, then reenter the
house without either goodbye
or greeting. The small spritz
of the new smell is to signify
to the dog that this is a short
departure. Another alternative
is to create a new Instruction,
such as "I'll be
back."
Gradually increase
the periods gone, but try to
avoid a predictable pattern.
If you need to leave for a long
time during the training, do
not use the signal, as this
will devalue its signal. Once
you have worked up to an extended
absence, routinely with not
problem, phase out the scent
gradually.
