[by Navily Zhen] As COVID-19 has kept us stuck at home, our dogs are seeing us more than ever. Interactions with our dogs have significantly increased due to our time at home. These interactions provide many positive results such as: increased trust, reduced aggression, and improved mental and physical health to name a few. However, as some states are lifting bans and businesses are opening back up, we will once again have to leave our dogs.
Dogs with separation anxiety are unable to cope when left alone or separated from their family members, and this can lead to behaviors such as urinating and defecating in the house, destroying furniture and furnishings and increased barking. Separation anxiety depends on your dog’s personality, size, and local conditions. It impacts 20-40% of dogs and as we leave our dogs to go back to work and do other activities, this could become an issue.
If you worry that your dog will be a part of the 20-40% of dogs that experience this disorder, now is the right time to begin looking for solutions.
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- If possible, leave your house every few hours or work in another part of the home separated from your dog
- Limit your interaction with your pet before you leave/delay greeting your pet until they are calm and relaxed.
- Provide interactive toys and give valuable treats when you leave.
- Rather than confining them inside a crate, opting for baby-gating into a safe room with all of their necessary supplies is encouraged
- Do not punish your dog. Punishment will only worsen your relationship with your dog and worsen their anxiety
- This process may be lengthy but remember to be patient. Separation anxiety, which is similar to panic attacks in humans, can cause effects on behavior and health and it is in your best interest to help your dog overcome this issue to live a happier, healthier life.
Our director, Jane Miller teaches stress reduction/relaxation techniques for humans and their dogs through e-training. So many of you have inquired about ways to help your client’s animals that are struggling with fear, anxiety, arousal, stress and so many of the issues you are dealing with this webinar is not to be missed.
Dogs Have Issues Too: Helping Dogs Cope With Stress
August 1, 2015 By Cheryl Aguiar https://e-trainingfordogs.com/?s=dogs+have+issues+too
This webinar presentation will be a very brief overview/introduction to helping dogs cope with stress. Jane Miller will provide a number of stress reduction/relaxation techniques along with monitoring methods. This is a very basic introduction to stress reduction/relaxation techniques covering the definition of stress, eustress and distress. Due to time constraints we will not be focusing on the brain’s role.
The stress reduction techniques that will be discussed include breathing, acupressure points, TTouch, canine massotherapy, reiki, meditation, and biofeedback etc. The monitoring methods of stress will be addressed include, stress signs/body language, cortisol levels from saliva, urine and hair, heart rate and variable heart rates, breathing rates, pulse, vagal tone, biofeedback, and MRI’s, which are costly and invasive and may cause stress levels to increase by the testing itself.
o Understand what is meant by good stress eustress vs. bad stress distress
o Learn various stress reduction techniques to add to your toolbox since different methods work for different dogs…one size does not fit all
o An introduction to breathing techniques, acupressure points, TTouch, canine massotherapy,
o Learn how to apply this knowledge and monitoring techniques
o Learn methods of monitoring heart rate,pulse, breathing rate, cortisol levels, biofeedback MRIs and the pros and cons of these techniques.
o Resources: An extensive list of videos, links, references, articles, websites, diagrams, etc. will be provided.
A question and answer session will follow this dogs and animal welfare webinar that will be moderated by Dr. Cheryl Aguiar
Speaker: Jane Miller, LISW, CDBC, AABP-CDBT
Available as a recording.
CEU’s Available:
2 IAABC CEU’s
2 CCPDT CEU’s (CPDT-KA)
2 NADOI CEU’s
NOTE: Both the Live and the Recording are approved for the same amount of CEUs.
Cost: $25.00
References
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234/full
https://thebark.com/content/human-animal-bond-dogs-home
https://thebark.com/content/human-animal-bond-easing-anxiety-our-dogs-ourselves
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/treating-dog-anxiety/