Mike and Carly called me in near hysterics.
They sent me a photo of the damage that greeted them when they came home from work. Their 9 month old Bernese Mountain Dog Ruby had chewed through the wood molding on the kitchen
It doesn’t take a weatherman to know which way this wind was blowing.
Classic separation anxiety.
How does this happen? Well, let’s look at Ruby’s family life.
Ruby’s weekends consisted of snuggling in bed with her human companions, running errands with them in their car, visiting friends and family members, hanging out in the yard with the kids, and laying on the couch in the evenings with Carly and Mike, watching TV.
Funny. When the family was together, Ruby seemed to have no interest in chewing anything more exotic than a Nylabone.
On Monday, off to work Ruby’s owners would go, leaving their dog puzzled, bereft and not very happy about having no one to be with. So she paced, and checked the windows, and watched the door, thinking they would come home at any moment. Then she laid down to keep an eye on the door. And right there at mouth level was this molding….
Ruby’s owners vowed they would do anything to help Ruby cope with being left alone. Obviously, they wanted their dog to be calm and happy even when they could not be with her. The other concern was the dollar amount of the damage done, and the damage anticipated, if Ruby continued on this path. Of course, new furniture would have to be purchased and moldings replaced but nothing would be done until Ruby’s behavior changed in a big way.
There are five essential changes that needed to be made in Ruby’s life to help her learn to relax when her family could not be with her.
1. Physical closeness – When family members were home, Ruby spent zero time away from them. This made being apart especially difficult. Ruby expected them to be with her at all times. When they weren’t, she indicated her displeasure and anxiety by being destructive. The family had to practice periods of time apart from Ruby even when they were home.
2. Triggers – Car keys picked up, lights turned off, shoes put on, all of these natural, daily occurrences were signals that a family member was about to leave. Changing the triggers, re-ordering them, or eliminating some of them could help Ruby make the transition to being alone easier.
3. Engaging activity – Giving Ruby creative, mentally stimulating and long-lasting toys would enable her to concentrate on something other than being alone, as well as give her an outlet for any frustration she might be feeling. A stuffed and frozen Kong, Buster Cube, Tug-a-Jug, Wobbler, treat ball, or in a pinch, tossing a handful of dry dog food on the floor, will keep her busy for quite awhile.
4. Limited access – With the full run of the house, Ruby felt even more alone and lost, wandering from room to room, looking for her owners. Living and dining room furniture are then easily accessible items for an anxious dog to chew on. Some dogs do much better at separation if they are confined to a smaller space. A dog crate is ideal if the dog likes it; a smaller area like a mud room or laundry room can work, too.
5. Guilt-free owners – I see well-meaning dog owners who feel terribly guilty about leaving their dogs all week, and then try to “make up” for it on the weekends. This is really counter-productive, as we learned above. If you are giving your dog shelter, good food, exercise, water, potty time, sleep, love, rules and boundaries to help him feel safe, then you do not need to feel guilty about your dog spending time without you. After all, you need to work to pay for that good food, veterinary care, and an in-home dog trainer!