How To Stop Your Dog"s Separation Anxiety and Barking When Left Alone
In this article, I'm going help you to understand the reasons why dogs experience separation anxiety and barks when left alone and why the common ways of viewing this problem are incorrect and ineffective.
You Must Learn To Think Like A Dog It's been estimated that as high as 14% of the dog population if affected by separation anxiety and the main reason that people fail to understand this stressful issue of dog behavior is because we try to approach the problem from our own human point of view.
In order to get a handle on this issue, you MUST learn to think like a dog.
Seriously, you have to get your dog to the point where they understand that YOU are the pack leader.
Let me explain.
How Dogs Evolved Dogs evolved from their ancestors-wolves! Yes, wolves.
Modern dogs have about 99.
8% of the DNA of wolves.
Therefore, in order to understand today's dog, you need to understand the wolf pack.
In the wolf pack, there is the alpha-male and the alpha-female.
Under them are all of the other wolves who may wish they were in charge but really know the truth...
that they are NOT THE ONES IN CHARGE! They know who the pack leaders are and that the pack leaders make all of the big, major decisions.
So, in your dog's mind, either you are the pack leader or they are.
As long as your dog believes they are in charge, they will exhibit the symptoms of separation anxiety whenever you're gone for even a short period of time.
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Recognizing the following symptoms from your dog will be a good start in the battle of curing this problem: 1.
Chewing - Chewing releases an endorphin that's comparable to humans.
This is the dog's attempt to calm himself.
2.
Excessive barking or whining - This is the dog's way of calling out to the owner to return to the pack-the dog's way of protecting and looking out for the owner.
This is the same as when people call out to their children when they can't find them.
Imagine this scenario...
You are a parent and suddenly from inside your house you see your 3-year-old child wandering down the sidewalk and then towards the street.
To make things worse, you are locked in the house.
What is your response? Do you sit down, relax, put your feet up, taking the opportunity to have a well-deserved rest? Of course not, you would do anything to help get your child to return to safety.
Welcome to your dogs world! This is a simple case of separation anxiety and showing your dog that you are the pack leader will turn everything around in your favor.
3.
Always trying to escape when you're not there - This simply means that your dog is looking for you.
In Conclusion All of these symptoms as well as others, such as excessive digging, destruction, and self-mutilation are signs of stress because your dog thinks that her/she is the pack leader.
First ask yourself, "Does the behavior stop when you return? If it does, this is a good clue that your dog has the mindset of being the pack leader.
Once you show your dog that YOU are in charge, your dog will be just fine with you coming and going as you please.
You Must Learn To Think Like A Dog It's been estimated that as high as 14% of the dog population if affected by separation anxiety and the main reason that people fail to understand this stressful issue of dog behavior is because we try to approach the problem from our own human point of view.
In order to get a handle on this issue, you MUST learn to think like a dog.
Seriously, you have to get your dog to the point where they understand that YOU are the pack leader.
Let me explain.
How Dogs Evolved Dogs evolved from their ancestors-wolves! Yes, wolves.
Modern dogs have about 99.
8% of the DNA of wolves.
Therefore, in order to understand today's dog, you need to understand the wolf pack.
In the wolf pack, there is the alpha-male and the alpha-female.
Under them are all of the other wolves who may wish they were in charge but really know the truth...
that they are NOT THE ONES IN CHARGE! They know who the pack leaders are and that the pack leaders make all of the big, major decisions.
So, in your dog's mind, either you are the pack leader or they are.
As long as your dog believes they are in charge, they will exhibit the symptoms of separation anxiety whenever you're gone for even a short period of time.
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Recognizing the following symptoms from your dog will be a good start in the battle of curing this problem: 1.
Chewing - Chewing releases an endorphin that's comparable to humans.
This is the dog's attempt to calm himself.
2.
Excessive barking or whining - This is the dog's way of calling out to the owner to return to the pack-the dog's way of protecting and looking out for the owner.
This is the same as when people call out to their children when they can't find them.
Imagine this scenario...
You are a parent and suddenly from inside your house you see your 3-year-old child wandering down the sidewalk and then towards the street.
To make things worse, you are locked in the house.
What is your response? Do you sit down, relax, put your feet up, taking the opportunity to have a well-deserved rest? Of course not, you would do anything to help get your child to return to safety.
Welcome to your dogs world! This is a simple case of separation anxiety and showing your dog that you are the pack leader will turn everything around in your favor.
3.
Always trying to escape when you're not there - This simply means that your dog is looking for you.
In Conclusion All of these symptoms as well as others, such as excessive digging, destruction, and self-mutilation are signs of stress because your dog thinks that her/she is the pack leader.
First ask yourself, "Does the behavior stop when you return? If it does, this is a good clue that your dog has the mindset of being the pack leader.
Once you show your dog that YOU are in charge, your dog will be just fine with you coming and going as you please.
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