In other articles on the web site, we look at what owners can do to reduce their dog's over-attachment to them and improve their potential to cope when they are left. As a consequence the likelihood of vocal, destructive and toileting behavior starting in response to their departure is reduced.

The behavior of owners as they leave affects their dog's capacity to settle as the sound of their footsteps or vehicle fades. For example, there is nothing in dog language for "bye-bye, see you later, Mummy loves you!" Interaction like this may reward and increase the anxiety triggered by the expectation of being left. Cooling off the relationship some time before departure and leaving without fuss can make a significant difference.

As suggested, things that allow an over dependent dog to predict departure can result in it winding itself up and becoming anxious before the person they are attached to get as far as the door. Making these triggers less significant can help. For example, owners can repeatedly put on outdoor clothing and rattle their car keys without going out. However, the dog must remain relaxed during this training and it may be necessary to start with a minimal stimulation, e.g. just touching the keys. Ensuring that their dog remains relaxed, owners can gradually increase the level of stimulation, eventually, picking keys up, going out of the house wearing outdoor coat and shoes and returning after a few seconds. The period of time spent outside the home can be gradually increased and stimuli such as starting and turning off the car engine before re-entering can be introduced.

It may take several weeks to develop this and progress may be slowed by occasions when the owners have to go out. The use of a dog sitter or popping the dog round to stay with a relative, rather than leaving it on its own during this stage of development can help. In some cases the use of drug support can help by reducing sensations of anxiety whilst the behavior modification program is developed.

An anxious dog is not likely to eat when the owner is out, conversely eating reduces the potential for anxiety. Rawhide chews, a sterilized bone, a food filled Kong and a food dispensing Buster Cube are some of the things dogs can be left with to help them settle. To maintain their novelty value the dog should only have them when it is left. However, as part of the development process the dog can have them when it is separated from its owners when they are at home.

Scent can also be associated with relaxation and providing cloths to lie on, such as old towels, impregnated with the scent of the person the dog is attached to can help to maintain a state of calm when that person goes out. The cloths must be freshly re-impregnated with their scent each time the dog is to be left.

It can be helpful to use a signal to alter a dog's expectation and to teach it to relax when attention is withdrawn. To do this an item that is novel and obvious to the dog should be placed where it can see it. While it is in place the dog should not receive any attention but it is essential that it remains relaxed. When the period of no attention ends the object should be put away. Once the association between the signal and being relaxed when attention is withdrawn has been developed the signal can be put in place to help the dog settle as the owner leaves. The use of sound, such as a piece of music, or even an aroma can be used instead of a visual cue for relaxed behavior.

Stimuli associated with the owner's presence may help maintain relaxation during their absence. For example, if the sound of a radio is associated with the owner's presence, they can leave it on when they go out. However, it could be counter productive for the dog to hear the radio if it only hears it when the owner is out because it may became associated with and trigger anxiety.

Use of retrospective reprimands for loss of toilet control or damage during a period of owner absence must be always be avoided. This is because anticipation of the returning owner's anger may trigger anxiety and further incidence of chewing and loss of toilet control. Some owners find this concept difficult because they are convinced that their dog looks guilty when they get home. Unfortunately, they misinterpret the anxious behavior their dog displays in anticipation of 'punishment' as guilt, whereas; a dog's capacity to associate behavior and its consequence is limited to .5 of a second.

© David Appleby

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Please note that the Pet Behaviour Centre and David Appleby cannot be held responsible for death or injury to people or animals, or damage to property caused by the correct or incorrect use of the techniques described in this article.