Stress Health

Separation anxiety can prove to be very problematic when it comes to your dog house training I write with personal experience on this particular subject. My little dog, K.C, suffers from this. She is improving but she has been with me now for sixteen months & I still cannot leave her for long. Every case is different though & with some dogs the dog house training regarding separation anxiety can move along quite quickly.

Firstly let us look at exactly what separation anxiety is. Some dogs are much 'clingier' than others; they will generally follow you around the house from room to room. Never really allowing you to vanish from their sight, if you do they panic. They usually commence to whine, bark or howl if they cannot see you. When you return to view they normally settle down again. This can be a tricky stage of your dog house training but not an impossible stage. It can prove to be hard on you though as you need to be quite tough with your dog, ignore those imploring eyes!

The first task to complete is to attempt to leave your dog in another room on their own, or with another resident dog if applicable, do not speak to your dog when you leave the room. Close the door behind you quietly, making to fuss, no issue at all & walk a few steps away from the closed door. Wait literally a few minutes & then enter the room & whatever your dog does pay him/her no attention. Just look straight ahead & walk, then pick up a book or make a drink. Do anything that is not connected with your dog, when the dog settles praise them. Of course if your dog paid no attention to you leaving the room then they probably will not notice you enter again. Not to worry, just repeat the steps again. The trick is to allow your dog to see you leaving & then remember to ignore them until they are settled upon your return. This is an important part of the dog house training as you are teaching your dog to become accustomed to being without you & to not be so clingy.

Separation anxiety can present itself at varying levels, from a dog being a little upset at you leaving to a dog being so upset at you leaving that they are actually physically sick. Work on the leaving your dog in a room stage & gradually increase the time you are out of the room. The golden rule is no fuss when you leave & no fuss upon your return. Not easy I know & one of the harder tasks emotionally, for both the owner & their dog, of dog house training but also very rewarding. Eventually when you think your dog is settling very well with the room scenario, attempt to leave the house. Try to leave as quickly as possible; do not mess around too much with collecting your bag, coat or applying make-up. Just try to leave immediately. This way your dog is not pre-empting your actions. The key to dog house training is to stay one step ahead of your dog.

The initial times that you leave the house just literally shut your door, walk up your path, turn around & go back indoors. Remember do not under any circumstances make a fuss of or even make eye contact with your dog, even if he/she launches into your arms, do nothing, just calmly place them back on the floor! The idea behind the no fuss upon your return is your dog will read into the situation & acknowledge that it cannot be a big deal when you come home. Hopefully this will eventually be interpreted into not being a big deal when you leave them. As with all dog house training you need to ensure the fuss is made of the dog on your terms. When you have been in for a little while, perhaps changed or made a drink & once your dog has settled down, then approach them to show them some attention.

The main points to remember with separation anxiety are to build on the time left very gradually, to not fuss your dog upon leaving them, either in a room or in the house & to not acknowledge them upon your return at all. This is a very difficult step to overcome in your dog house training but when you do so you & your dog will be happier for it.

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