Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Anxiety In Dogs


 

Anxiety In Dogs

Word Count:
554

Summary:
The article is about the separation anxiety that is experienced by dogs who have become so attached to their owners.


Keywords:
separation anxiety in dog, anxiety


Article Body:
A world without dogs would be crazy. It would be lonely for most of us if we lost our favorite canine companions.  Fortunately, almost every household in the US had had at least one dog.

Dogs are animals that need special care and extra attention from us humans. Compared to cats, dogs are more active and showy to their companions. Cats just lie and sleep most of the day. It only moves toward you to get is dose of petting or to ask for food.  Most of the time, cats would rather sleep or groom themselves.

Dogs are different. They are playful, they interact with other people and other dogs as well. They show appreciation to their owner, in one way or another.  Men and dogs have become ultimate partners, helping each other... enjoying a complimentary relationship.

Dogs are also utilized outside the home, even in law enforcement.  The police have canine units that help them in searching for different dangerous substances or objects. Sometimes, K-9 units are also used to search for missing people.   If well trained, these special dogs can detect or identify crime suspects by tagging the smell. 

Even blind people immensely benefit from dogs.  These dogs serve as the "eyes" of their blind master.  These dogs enable blind people to live relatively normal lives, allowing them to leave their homes and enjoy the outdoors much like other people who can see.
  
Dogs have different personalities. It really depends on the breed or the dog's family history. From being a puppy to an adult dog, they are accompanied by their human masters. These people are familiar to dogs and how they live everyday.  The dog's everyday routine is usually dependent on their master's lifestyle.
  
However, some dogs experience anxiety that almost comes instantly when they are left alone by their master.  If they are left alone, these dogs can become destructive, which is their means of expressing frustration or loneliness.  This is actually called separation anxiety in dogs.  Dogs can become restless and bored, and if they see that their master is not around, they may go out to chew on anything that they can get their paws on --- from slippers, to furniture, to other objects found in the house.

In fact, chewing on certain objects that have the master's smell (socks, shoe, the sofa, or even the door) is one of the many symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs. Other symptoms to watch out for would be continuous barking, uncontrolled "pooping", and various ways to get master's attention.
  
Probable causes for such behavior often include dogs that were not properly socialized or dogs that have been living in different homes. With this in mind, owners should take a second look at their dogs and see if they exhibit such behavior. This will give them the idea that their dogs might be suffering from separation anxiety.

Dealing with separation anxiety in dogs can be serious if not threatening for your carpet or sofa. Begin with a no "goodbye" technique.  Owners should not give their dogs any hugs before they leave the home.   This will only make the dog long for more attention from the owner. Another tip would be to leave some toys or goodies that will help your dog consume its time and takes its attention away from its anxiety.