Solutions For Canine Anxiety and Destructive Behavior

It was love at first sight when Lilly saw the little terrier named Sadie at our shelter. Though Sadie had a history of behavioral issues, Lilly believed that love would conquer all. The two bonded at once, and Sadie never left Lilly’s side. But when Lilly went to work, the little angel began to destroy the rug, doorjamb and window frames. The neighbors complained that Sadie would howl and whine.

Some dogs have a condition where they experience extreme stress when they are left alone. This can include destroying things, barking and sometimes house soiling. The behaviors usually start within 30 minutes of the departure of their owner. Separation anxiety is the term commonly used to describe this condition. Fortunately, dogs usually respond well to treatment.

No one knows exactly why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don’t. Some dogs seem to develop it when they are left alone after a period of constant human companionship. Other cases seem to be triggered by a change in their routine that the dog might consider to be traumatic. Whatever the reason, it can be helpful to remember that your dog is not trying to get back at you. The dog is experiencing panic, and punishing it just increases anxiety.

Tips that might help control separation anxiety:

• It’s fun to be greeted by an ecstatic dog after a hard day at work, but if your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you will want to keep arrivals and departures low-key. Hold off on the excited high-pitch voice and the joyous reunions. Instead when you get home, ignore your dog for the first few minutes and then pat him calmly.

• Scent is very important to dogs. To comfort your dog, let him have something that smells like you; an old T-shirt that you slept in is perfect. There are also a number of nonprescription calming products available for dogs that might help.

• Dogs find comfort in a routine. You can create a routine or ritual that will let it know that you will be back soon. It could be a simple phrase, turning on the radio, or some other specific action you take every time you leave.

• If your dog tends to chew things while you are gone, provide acceptable chew toys. There are toys that can be stuffed with treats that will keep our dog engaged and busy. Bringing out the toy also can serve as a reminder that you are leaving for a while, but that you will be back.

• Dogs find comfort in a protective den, and can function as your dog’s personal den within your home. While crate training alone is not the solution for a dog with separation anxiety, it might provide a valuable tool in combination with other desensitizing techniques. A crate should never be used as a form of punishment; it should always and only be a safe, comforting place for your dog.

If your dog has a hard-core case of separation anxiety, these tips might not be enough. You will want to contact Beata Liebetruth, manager of Nevada Humane Society Animal Help Desk. She has many more solutions to offer.

Lilly was right, love does conquer all, but in the case of separation anxiety, love needs a few practical solutions to fully work its magic.

Written by Bonney Brown, Executive Director of the Nevada Humane Society.

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!