People who own a pet with separation anxiety can find agreement in the fact that leaving there home can be quite painful and sad for both dog & owner.
There are a few "myths" that surround the topic of dog separation anxiety and it is very important that you, the pet owner, understand that this is the case.
To begin with, here are a few examples of dog separation anxiety: Your dog sticks to you like glue as you move around the house; Your pets attitude changes at all as you get ready to walk out the door;He acquires the nasty behavior of going to the bathroom all over the place anytime you leave him alone.
If any symptoms from above are displayed in your pet, he is more than likely dealing with this emotional problem.
Below are some of the better known myths about this behavior.
*Our dog tore up the house all because we left home without him.
* Even though some pets that are experiencing some form of dog separation anxiety will destroy certain items, it isn't there way of punishing you.
No, it is the result of a lot of stress building up because he feels all alone.
*The Situation Can Be Helped Through Crating* Sure, if you crate your pet he won't tear stuff up, but it isn't going to help his anxiety problems one little bit.
It is true, that if you use the crating method on a dog with separation anxiety issues, it could prove to be harmful for him as he could hurt himself trying to get out of the crate.
*This Anxiety Problem Can Be Fixed Through Punishment* This method will produce an opposite effect.
The dog has already begun to feel the stress and anxiety building as a result of you leaving.
Now visualize that when you arrive home that your pet is met with a scream fest from you about what a rotten dog he is.
Don't forget that your pet isn't doing these things to be bad, it is just happening because he feels panicked.
So, what is the solution for dog separation anxiety? The answers vary depending on how bad the condition is.
You can use simple methods for mild forms of anxiety.
Here is an example, when you get home, ignore your dog for a little bit and then give him a pet, keeping everything calm.
By leaving behind an item with your scent on it has helped some dogs with mild anxiety issues find comfort.
To fix the problem of dog separation anxiety will take some time and will take even longer for the severe cases.
For severe cases, it may be best to leave your dog with somebody you know or some sort of "dog day care".
Don't forget, at this point your dog needs your help and he needs you to find a treatment for his problem.
Be patient and steadfast.
You will be able to help your pet with dog separation anxiety.