Puppies

There I said it.  Helping a dog with separation anxiety is not easy.  It takes time, effort, patience and perseverance. But I was recently reminded that this is true for most things.  While we would all like to master a new skill rapidly, quickly become proficient at a new sport or recover from an injury, none of it happens overnight. I recently had some major surgery.  Despite knowing that the whole process would take time, I thought I would be different.  I was prepared, and I had done my homework.  What I didn't allow for was that my body would take as long as it needed to recover fully.  Much longer than I had hoped for.  So while my brain was convinced that I would be up and about in a few weeks, my body is telling me it will take as long as it takes and possibly much longer than I had hoped.  Should I be surprised? Nope! If I am honest, everyone along the way has said much the same thing.  The surgeon told me that recovery would take months. The nurses and hospital staff said to me that I had just had complex surgery and my body would need time to recover. The physiotherapist and massage therapist said the same thing and that it would be accompanied by some difficult phases, as the recovery process is not linear.  There would be setbacks. Pretty much everyone I have crossed paths with has said the same thing, either from first-hand experience or because a family member has gone through the same process. So why did I think I was going to be different?  Honestly, I think it is human nature.  We tend to oversimplify and overestimate our abilities. We believe we will be different. We will be the exception to the rule. And sometimes we are, but often we are not. So while this process has been humbling and required that I slow down and work at the pace my body needs, it has given me time to reflect. It meant that I had to stop and listen to my body. It has meant I needed to ask for help and rely on others, which is not easy for me. To eat nutritious food.  To rest and sleep when my body is telling me to stop. To do the work. Even when it is uncomfortable, and I don't see much for my effort.  Turning up every day and doing what is asked of me will mean that one day soon, I will turn the corner. To have the belief and faith that the effort will be worth it. To quiet my mind. To stop googling shortcuts and listen to those who are the experts and trust their guidance. In some ways, let it all go and trust the process. It was at some point during one of my low spells when I finally realized that it would take as long as it takes that this all seemed very familiar.…

It is the prevailing opinion that dogs with separation anxiety have an over-attachment to their people, but evidence indicates otherwise. If you talk to your friends, colleagues and neighbours with dogs that don’t have separation anxiety, you will discover that many of their dogs also follow them from room to room. In fact, if we really look into it, this 'following thing' is more of a dog thing than a separation anxiety thing. Does your dog cling to you everywhere you go?   I tell my clients that I have not been to the bathroom alone in years. If I stand up and walk away from my desk, my three dogs, who are usually sleeping nearby, get up and follow.  As soon as I stop, one will come up right beside me, one will plop down on the floor outside, and the other will find the nearest comfy spot and settle in.  This is how it is every time I move.  None of my dogs have separation anxiety (SA). What does the research say? Research conducted supports the fact that non-SA dogs and SA dogs alike have similar behaviour when it comes to an attachment test. The research showed that dogs with separation anxiety spent no more time in contact with or in proximity to their owners than dogs without separation anxiety . In the same study, it was shown that 65% of the dogs without separation anxiety were reported to follow their people from room to room. Why on earth does this matter? First of all, it is important to realize that over-attachment is not a reliable assessment criterion for separation anxiety — other indicators must be present to confirm that separation anxiety is the issue. Secondly, since over-attachment is not a singular factor in separation anxiety, we don't focus on that aspect for training. The only time I worry about following is when it is an indicator of increasing anxiety.  If a dog who is inclined to follow then begins to show other signs that they are becoming anxious, then the following may be a predictor of separation anxiety.  But for many for my clients who do display separation anxiety symptoms, following is not in their repertoire. Why the bond between the human and the dog matters? One of the most difficult cases I had was with a dog who had extreme separation anxiety. This dog couldn't be left. However when at home, the dog didn't hang around the family at all.  The dog would routinely settle in another completely separate part of the house seemingly unbothered by the fact that its family was elsewhere. This was extremely hard on the family. It seemed to them that the dog could not be left alone without panicking but when at home the dog didn't want to be around them.  The lack of attachment between the dog and the family made the resolution of the dog's separation anxiety extremely challenging. In most of my cases, it is the strong attachment…

Fear is defined as a response to a near and present danger.  Whereas anxiety is defined as the response to a situation that is not real but is perceived as such. What is Fear? Let me give you an example. You are visiting a new city.  You have spent the afternoon sightseeing.  The weather has been beautiful, and you have strolled far from your hotel.  You have spent the last few hours visiting a museum that has been on your bucket list for ages.  The bell goes in the museum, telling you that they are about to close.  It is now 6 pm....where did the time go?  You have been so engrossed in viewing the exhibits that you completely lost track of time.  You hurry towards the exit and come outside to darkness.  The sun has set.  The streets that were bustling with people a few hours ago are now empty, and to make matters worse, it has started to rain.  You look for a taxi, but the streets are empty.  You look at your phone and realize the nearest uber is about 30 minutes away.  You could wait, but it is cold and wet now, and you just realized that you are hungry. You haven't eaten since breakfast.  You decide to walk back to your hotel.  Your phone's map tells you that it will take about 20 minutes, and you think that maybe you will find a nice restaurant where you can stop for dinner.  So you begin to walk. Sounds good, right?  Except, you are not familiar with the city.  The bustling streets that were full of people shopping earlier are now empty.  The shops are closed.  You can hear your footsteps on the empty streets.  The wind is now blowing some rubbish and an empty can down the street. You feel less comfortable.  Your pace quickens.  You become more alert.  You seem more sensitive to every sound.  Your heart rate starts to quicken.  You become more vigilant. You start to think about what you will do if something happens. You hear a noise and turn to see the dark shadow of someone behind you.  They are about 20 feet behind you. They are wearing a hoodie, and you can't see their face.  They are moving quickly towards you.  You think you see something in their hand. You start to quicken your pace.  Your body has triggered you to flee from what could be a dangerous situation. You think about what you can do to defend yourself.  You reach into your pocket for your keys, the only thing that you have to defend yourself if attacked.  You search for something to be open - anything that you can run to for safety.  This is a real and present danger, and your response is one of fear.  Just like a gazelle on the savannah, this is not the time that you should hesitate. The fear response is a life-saving response. The cortisol, adrenaline and other hormones that flood our…

Enrichment Activities for the Anxious Dog I am sure I don’t have to convince you that dogs are sophisticated beings with complex emotional and social structures, serious problem-solving capabilities, and mental/physical needs. They are captive in our homes. And the hard truth of it is most of them are not getting what they need in terms of enrichment in their daily lives. I am sure some of you live with a dog that will steal tissues and shred them. How about a dog sniffing so intensely that you are using all your body strength to get them to extract their face from a bush and move forward? How about excessive foot licking? These things feel good. Like actually make them feel good, like how I feel after a glass (or two) of wine. Canine enrichment is a hot topic, and you can find many items on the market these days that make it easy to get your dog’s food out of a conventional bowl and into a problem-solving puzzle, but I am going to ask you to take it a step further. I will ask you to find activities that promote and enhance your dog's relaxation. That puzzle toy with trap doors, a kong wobbler or a treat ball that sends kibble flying across your kitchen floor may not be the best way to enrich your anxious dog’s day. Take up their time? Yes. Get them interested? Yes. Promote serotonin production in their bodies? Maybe not. Give your dog at least two opportunities to decompress with daily coping activities.  And more importantly, I want you to observe what happens when you provide these things to them before, during, and after a stressful situation, such as a neighbourhood walk or a training exercise for separation anxiety.  Things to look for include: Does your dog calm down after the activity, or do they get frustrated?  Do they enjoy the activity, or do they walk away and leave it unfinished?  Observing your dog will give you great information about their preferences and valuable insight into what they find most relaxing. Dogs tend to soothe themselves in four major ways: licking, chewing, sniffing, and shredding. Licking Examples include Kongs/Toppl/Licking Mats. The easiest soothing enrichment to prepare and serve is licking items. Classic Kongs and West Paws Toppls are two staples in my household. There are many other options too, but you want something made of rubber that can be stuffed, frozen, and put in the dishwasher. These are great options for meal delivery. If you feed raw, it is easy to stuff a kong with the meal. If you feed kibble, mix the dry kibble with a little wet food, canned pure pumpkin, yogurt or stew that allows the kibble to bind together and freeze, should you want to do that. It does take a little organization to ensure meals are prepared in advance and frozen, but on the plus side, dinner is just a matter of reaching into your freezer. If you have dogs like mine, who find licking extremely pleasurable, you will want to explore licking mats and slow bowls.…

If there is one canine behaviour that drives people nuts, it is barking.  Nothing is more likely to get neighbours upset or drive you around the bend than the sound of incessant barking. So why do dogs bark?  The obvious answer is that it is one of our dog's primary communication methods.  But there is more to this story.   To get to the bottom of what motivates our dogs to bark, we need to do some detective work. The first step in addressing barking is to understand why your dog barks.  Once you have this information, you can address the underlying reason.   There are five main reasons dogs bark - we need to understand the 'why' in order to change the behaviour. 1. Social Isolation/Frustration/Boredom Your dog may be barking out of boredom and loneliness if: They are left alone for long periods of time without opportunities to interact with you. Their environment is relatively barren, without companions or toys. They are a puppy or adolescents (under three years old) and don't have other outlets for their energy. They are a particularly active breed of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who need productive outlets for their energy. Recommendations: Expand your dog's world and increase his "people time" in the following ways: Walk your dog at least twice daily—it's good exercise, both mental and physical. Walks should not only be considered "potty breaks." Teach your dog to fetch a ball or flying disc and practice with him as often as possible. Teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks and practice them daily for five to ten minutes. Take a dog training class with your dog. This allows you and your dog to work together toward a common goal. To help fill the hours you're not home, provide safe, interesting toys to keep your dog busy, such as Kong®-type toys filled with treats or treat balls. Rotating the toys will make them seem new and interesting. Keep your dog inside when you're unable to supervise him. Let your neighbours know that you are actively working on the problem. If your dog is well socialized and you have your employer's permission, take your dog to work with you. When you have to leave your dog for extended periods, take him to a "doggie daycare," hire a pet sitter or dog walker, or have a trusted friend or neighbour walk and play with him. 2. Territorial/Protective Behaviour Your dog may be barking to guard his territory if: The barking occurs in the presence of "intruders," which may include the mail carrier, children walking to school, and other dogs or neighbours in adjacent yards. Your dog barks at people and other dogs when left in the car. Your dog's posture while he's barking appears threatening—tail held high and ears up and forward. You've encouraged your dog to be responsive to people and noises outside. Recommendations: Teach your dog a "quiet" command. When he begins to bark at a passer-by, allow…