Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services
A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results
604-868-0341
Alix Balfour - Trainer
|
Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results 604-868-0341 Alix Balfour - Trainer
|
|
|
Separation Anxiety Steps That You Can Take To Help Your Pet 1) Create a specific area in your home that your dog is to stay in. Kennels, baby gates and closed doors all work to contain. Remember, dogs are den animals by nature. Containment, when presented in a non-threatening manner, works as a calming device. 2) Within the created area, give the dog a comfortable bed to lie on. The bed should be large enough to allow the dog full extension and preferably provide at least one support wall. Some commercially-made beds have built-in walls, if not; place the dog’s bed against something that will provide support. Do not place the bed at your feet as this allows the dog to dominate you. The dog needs to learn to be physically separated from you. Close by is okay to start; eventually the distance should increase. 3) Do not allow the dog free rein of the house. Only the alpha gets to roam freely. (That’s you!) Allowing the dog total freedom creates confusion regarding rank status. Be clear at all times about who’s in charge. This does not mean you are bossy but that you are the boss. 4) Give the dog a structured daily schedule for every day of the week. This will include walks, feeding, grooming, training, playing and time-outs. The seven days of the week don’t have to be identical, ie, Saturday vs Tuesday, but do make each day identical unto itself; ie, every Tuesday is the same, every Saturday is the same. Dogs are more relaxed when they know what to expect. As time goes by, if you stick to your schedule, the dog will noticeably calm down. 5) Practice leaving and coming home every day. Without looking at or talking to the dog, go through your routine; putting on your coat, keys in pocket, etc. Ignore the dog regardless of how anxious he becomes. Once ready to go, sit down in the room that the dog will be staying in. Continue to completely ignore the dog. (Reading is a good past-time!) Once the dog seems to settle, which in the beginning can take some time, quietly get up and leave, shutting and locking the door behind you. Moments later, which in the beginning can be as short as two seconds, walk back in. (As the days go by, increase the amount of time you stay outside.) Continue to ignore the dog. Go through your usual coming-home routine; place your keys on the table, take your coat off, etc. Return to your seat and return to reading (or whatever activity you choose). In a couple of minutes, stand up and call the dog to you, “Come, Sit”. If the dog is already at your feet, just ask the dog to “Sit”. Give the dog a cookie if you wish but use the moment to be just about the dog. Massage, cuddle. Do not allow the dog to jump on you. Turn away and ignore. Wait for the dog to calm and again ask for the “sit”. Praise quietly with love in your voice, “Good sit”. When the dog is stressed, refrain from using the words “It’s okay” to try to make the dog feel better. First, humans use the word “Okay” to show our pleasure – “Okay, good dog”, “Okay, let’s go.” If you tell the dog “It’s okay”, you’ll confuse the dog thinking you’re happy he’s upset. Secondly, when trying to make another feel better, humans have a tendency to say the words with a whiny tone to the voice. This is a submissive sound such as a puppy would make and robs you of your alpha status. Alphas are calm and secure. Your voice needs to project that. At any time that your dog shows fear, the best way to make it feel better is to put a smile on your face and say “Good dog”. “What a good dog you are.” This will help the dog separate fear from reality. You, the alpha, are showing no fear, therefore there is nothing to fear. 6) Encourage the dog to lie on his bed. Use this area for giving massages. Hide the occasional cookie when the dog is not looking. Make his bed a pleasant place to be. At any time that the dog lies down on the bed, whether by command or choice, praise with quiet love. “Good dog." |
|
Powered by CEAMS website express Send mail to
carsonchan@shaw.ca
with questions or comments about this web site.
|