Chicagoland School for Dogs

Separation Anxiety

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Training at Chicagoland Boarding School for Dogs, can help reduce Separation Anxiety.

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We can train for Separation Anxiety.

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Dog training in Chicago for Separation Anxiety and for obedience can improve your dog and your life. Marc Goldberg trains dogs in the Chicago area. If you and your dog are struggling with dog training, obedience or Separation Anxiety issues, please contact us for training.

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Separation anxiety, also known in the dog training world as owner absent misbehavior, is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the world of dog training. Separation anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways, including chewing, destroying the owner’s property, excessive barking, self destructive behavior and inappropriate urination and defecation.

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often whine, bark, cry, howl, dig, chew and scratch at the door the entire time their family members are away. Well meaning owners often unwittingly encourage this misbehavior by rushing home to reassure the dog, but it is important for the well being of both dog and owner that the dog learn to deal with extended periods of separation.

How the owner leaves the house can often contribute to separation anxiety issues. A long and drawn out period of farewell can make matters worse by making the dog feel even more isolated when the owner finally leaves. These long types of farewells can get the dog excited, and then leave him with lots of excess energy and no way to work it off. These excited, isolated dogs often work off their excess energy in the most destructive of ways, such as chewing up a favorite rug or piece of furniture.

Excess energy is often mistaken for separation anxiety, since results are often the same. If you think that excess amounts of energy may be the problem, try giving your dog more exercise to see if that eliminates the problem.

If separation anxiety is truly the problem, it is important to address the root causes of that anxiety. In order to prevent separation anxiety from occurring, it is important for the dog to feel happy, safe, secure and comfortable while the owner is away for the day. It is important, for instance, to give the dog plenty of things to keep it busy while you are away. This means providing it with lots of toys, such as balls or chew toys. A pet companion is often effective at relieving separation anxiety as well. Giving the dog a playmate, such as another dog or a cat, is a great way for busy pet parents and pets alike to cope with the stress of being left alone.

Setting aside scheduled play times, during which the pet is given your undivided attention, is another great way to alleviate boredom and separation anxiety. Playing with the dog, and providing it with sufficient attention and exercise, is a proven way to avoid a stressed and anxious dog. A happy dog that has been well exercised and well conditioned will generally sleep the day away happily and patiently wait for the return of its owner.

It is important to schedule one of these daily play sessions before you leave the house each day. It is important to give the dog a few minutes to settle down after playtime before you leave.

For dogs that are already experiencing separation anxiety and associated misbehaviors, it is important to get him accustomed to your leaving gradually. Be sure to practice leaving and returning at irregular intervals, several times during the day. Doing so will get your dog accustomed to your deparartures and help him realize that you are not leaving him forever. Dogs that have been previously lost, or those that have been surrendered to shelters and readopted, often have the worst problems with separation anxiety. Part of treating this problem is teaching the dog that your leaving is not permanent.

 

Waylon Harvey shares more of his dog knowledge at his informative site, Puppy House Breaking.

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Copyright 2005, Marc Goldberg, All Rights Reserved
 
We are Chicago dog trainers and offer Chicago dog training and dog training in Chicago with dog and puppy obedience classes, and dog housebreaking, puppy house training, puppy potty training, goldendoodle training, puggle training, we train labradoodles, cockapoo training, we train chicgao dogs throughout Chicagoland. We are the finest dog trainers in Illinois, with recommendations from vets, veterinarians, animal behaviorists, pediatricians, doctors and lawyers. If your dog growls, call us. We train happy, friendly dogs. We train aggressive dogs. We train fearful dogs. We are known as the finest dog trainers in Chicago. Our dog training methods work faster than clicker training. Our dog training lasts longer than food training. We train dogs for the following Chicago area locations:

Altamont , Alton , Aurora , Batavia , Belleville , Belvidere , Berwyn , Bloomington , Blue Island , Breese , Carbondale , Carlyle , Centralia , Champaign , Charleston , Chicago , Chicago Heights , Chillicothe , Collinsville , Crystal Lake , Danville , Darien , De Kalb , Decatur , Des Plaines , Dixon , East Moline , East Peoria , Edwardsville , Effingham , El Paso , Elgin , Elmhurst , Evanston , Freeport , Fulton , Galena , Galesburg , Geneva , Harvard , Highland Park , Joliet , Kankakee , Lake Forest , Litchfield , Lockport , Macomb , Marengo , Marion , Marshall , Mascoutah , Mendota , Moline , Monticello , Morrison , Mount Vernon , Murphysboro , Naperville , North Chicago , North Lake , O Fallon , Ottawa , Palos Heights , Paris , Park Ridge , Pekin , Peoria , Prospect Heights , Quincy , Rock Island , Rockford , Rolling Meadows , Salem , Sandwich , Spring Valley , Springfield , St Charles , Sterling , Troy , Urbana , Villa Grove , Warrenville , Waterloo , Watseka , Waukegan , West Chicago , Wheaton , Wood River , Woodstock , Zion

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