For all of us who have ever owned a pet dog, we’d all be aware of what our loved pooch goes through when its only family/owner goes away. Sometimes some of us may fail to realize or understand this phenomenon but it’s not just our friends and family who desire us. Most vets would describe this phenomenon as separation anxiety in dogs. This phenomenon can be identified in the dog through symptoms such as barking unnecessarily, excessive salivation, chewing off items at home, whining, escaping from the house and scratching the doors. So just when you notice any change in your pet’s behavior its time to pay attention.
Such behavior is not only distressing for the pet owner but it’s problematic for the dog’s wellbeing as well. All this begins with the owner leaving the dog that initiates the feeling of stress. Dogs begin to misbehave only to gain attention and get noticed. Sometimes even negative attention may be rewarding in cases where the other needs of the dog aren’t being fulfilled. So when you return home to a torn pair of your favorite jeans with your dog jumping around to gain your attention, it’s about time you realize that your pet is suffering from anxiety issues. It is every pet owner’s responsibility to take care of his or her pet not just physically but emotionally as well. Emotional or mental stress can lead to severe diseases or keep the pet unwell more often than not.
Here are a few tips to ease it out for your buddy:
1. Take your pet out for a walk:
It’s always good to start your pet’s day with a brisk morning walk. This gives your dog a sense of belonging and keeps up its good health. The dog feels wanted and can spend its time afterwards resting. This can be followed by a healthy meal that will keep your pet comfortable physically.
2. Do not start a special ritual every time you leave:
Your pet may surprise you with its sensitivity. Dogs can easily sense human emotions. Hence try and keep you departure and arrival as calm as possible. This way you are putting your pet at ease and giving him a sense of normality about you going. Though before you actually start doing any of this, you should get your dog used to your absence. Hence start with leaving your pet alone for shorter durations before you let it be alone for long hours.
3. Say goodbye to your dog long before you leave.
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In case the previous tact is hard to follow be affectionate with your dog before you leave. However keep a decent time gap before saying your goodbye and actually leaving. You should always remember your goodbye is satisfying you and not your dog.
Be confident in front of your pet, dogs can easily gauge your vibe thus it automatically becomes your responsibility to keep your dog secure. It is easier for a dog to deal with separation if he is kept secure otherwise.
Written By:
Sarah Green works with Eros Now as a branding consultant for their online content strategies. She also loves to indulge in adventure sports and travels a lot. She has a movie data base to die for.
