Dog chewing is a likely sign of dog separation anxiety, particularly if it is only taking place when they're left home alone. Frequently these dog chewing problems can start for no obvious reason, as this query I received demonstrates. The dog owner had taken on a rescue dog a week earlier and it had been fine till now. We rescued Sam a 6 month old Parsons jack russell. We had had him just over a week. He's been very good except today he had gnawed doors, carpet and other things. We have left him for short periods of time up to 2-3 hours max. Today he was left for 30 mins. Help!
Before treating the anxiousness, the 1st and most obvious thing would be to rule out the chance that the chewing is a result of teething for a dog this age. However , if the dog is only chewing when the owner is out, and not in the daytime when they are around, it does point to anxiousness being the cause.
The dogs chewing is happening because of the dog's belief it is pack leader and so responsible for the safety of its owners. It cannot do this if they are going away and leave him locked in the house and therefore the dog gets very worried. The chewing helps release a natural calming enzyme that helps to calm their nerves. It's why people gnaw their nails, or maybe comfort eat when they're feeling anxious.
To stop your dog chewing, the key is to establish that you are the leader as, for a dog, in nature, the pack leader is the one who can appear and disappear as they please and the remainder of the pack isn't going to fret about them.
In all cases of anxiousness in dogs, remember that less is more. Ensure you stay calm yourself and don't make a huge fuss of your dog when you leave, or when you return. Also it is important that you do not get cross with your dog, raise your voice at them or punish them if their anxiety has made them chew things, destroy things or mess in the house. All studies prove that it is more certain to make their anxiety worse.
Start by looking at your own behavior and seeing what changes you can make. Ask yourself, what do you do prior to going out? Do you fuss your dog or spend a considerable time reassuring them? Or are you feeling anxious yourself at leaving them home alone? All of these reactions will increase their anxiety instead of make them feel more relaxed.
What do you do when you come back home? Do you make a fuss of your dog? How does your dog respond to your arrival? Do they hurl themselves at you and run around manically? See if you can avoid talking to them or stroking them till they chill and leave you alone. It's incredible how much this one thing can make a difference.
This 1st interaction is crucial to reassure the dog you're the one it can trust and when you get that in place, it can make all of the difference. Its always advisable to catch dog chewing problems early to stop it increasing as it can be the start of all kinds of other dog behaviour problems.
Before treating the anxiousness, the 1st and most obvious thing would be to rule out the chance that the chewing is a result of teething for a dog this age. However , if the dog is only chewing when the owner is out, and not in the daytime when they are around, it does point to anxiousness being the cause.
The dogs chewing is happening because of the dog's belief it is pack leader and so responsible for the safety of its owners. It cannot do this if they are going away and leave him locked in the house and therefore the dog gets very worried. The chewing helps release a natural calming enzyme that helps to calm their nerves. It's why people gnaw their nails, or maybe comfort eat when they're feeling anxious.
To stop your dog chewing, the key is to establish that you are the leader as, for a dog, in nature, the pack leader is the one who can appear and disappear as they please and the remainder of the pack isn't going to fret about them.
In all cases of anxiousness in dogs, remember that less is more. Ensure you stay calm yourself and don't make a huge fuss of your dog when you leave, or when you return. Also it is important that you do not get cross with your dog, raise your voice at them or punish them if their anxiety has made them chew things, destroy things or mess in the house. All studies prove that it is more certain to make their anxiety worse.
Start by looking at your own behavior and seeing what changes you can make. Ask yourself, what do you do prior to going out? Do you fuss your dog or spend a considerable time reassuring them? Or are you feeling anxious yourself at leaving them home alone? All of these reactions will increase their anxiety instead of make them feel more relaxed.
What do you do when you come back home? Do you make a fuss of your dog? How does your dog respond to your arrival? Do they hurl themselves at you and run around manically? See if you can avoid talking to them or stroking them till they chill and leave you alone. It's incredible how much this one thing can make a difference.
This 1st interaction is crucial to reassure the dog you're the one it can trust and when you get that in place, it can make all of the difference. Its always advisable to catch dog chewing problems early to stop it increasing as it can be the start of all kinds of other dog behaviour problems.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs a website to help dog owners deal with the behaviour problems caused by dog anxiety. Get more information about why dog chewing is a symptom of dog separation anxiety, when you visit the site.
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