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Symptoms
When left at home by themselves many puppies become distressed and engage in
unwanted behaviours, such as whining, howling, chewing,
digging or suffer a breakdown in toilet control.
This is usually a passing phase and the puppy learns to adapt.
However for a few adult dogs, the distress of separation continues. Upon separation the dog engages if frantic chewing and
digging at the door, carpet and furniture (or any of the above mentioned symptoms)
often with expensive or noisy consequences.
To resolve the problem a logical rather than emotional approach has to be
taken.
Cause
The destructive dog is usually a well behaved, much loved pet in all other
respects. He thrives on human
company, hence anxiety is the result when separated
from you. The dog is a pack animal
and becomes uneasy when left alone. The
digging and chewing are displacement activities which relieve tension, and the
dog may dig at the floor or door in an effort to escape and look for the pack leader (the
owner) or bark in order to attract attention.
Short Term Management
If the damage is caused predominantly by chewing, a reasonable short term
measure is to muzzle the dog . Muzzles do not make dogs vicious but do provide a useful
protection for your property and also guard the dog from household dangers such
as electric cables. Use a
lightweight, comfortable muzzle and introduce it to the dog at play, gradually
increasing the time spent left muzzled alone to a maximum
of 4 hours.
Treatment
The key to the treatment of this problem
is to change your attitude from one of total loving indulgence to a
cool,
off-hand and independent relationship with the dog.
This lifestyle is best
achieved by adopting some of the following recommendations -
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Exercise/Feeding
- The mental and physical stimulation of a long walk will always
produce a calmer pet to be left alone.
Allow the dog to play and run off the lead as much as possible.
On return feed half or more of the daily food ration to help
induce drowsiness. (A high fibre diet as provided by many ‘all in
one’ diets is recommended). Always
provide a warm bed to encourage sleep. |
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Pre-Separation
- Be particularly off-hand towards the dog, even to the point
of rejecting him in the half hour before your departure, and do not
respond to any demands for attention.
Similarly, do not excite him with prolonged or
over-affectionate ‘goodbyes’ as this will increase his
feelings of desolation after departure. |
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Separation
- Vary the routines that proceed your departure.
Putting on your coat, locking the back door etc all become
predictable and heighten the anxiety, so keep the dog guessing as to
your true intentions! Make brief or mock departures as well as genuine exits so
that the length of time to be left alone also becomes unpredictable. |
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Training -
Practice
leaving the dog for frequent short spells of variable but steadily
increasing duration. Preliminary
training can involve separating the dog to different parts of the
house and garden, behind a closed door.
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Comforters
- Life
should be as pleasant as possible for the dog when left alone, with
physical, chemical and audible reminders of his human companions.
Ideally the dog should be given the run of the house, but some
dogs may be more confident if left enclosed in a warm room. Leave the lights on and if possible a radio or TV.
Provide worn items of clothing for bedding and leave plenty of
palatable chews and toys. |
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Reunions
- Always
be loving and affectionate on your return.
Never punish your dog even if he has been destructive as
this will increase his anxiety next time and only worsen the problem.
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General
Relationship - The
hardest and most important part of overcoming separation problems is
to develop a cooler relationship with your pet, to promote his
feelings of confident independence. Aim
to spend less time in contact with the dog; up to 30% of the time
separated by a closed door. Do
not allow the dog to sleep in the bedroom with you.
The idea is to have all the contact in your control and keep it
to a minimum. Hopefully the dog will develop new expectations from your
relationship and come to learn that separation precedes affection and
is the price of your company. |
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Medication
- As a last resort and
in severe cases, sedatives may be prescribed by your vet as a short
term therapy. |
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