Question: I just got a free purebred Boxer, Marley, who just turned 1 year old. I was told his previous owners locked him up a lot in a small, closed area. And because of that, he seems to have separation anxiety. Always needs to be near me or my boyfriend.
Is there anything we can do to help him with this? We do put him in a crate during the day when we are working. I go home to walk him at lunch. Should we always put him the crate at bedtime too? - Laura
Answer: Separation anxiety affects about 20 percent of pet dogs. Dogs who are re-homed are more likely to be afflicted with this disorder. True separation anxiety is manifested as a physiologic reaction when the dog is separated from the owner. The dog may destroy, urinate, defecate, vocalize as well as show other physical signs.
The behavior that you describe is hyperattachment to you. This is a part of the separation anxiety complex, but by itself is generally not near as bad as separation anxiety.
I would recommend that you give the dog some time to adjust before you get too worried about his behavior. In the meantime, enroll him in a positive reinforcement class so that you can start to build a structured relationship with him (this will foster independence and decrease anxiety).
In addition, make sure that you make it clear how he can and cannot earn attention. Once he learns to sit, ask him to do this before he gets any attention from you at all. This will give him a way to communicate his needs to you, which will further decrease his anxiety.
Finally, practice simple down/stays in your house using positive reinforcement methods to teach him that you will come and go out of the room and he will be OK by himself. These simple techniques should help to ward off the development of separation anxiety and also should help him to adjust more easily to his new home.
Dr. Radosta
Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
PO Box 210636
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421-0636
561-795-9398
www.flvetbehavior.com
Read more articles by Dr. Radosta | Ask her a question
Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2011/01/25/what-will-help-calm-anxious-boxer/
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