#ASPCA on #Separation #Anxiety

But I'll miss you when you're gone, unless I go to sleep

ASPCA:  How to Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

     If your dog uses his time alone in the house to bark endlessly, pee on the carpet, or tear up the sofa—and those behaviors are accompanied by depression or stress—your pooch may be suffering from separation anxiety, a very common doggy behavior problem.

      Overcoming disorders like separation anxiety takes time, patience and consistency, but it can be done! Just take the following steps, and you’re already on your way.

           Take action. Try these strategies to address the issue:

1. Keep all greetings relaxed. When leaving, give your dog a pat on the head, say goodbye and leave. Similarly, when arriving home, say hello to your dog and then don’t pay any more attention to him until he’s calm and relaxed.

2. Give your dog a workout. Giving your dog lots of mental and physical stimulation goes a long way toward quelling behavior problems—especially those involving anxiety. Exercise can enrich your dog’s life, decrease stress and provide appropriate outlets for normal behavior. And once she’s all tuckered out, your pal won’t have much energy left to get into trouble.

3.Reward your pooch! Teach your dog to associate your departure with a reward, like a delicious stuffed Kong or other food-dispensing toy. This positive association can help resolve the problem, as well as distract your dog for the first few minutes you’re gone!

Dealing with Gizmo’s separation anxiety: As to Rule #1: we tried ignoring him as we went out, but he looked up at us with those cute pleading eyes.  How does one deal with an owners separation guilt?                                                Mental Stimulation: we regularly give him quizzes, but he seems puzzled when we ask for the “square root of nine.”                                                          The way we dealt with bad behavior and separation anxiety: we put him in a cage (or “training facility”).  Result: no accidents, but we must take him outside as soon as we get home and before we go to the bathroom ourselves.

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."           Josh Billings