By: Kelly Marshall
Submitted: 2009-04-29 13:48:07 | Word Count: 512
Believe it or not, your dog is most likely having to deal with separation anxiety all of the time. Whenever you leave the home, your dog has no idea if or when it will ever see you again. This thought and the complete silence of the home can cause a lot of emotional stress for the dog. The first step you need to take in making sure that your dog does not suffer too badly with this is to realize that there is indeed an issue at hand.
If your dog does not already have a companion, it may be time to look into bringing another dog into the home. By having that companion by its side, it will not have as much anxiety about whether or not you are ever coming home because it is not completely alone. It has another dog with it, which means that there is some comfort and friendship there.
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For those who already have a companion for their dog or who simply do not have the time, space, or money for another dog can look into some other options. A lot of people find that by leaving a television or radio on while they are away, the dog does not seem to be as stressed out by the time they arrive home. This could simply be because even though the dog cannot see a person in the home, it can hear voices of people, which help to keep the dog feeling at ease.
If you have a fenced in and secure backyard then you may want to think about allowing your dog to spend the day outside in decent enough weather conditions. Of course you need to make sure that the dog does have a dog box so that it has a place to seek shelter at in the event or rain or a storm. The outside environment gives the dog more to look at, smell, and chase after which will help keep its mind off of the fact that you have left the home.
When you finally come home after being gone for a long period of time, you need to make sure that you are taking a little bit of time and spending it with your dog. Assure him or her that there is love present and that you will always return. Even if it is simply five minutes a day, it is important to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make sure that your dog is feeling safe and secure. The emotional distress can cause a lot of problems physically for dogs. Just as humans can become physically ill from stress and worrying all of the time, so can dogs.
It may take a little time to see the difference in your pet but sure enough you will eventually notice a change in your dog. He or she will not be as attention starved when you come home after a long day of work. And it will be able to relax in the peaceful home when you are away.
