Member

Posts: 151
From:
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 03-05-2004 01:21 PM         

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My dog Megan gets really upset every time my mom leaves to go to work. She will sit and shake and pant, and won't stop until she comes home. I have tried giving her a heat pack because that usually makes her go to sleep, and I have tried giving her greenies, because thats her favorite treat. She won't even eat the greenies. I have tried just sitting and petting her, and she still shakes. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can make her calm down?? Thank you!!

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Member

Posts: 173
From:Canada
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-05-2004 01:55 PM         

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My dog had very bad seperation anxiety. I have a couple of files I could email you to read up on Seperation Anxiety if you like. If you don't want to post your email, you can email me at leslie146@hotmail.com and I will reply to you. These methods have helped me a LOT. You have to be patient and do the techniques everyday. One of the best things hat worked for me is a treasure hunt! Each nigt before bed I fill my pups kong with 1/4 cup of her kibble and then I close the hole with about 1tsp. (or a little more) of peanut butter and put it in the freezer. Before I go to work in the morning I break apart a dog cookie and hide the pieces around the basement (where she stays) and put the frazen kog in the middle. She has a great time finding all the yummy treasures and doesn't even notice I am leaving. A dogs seperation anxiety is at its worst in te first 30 mins. you leave, so if you can occpy them for the first 30 mins. they transgress naturally to you being away. Also, a good parcitce to get into is not making a big fuss when you gt home or leave, otherwise, the dog will get very excited/anxious. When youcome home, (may sound mean ut its not) ignore your dog for the first 5-10 mins. Just walk in the door say hi, and go about your business for a bit, and then after that you can welcome your dog. Also, when you leave, don't fuss, jst say bye Harley (my pups name) and walk out. Also, a good practice would be key phrases to say to your dog when you come and go that the dog will recognize, this wil relax them becaue they will come to know these terms.
Ex: When I leave my house I walk away and say bye Harley guard the house while I'm gone. And when I get home and I greet her after 5 mins, I say Hi Harley thanks for watching the house for me.
They will learn to expect these phrases from you, and recognize that when you say the first when you leave, you will be coming home.
It may sound kinda weird, but our lovely dogs are much smarter than we give credit to sometimes.
Another good tip for dogs with SA is that sometimes they will be destructive. (Not sure if yours is). If you come home and notice your dog has chewed, ripped, messed somethign up, the worst thing you can do is give the dog heck. (Although we all knowyou want to)The reason its a bad idea is because by this time, the dog has probably forgotten all about the mess, and if you get mad at it and say NO, or BAD GIRL the dog may interpret this with being alone, causing them to become more anxious the next time you leave. And NEVER clean up the mess your dog has made in front of them. Sometimes the dog will percieve this as a "fun" thing for puppy and mommy to do, and may continue to do so.
One last thing, and I am sorry for the long post, but I swear by these methods! is
Change your routine before you leave. Often a dogs anxiety begins before you are even out the door. Try putting on your coat, then walking around the house, taking off your coat, finishing breakfast, ect. just change it up. This is also good practice even when you ar enot going anywhere. This doen't give your dog the chance to get anxious befor eyo leave because he never knows if you are actually going anywhere or not.
Anyways, the files I have are like this but more in depth. Let me know if you want them
Good Luck
Leslie

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