How Natural Dog Training Treats Can Reduce Separation Anxiety
Dogs are big, floppy-haired, tail-wagging bundles of unconditional love. They adore you and when you return after leaving them for a while, greet you with a frolicking welcome home. Your reunion is not so joyful, though, if you’re greeted by a destroyed piece of furniture or soiled carpet, or one of the other behaviors that can signal a serious behavior problem while you’re away. It’s what may happen if your pet’s attachment to you is too intense, and your best pal suffers from separation anxiety, whenever left alone. However, there’s hope: dog treats for training may be a part of the solution if your dog suffers from this issue or is anxious in general. Read on to learn how!
General Anxiety in Dogs
When someone says “dog”, the immediate picture we all get in our heads is of wagging tails, chew toys, happy walks and excited welcomes. And usually this is an accurate portrayal. But a dog is also an emotional animal, and part of its reputation as man’s best friend comes from their ability to have feelings similar to ours. Your dog’s physical health is your top priority. They’re your buddy, your pal, your confidant and you want the best for them.
You buy only the best food and treats ensuring their continued good health (you’re also aware of the benefits of Wyldlife’s Wyldlife Bully Sticks and Beef Tendons as natural, all meat treats!). Many people are familiar with the advantage of using dog treats for training and dental health, but they can also be used as a comfort and reassurance tool for a stressed pet.
Anxiety is a fact of life—even for a dog. It’s not all chew toys, tail chasing, walks in the park, and waiting to be fed. Dogs are just as susceptible to anxiety as their human friends are. When dealing with general anxiety, quite often there are ways to manage it. Extra love, petting, long walks, attention and special treats like bully sticks and beef tendons can really help calm your canine and alleviate some of their anxiety.
But you can’t be with your pet all the time. There are obligations like work and family that require that your pet be left at home alone a times. While most dogs don’t care to be left alone, usually they just rest and relax, find ways to occupy themselves in a healthy manner until your return.
But for some canines, it’s not that easy. If your return is greeted by destruction inside your home in addition to the welcome adoration you’ve come to expect from your pet, then you may be facing a dog that has separation anxiety.
Separation Anxiety: An Extreme Fear of Abandonment
Dogs are not born with separation anxiety. It’s something that is triggered when they become overly concerned because of separation from the people they’re attached to. It’s quite normal for your pet to feel some separation sadness and to want to be with you. It’s a dog’s affinity for the pet owner that makes them the number one choice in companion animals. However, for some pets, the times when their owner is away is extra stressful and filled with anxiety about whether or not they’ll ever be back. Your dog craves companionship and your company, and doesn’t have the ability to understand that separation from you is temporary. When it reaches the point that the dog exhibits extreme and destructive behaviors, though, you’re dealing with a far more serious issue.
These behaviors are often spotted early on in your ownership of your dog. The new puppy recently removed from the litter to your home, a rescue dog who has been abandoned by its previous owners, or a dog with a sensitive temperament who just does not like being alone, can become overwhelmed by anxiety and react when you leave it. You’re its newest hope for a lifelong friend and it cannot stand to be away from you.
When your dog exhibits the signs of extreme anxiety, including tail tucking, withdrawal, reduced activity, panting without known cause, self-biting, unusual and unacceptable elimination in the house, destruction, excessive vocalization like howling or barking, a dog owner should see a vet to rule out any physical issues first and provide anxiety medication if indicated. Once that’s done, there are many steps an owner can that can be taken to reduce or eliminate the underlying anxiety, which will address the behaviors.
Five Ways Bully Sticks Can Decrease Your Dog’s Anxiety
1. No More Escape Attempts
In dogs with separation anxiety, escape attempts are a common behavior. They want to be with you so badly, they know that you’ve left through that door. Some scratch and scrape until they get out to where they think you are. The escape attempt can cause extreme damage and can result in self-injury or damage to property. In their desperation to go with you, your pet may cause severe destruction around or to your windows and doors. If your dog does this, try giving them a bully stick dog chew. These are delicious, long-lasting chew treats that can not only distract them from your leaving, but soothe their anxiety and keep your pet occupied & happy. These long-lasting puppy chews are great healthy dog diet chew sticks for training and good behavior!
2. Associates a Reward with a Situation
For some dogs, the change of guardian or family may be the reason your dog has anxiety. Being abandoned or surrendered to a shelter is always an anxious time for a pet. If you’re a new guardian to a dog with anxiety behaviors, no matter how committed you are, the destructive behaviors of the pet must be resolved. You understand that you’re not going to abandon them, but they’ve got a deep fear that you will, and that fear can manifest every time you leave. By providing an all natural training treat to your dog upon leaving and returning, you can provide a sense of reassurance. He’ll associate you, his beloved new owner, with the treat and good feelings he gets both from your return and during your absence.
3. Make Schedule Changes Easier
If your dog’s behavior seems to have been triggered by an abrupt change in schedule, particularly if it affects the length of time your dog is left alone, rest assured this is not unusual. And yes it can be challenging; after all, we all have work schedules and are at the mercy of them. But sometimes these changes trigger anxiety in your pet as they adjust to the change- they do best on a regular, familiar schedule. Again, providing a long-lasting chew treat such as bully sticks can help alleviate some of this stress and provide a familiarity until your dog adjusts.
4. Welcome New Additions to the Home
Adding a new pet or human to a household is a huge anxiety trigger for many dogs. But many of us choose to be a multi-pet household, and quite often pet owners will marry, have a new baby, or acquire a roommate. All these changes can take time away from a beloved pet instilling in them a sense of abandonment or unease at the change. Introducing the new person by having them give your dog a long-lasting treat upon introduction can ensure a bond is created. Dogs love the people who feed them best. Associating a person with their favourite treat can go a long way towards preventing or alleviating anxiety caused by changes in the people and pets around them. Being extra reassuring, providing a super healthy, long-lasting treat can really reassure your beloved pet that they still are special to you.
5. Help Scary Moves
A huge trigger of anxiety can be a move to a new residence. Quite often, dogs are stressed by new surroundings. From the chaos of the actual move to the realization that the new home is permanent, they may become extremely nervous and it can trigger anxiety. Dogs consider their home their den and become very attached to it. Because of this, a new home may take a while to feel like theirs. Providing the comfort of a familiar treat can really help with the adjustment. Chewing a familiar treat can go a long way towards helping your pet adjust to their new surroundings.
Provide Familiarity, Comfort and Reassurance With Bully Stick Chews
Providing a comforting, reassuring, warm greeting and “see you later” for your dog with a treat that is super healthy and enjoyable can make all the difference. Upon leaving, you want to give your dog a long-lasting and delicious treat that occupies their minds (and jaws)–after all, if they’re chewing the treat, they can’t chew anything else. Be sure to give them this treat with enough time ahead of your departure, as treats like these should be consumed under supervision. Upon return, you may want to offer a delicious reward for their good behavior while you were out.
Wyldlife bully sticks and beef tendons are excellent treats as part of an overall treatment plan for your pet’s anxiety. A good, healthy and delicious way to help comfort your dog when he or she needs it the most, this will benefit both of you. Get your dog back to its happy, fluffy self so that you can be reunited after an absence in a way that leaves your pet, and you, in a doggone happy mood.
Wyldlife Pets’ treats are an all-natural product and made with wholesome ingredients like 100% Made in the USA human-grade beef tendon. If you want the best dog dental treat for your pet, visit the Wyldlife Pets store for more information about their all-natural chews for dogs. Also available at Amazon!