Personal Experiences - Dog Training 
 
The Separation-Anxiety Dog
Joanne Chong


I used to have the impression that dogs could be left alone when I go to work.  Thus when Cotton (Poodle/Shitzu) barked excessively and destroyed the furniture when he was alone, I deduced that he needed obedience training as I did not know there was a dog behavioural problem known as separation anxiety. 

Coming home was a chore.  His toilet (newspapers with his waste) would be torn and well distributed all over the house.  He would stink as he dirtied himself. It was not those happy-dog-welcoming-owner moments that most owners told us or seen in doggy advertisements.

When we disciplined his "wild and retaliating" behaviour using isolation, caging and even caning, I always felt sad and sorry for him.  A strong sense of disappointment, that my husband and I were not good owners would always dampen our spirits in the evening when we reached home after a hard day's work.  There were also thoughts of giving him up.

Cotton felt secure inside his carrier cage, the day after neutering.  He was panting so much that his rectal temperature rose above 39.8 degrees when he arrived at the veterinary surgery. He was suffering from separation anxiety rather than from a high fever from infections.  The rapid and continuous panting resulted in a reddish tongue due to a high body temperature. He was operated and did not suffer any side effects.

From a large source of information in magazines, books and the internet, I learnt that Cotton's unsociable behaviour were symptoms of Separation Anxiety.  If the signs you are experiencing are similar to what I have explained above, here are some suggestions:

1.        Physical punishment may worsen the problem. Your pet may be yearning for your attention the whole day.  Although the punishment may have inflicted pain, it may not associate it as a consequence to destroying the furnishings.  In fact, it may not mind it as it received attention when you beat or shout at it immediately upon your return.

2.        Leave the lights and radio on while you are away.  Also, let him play with lots of toys, including chew toys.

3.        Pay a kid in your neighbourhood $20 weekly (or more if he feeds and change the newspapers) for taking your pet out for a walk in the middle of the day.  This breaks the isolation to a few parts of the day and  reduce the trauma of separation.

4.        Castration or spay.  It's socially responsible too. Castration/spaying depletes sex hormones that will in turn reduce the aggressive or territorial behaviour.  Other effects may manifest straight after the surgery, namely, reduced odour of urine in the male dog and unsociable behaviour like mounting onto legs of visitors.

5.        Nothing should discount the need for obedience training especially in hyper-active dogs.  

Your pets want to give their best to you, as much as you do.  The fact that we speak different languages can be a deterrent to a potentially strong connectivity.  Seek professional help from dog trainers or others.  Remember, you are never alone.

Further information. 

1.  How was Cotton toilet/house-trained?

House breaking with a cage (four pieces of fencing joined at sides, without top and bottom) on newspapers.  He was confined to the cage for 2 weeks.  In that time, he could roam around the house only under close supervision.  

Whenever, he defacated or urinated on "non-designated" spots, I picked up the waste with a piece of toilet paper, place it on the newspapers together with him to watch this transfer.  I then pushed his head to the newspapers next to the soiled toilet paper and say "Here!" in a loud and punitive voice tone. 

For repeated offences, I used rolled up newspapers to hit him on his bottom.  I know this procedure is not highly recommended but it may be applicable to some hyperactive dogs.

2.  How does Cotton cope when I go to work? Is he confined to one bedroom?
I took him with me wherever I went 3 weeks after I bought him.  Subsequently, I would leave him at home with my mother-in-law.  No, he is not confined to one bedroom but allowed to roam around the apartment. 

Readers who wish to share their experiences in how to handle a separation-anxiety dog, please email your information to judy@sinpets.com. 

This educational article is extracted from the book, "How Your Puppy Can Live Longer". It is sponsored by asiahomes.com, "affordable homes for expatriates for Sin Pets No. 2, Sep - Dec  2004".  
Pictures are © toapayohvets.com.  Last updated: 25 Jul 2004