3 Ways to Ease Separation Anxiety and Stop the Destruction of your Stuff

Donna Harris here! I’m going to help with Separation Anxiety and how to stop it.   Let’s GO!

You have to understand. We love you and miss you when you leave. Usually, You Humans, rush off to wherever you go for 8 hours or so, and since you ran out and didn’t give me the morning exercise I NEED, well – you come home to the consequences. Making a big mess is boredom. You didn’t catch me doing it so no need to get upset. Too late. I’m happy you are home!

Since we  usually tear up things out of boredom – with one catch – it’s usually something that has YOUR Human scent on it. I tore up the handles on my Dad’s work tools. The soft, yet firm, rubber handles fit perfect in my mouth and smell like my Dad. Perfect chew toy.  He would come home and go bananas. Probably because I was pooping out the rubber handle in little pieces. (He still gets woozy over poo! – it’s been six human years!)

Know that boredom, lack of exercise and missing the main owner/caretaker, are the reasons us dogs destroy your stuff. We chew up Shoes, lay in your dirty clothes pile, chew up wires, all kinds of stuff including the wall as some of you know. Here are some ways that worked with Grady and I so we would stop with all shenanigans while my Dad was gone.

Solution #1

Sweaty, Smelly Underwear or T-shirt

Put on a pair (there’s only one – why do Humans call it a pair -whatever..) of Underwear and go workout. Get super duper sweaty and gross. FUNK it UP like George Clinton.

Take the same underwear and rub it under your Arms and between your legs and butt. It’s all about SMELL!! Taste also plays an important role as it’s connected to taste. My fellow boy dogs and I like the ground. Just to get a good grasp of who was where and when! This is serious business.

My Dad is in here. Smells so DAMN GOOD.

Tie the Underwear in a knot and rub it all over our Bed. While you’re at it – lay down in our bed. Get your funky sweaty booty in our bed – with a treat!

T-shirts work great too! Especially the ones with the colored arm pits. Those are GREAT.

We will love those underwear or T-shirt because YOUR SCENT will be ALL OVER IT. It will become a security blanket for me and I’ll nibble on it – instead of your shoes! Or my Dad’s work tools. Leave your undies or shirt in our bed, we will sleep with it when you are gone.

Solution #2 – Exercise!

When I go run and exercise in the morning – especially puppies – I will sleep for the next 3 to 4 hours. Not too much with my little cousins – pay close attention, young bones are still fusing. Vigorous but find a happy medium. If you let me out to pee and maybe a quick 15 or 20 minute fun romp – we’ll sleep for (hopefully) a few hours or until you get home in the evening.

Exercise is key. Humans, honestly, can be pretty lazy. We like what you like – so we’ll enjoy being lazy – but it’s really not good for us. Not at all.

WHOWEEEEE!!!

Contrary to popular belief – we need to be off the leash running freely for a minimum of an hour a day. Most Humans can’t find a place to do that. It’s not easy.  My Dad says – ‘they are making excuses’. Find a park. If in the City – we went to a huge place with lots of cars. On the top floor it was empty – we played fetch there and naturally wore down our nails without clipping – which I hate….

Exercise makes us happy. A little tired and a little hungry makes for a happy dog!

Solution #3 – Establish a Routine

Once a dog has a wonderful smelly representation of you in a dirty old t-shirt, and has been well exercised, a routine will normally be the last step in letting us feel comfortable you are coming back for us. We LOVE you – without question. Understand that.

If we know you for example will leave at 8:00am – come home around Noon or 1:00pm and come home for good at 5 or 6pm – that’s perfect. We are going to hold you to that. After a few months, you can change it up or veer off the schedule – but if you are consistent for 3 months straight – I’ll trust you and will not go bananas when you leave. Stay tuned for more on routines later!

TIP #1

When you let us lay in your bed and super comfy couch – that makes it harder for me to not have you with me at all times. I miss you even more when you leave. I know it’s hard for Humans, but really we need to stay on the floor and off the couch. Lay down in OUR bed if you want to snuggle or cuddle. It will reinforce that my bed is great and we will, in most cases, be more obedient as PACK lines are established.

TIP #2

If your dog has a problem with barking and whining as soon as you leave there are ways to correct this unwanted behavior. One reason is, your Dog doesn’t know when you are coming back. Your Dog watches you get ready to leave, as you put on shoes, get your coat, keys, etc. Go out the door and close it. Don’t make a big deal out of leaving. Just leave. You making a big deal makes leaving that much more traumatic. Just go….As the Dog barks – open the door and give a stern NO. The dog will be happy to see you. Get your Dog focused. Go out again – wait – for the dog to bark. Let the Dog REALLY get going. Then IN with a quick NO. The dog may think this is a game. No matter how cute your dog is – let it know this is NOT a game and to KNOCK IT OFF. Give the ‘QUIET’ command. Practice as you establish a routine with your dog. 3 or 4 times. If you begin to laugh and joke – success will be elusive.

How do YOU ease separation anxiety?

Don’t forget – DOGS are MASTERS OF MANIPULATING HUMAN GUILT.

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RULE ELE

Everybody. Love. Everybody. Will Farrell, Semi-Pro

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