June 10 – 17, 2012 is Pet Appreciation Week
I KNOW that you appreciate your dog every single day. So do I.
In honor of this celebration, I’d like to talk about separation anxiety.
Nearly 15 percent of dogs suffer from this condition when their owners leave the house. There are steps you can take to make sure that your pet feels safe, loved and protected when you’re away from home.
1.      Take Charge: Your dog may think it’s normal to worry when you’re gone. Ignore your dog’s requests for petting, play, feeding, etc. and provide love on your terms. If you teach your dog to earn resources, he will understand that you are responsible for keeping the family safe, not him.
2.      Monitor Behavior: Thanks to modern technology, pet parents can keep an eye on their pets remotely. Products such as VueZone allow users to set up small, wire-free cameras at home, and then check in remotely via the VueZone website or mobile apps for iPhone and Android. This is an easy way to check-in on your dog and find out exactly what he or she is up to while you’re away. You’ll be more relaxed if you know Bailey is resting peacefully on his dog bed and not chewing through a table leg.
3.      A Tired Dog is a Well Behaved Dog: Be sure your dog’s needs for physical (exercise) and mental (training, brain games, puzzle toys, etc.) stimulation are met. If your dog is exhausted in body and mind, she’ll be less likely to stress when you’re gone.
4.      Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse separation at home so that your dog knows that it is routine and—most importantly—that you will always return. Get your dog used to being left alone by separating yourself from the dog at home, using crates, baby gates or even short trips out the front door.
5.      Mix it Up: Most of us repeat the same rituals when walking out the door—picking up a purse, putting on sneakers, jingling the car keys. These cues can make your dog stress out or expect that you may be leaving. Try mixing up the sequence of events and doing those things at other times—for example, put on your sneakers then sit down and read a magazine. Also try recreating leaving the house for short periods of time frequently. Get your dog to learn that those events don’t mean you’re leaving, or that you’ll be gone long.
6.      Flower Power: Consider all-natural stress relief and other remedies. Flower essences, herbals, dog appeasing pheromone, anxiety wraps, calming music or recorded ambient sound can help calm an anxious dog.