August 20, 2010

Dog Separation Anxiety Training - Help With Curing Dog Separation Anxiety

Many of us know the heartbreaking sound of our dogs barking and howling when we leave them home alone. Some of them destroy valuable items or get into things that are dangerous to their well-being. My own dogs have gotten into prescription medications and ended up at the emergency vet costing more money and heartache. I would like to share with you the dog separation anxiety training that worked for me and my dogs.

The first thing you can do is to not make a big deal about coming and going. Be sure to practice leaving and returning. Make sure you leave and return for varying periods of time, going through the same routine you would go through for a one minute outing as you would if you were going away for ten hours. This way your dogs will never know if you are gone for a few minutes or all day. This is the most important aspect of the dog separation anxiety cure.

When you return be sure to pay no attention to the dog, showing them that it is not big deal that you were gone. Once they have calmed down you can give them a brief pet. Do not encourage excitement.

The next most important thing you can do to cure dog separation anxiety is keep them occupied when you are gone. The thing that works best for me is a Kong stuffed with things your dog really wants, their dinner, applesauce, bananas, 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 eat what is inside. This way they have to work hard and get tired and might even fall asleep while you are away.

In order to cure dog separation anxiety do not leave the dog with access to watch people and animals walk 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 protect their home. Also leave a tv 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 cure 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 feel relaxed while you are out of the house.

Make sure to give your dog lots of physical and mental stimulation every day. Dogs who do not get out of their living quarters are not having their needs met and may have built up energy that comes out as anxiety. A minimum twenty to thirty-minute walk just about every day is a great way to help them meet their need to roam with their pack. If you have an very anxious and high energy dog you may need to bike or jog to help cure dog separation anxiety

Equally as important is to integrate dog training into your everyday life. Dogs need to be challenged mentally as well as physically. Take an rally-o course so that you can build a bond with your anxious dog. Training with your dog can be just as tiring (if not more) than biking and is a great way to build your bond!

Visit my site for more instructions on dog separation anxiety cure.

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