Dog Behavior

Yikes! My Dog Can't Cope With Being Alone

Kim Campbell Thornton — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Dogs are pack animals, and they love to be with their people. That's one of the many reasons they make such great companions. In some cases, however, a dog's need for human attention becomes extreme, making him prone to separation anxiety when no one's home to keep him company.

If your dog pees or poops in the house when he's left alone, chews destructively, especially at doors and windows, or the neighbors report that he barks when you're gone, he's not necessarily misbehaving. He may have separation anxiety, a behavior problem that affects up to 15 percent of the nation's 73.9 million dogs.

Dogs with separation anxiety are unable to cope with being alone. They may have been poorly socialized, lack self-confidence, or simply have never learned how to be alone. Besides being noisy or destructive, dogs with separation anxiety may drool excessively, pace, lick themselves incessantly, or refuse to eat or drink. When their people are home, they may be clingy, insisting on being as close to them as possible. While separation anxiety can be frustrating, behavior modification can help.

It is vital to teach your dog that arrivals and departures are nothing to worry about. Whether you're leaving or coming home, be matter-of-fact. Overly emotional greetings or farewells can teach your dog that your absence is something to worry about.

Set up cues that will help your dog feel comfortable with your departure. Give a treat or a special toy before you depart, leave a t-shirt with your scent that he can snuggle with, or turn on the radio or a CD.

To use music as a way of calming your dog, start by playing it during a relaxing time of day, such as when you're getting ready for bed. Your dog knows that you're going to be there for a while, so he'll settle down and go to sleep. Choose something like soothing harp music. Give your dog a few days to associate the music with this relaxing time, then set up a departure conditioning experience, combining the music, a special treat, and your departure and quick return. Your dog learns that good things happen when you leave and that you come back right away.

If you start early, you can teach a puppy that being home alone need not involve chewing the woodwork, barking, or licking himself raw. With patient conditioning, older dogs and newly adopted shelter dogs can learn this lesson as well. If your dog is crate-trained or in the process, put him in the crate while you're doing housework or otherwise going in and out of the room. Seeing you go out and come back every few minutes reassures him that you'll always return.

If you have an older dog with some obedience training, place him in a down-stay as you go in and out of the room. At first, you may only be able to leave the room for 10 seconds before he breaks his stay and comes in search of you. Don't scold, but place him back in position and leave again. Return quickly before he has time to get up. As he becomes comfortable with this, gradually increase the amount of time you're gone: 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, and so on.

You can also condition your dog to short periods of your absence by taking him with you on errands. Leave him in the car while you pump fuel, run into a convenience store for a quart of milk, or make a bank deposit. Your dog learns automatically that you're gone for a minute or two, you come back, and being left alone isn't a big deal. Of course, it's important to take into account the weather and your schedule. On hot days, cars heat up rapidly, even with the windows cracked. Never leave your dog in the car on a hot day unless you can see the car and know you'll be only a few minutes-picking up the dry cleaning, for instance. And don't take your dog if your errand will take more than five minutes.

For dogs alike, part of successfully staying alone is the ability to entertain themselves. Whether your dog stays in a crate, in an exercise pen or dog run, behind a baby gate or is well-trained enough to stay out on his own, he needs toys or activities that will stimulate his mind without encouraging destructive behavior. Treat-release toys, or food puzzles, are ideal solutions. These toys all work by extending the time it takes a dog to get a treat or kibble. He focuses on getting at the food rather than being anxious or distressed by your absence. Match the food puzzle to your dog's personality. You don't want to make it so easy that he doesn't have to spend any time at it or so difficult that he gives up in frustration.

Give your dog plenty of attention and play when you're home. That way, he'll be more satisfied and comfortable when he needs to stay by himself. Get involved in a dog sport such as agility, teach him to track, go for a walk at the same time every day, or simply set aside a regular time for the two of you to be together while you read or watch television. Even a regular grooming session is a good way for the two of you to share quality time.

The ability to hang out comfortably while you're away is one of the most important skills your dog can learn and will benefit both of you throughout his life. With training, exercise, and preventive measures, you can help him develop the self-confidence he needs.

- By Kim Campbell Thornton, author of 10 books. She writes a monthly pet column for MSNBC.com and lives in Lake Forest, Calif.

Trainer, Behaviorist or Vet: Whom to call with pet behavior troubles

Amy Shojai — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Adopting a puppy or kitten often conjures anticipation of his eventual Lassie-like devotion and intelligence, or fond memories of dressing Grandma's oh-so-tolerant cat in doll clothes. But soon, reality sinks in.

Few new pets measure up to the sometimes-inflated memories of cherished childhood pets. For first-time pet owners, even normal cat and dog behavior can prove perplexing.

Perhaps you have experienced one of these behavioral scenarios:

Your new puppy outgrows his cute phase and still has not perfected housetraining.
Your kitten doesn't seem so adorable when her frisky antics end up breaking family heirlooms like china plates.
Your resident pets appear to hate the new one (or vice versa), or they scream in fear at the sight of another animal.
Your resident pet starts displaying unwanted behaviors, like growling or snapping at you or houseguests.

You need to find workable answers, but where should you go for help?

The first line of defense is your veterinarian, who will examine your pet to determine if a medical issue is the reason behind your cat or dog's behavior problems. Your veterinarian can also recognize if your pet's behaviors are within the realm of normalcy.

For behaviors deemed to be normal - such as a cat walking on counters or a dog barking frantically when the doorbell rings, veterinarians often can provide some basic behavior tips. They may also recommend a dog trainer to help you teach that active puppy some manners. Some veterinary clinics may suggest products geared to keeping cats off counters - or refer you to places offering training classes and support.

But not every veterinarian has the time to provide training or behavior advice. And, even experienced dog trainers who excel at teaching obedience and performance skills, may not have the knowledge or inclination to deal with pets with emotionally-based, extremely challenging issues.

For example, a standard obedience class won't help a severely frightened dog or cat. The fear emotion can block an animal's ability to think and learn. Pets displaying aggression toward other animals or people require professional help - the sooner, the better.

In searching for an animal behavior expert to treat challenging issues, be leery of behavior professionals who promise quick fixes or instant cures. Longstanding behavior problems tend to require intense dedication on the part of the owner and rarely can be guaranteed to have a 100% turn-around.

Though some behavior professionals also may teach dog training, most primarily concern themselves with helping owners and pets work through issues, such as:

Hit or miss bathroom behavior
Aggressive, shy or fearful behavior toward people/animals
Household issues such as countertop cruising or jumping up
Excessive vocalization like dog barking or cats screaming
Destructive behaviors including dog chewing or digging and cat clawing
Introductions of new pets or human infants to a resident pet
Environmental challenges-transitioning outside cats inside
Attachment or separation anxiety and related problems
Self-directed behaviors like licking, chewing, or obsessive tail chasing

Be aware that anyone can claim to be a behavior expert. Following poor advice can make your pet's problems worse, so be sure to check out claims and verify credentials.

There are several reputable behavior and training associations with professionals available who specialize in pet training and/or behavior problems. Behaviors such as aggression can be difficult to unlearn and require professional help to teach cats and dogs how to react in new, more positive ways. Many times, your local veterinarian will know of any expert help in the area. You can also find behavior help through the following resources:

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists - This group consists of veterinarians with a special interest and additional study in the field of animal behavior. As veterinarians, they are also able to diagnose concurrent health conditions and prescribe drug therapies that may be helpful. There are currently 42 board-certified veterinary behaviorists (designated by the initials DACVB) in the United States and Canada. Find a listing of members by visiting their website: www.dacvb.org.
Animal Behavior Society - This group certifies qualified individuals as Applied or Associate Applied Animal Behaviorists. These professionals hold doctorate-level education in the field of animal behavior and hold the title CAAB: certified applied animal behaviorist. There are currently about 50 members. Find more information by visiting their website:www.animalbehavior.org.
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants - This professional organization accredits and qualifies members as certified animal behavior consultants (CABC) or certified dog behavior consultants (CDBC). They address behavior issues of cats, dogs, and other companion animals. These experts may or may not hold graduate-level degrees and often work in partnership with local veterinarians to offer the best for your animals. Learn more about the organization by visiting their website: www.iaabc.org.
Association of Pet Dog Trainers - This group consists of more than 5,000 members worldwide and certifies dog trainers as Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT). Members may be qualified to help pet owners with canine aggression or other dog behavior problems, as well as training. For more information and a list of member trainers, visit their website: www.apdt.com.

In the best of all worlds, our companion animals understand us, we understand them, and all live peaceably together. But when frustration and confusion about why your pets do what they do emerge, take comfort in knowing professional help is available.

By Amy Shojai, CABC, nationally known pet care specialist and author of more than 20 pet books, including PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household. She can be reached through her website: www.shojai.com.

Do Dogs Really Laugh?

Pets Best — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Patricia Simonet says she found a way to calm down the raucous barkers at her animal shelter: For several hours a day, she plays a recording of dogs “laughing” – a pronounced breathy exhalation through the mouth, sort of like excited panting.

“It sounds like pigs snorting,” some tell Simonet, a cognitive ethnologist at Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service in Spokane, Wash. She likens it to the human “hah hah hah” without the “a.” (Hear a one-second clip at www.laughing-dog.org.)

Which prompts the question: Do dogs really laugh?

Yes, Simonet says.

While researching dogs at play, she came to realize they make at least four distinct sound patterns during play time: barks, growls, whines and “dog-laugh” – that breathy forced exhalation used to initiate play.

"Only the laugh appears to be exclusively produced during play and friendly greetings, and not during other encounters,” reports Simonet. “So powerful is this stimulus, that humans can initiate play with dogs by using an imitation dog-laugh.”

This is not just a laughing matter. In fact, it’s serious enough that Simonet and her co-authors reported on their research at the Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment held in New York in 2005.

Give it a try. Just by hearing you make the breathy sound, your dog may respond by doing a “play bow” – extending his front legs and hoisting his back end in the air – to display the universal canine signal for, “Let's play!”

(Tip: Another way you can initiate play is by whispering. It works about half the time. To improve your odds, whisper while you're down on the floor doing a play bow yourself.)

“Perhaps the whisper is a close approximation to the dog-laugh,” Simonet says. “When humans whisper, they produce a pronounced forced, breathy exhalation through the mouth.”

Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, a veterinarian and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Mass., agrees that dogs laugh, but they do it inwardly, he says – not as Simonet proposes.

“Inwardly, they're thinking: ‘This is wicked good fun. I'm having the time of my life. Tee hee hee, ho ho ho.’ They just don't open their mouths,” says Dr. Dodman, author of If Only They Could Speak: Stories about Pets and Their People (W.W. Norton).

Makes you wonder: who really is enjoying the final laugh – you or your dog?

Laughter Learning

Curious about canine comedians? Check out these references:

* Don't Look Now, but is That Dog Laughing?

www.sciencenews.org/20010728/fob9.asp

* Dog-laughter: Recorded Playback Reduces Stress-Related Behavior in Shelter Dogs"

www.petalk.org/LaughingDog.pdf

* Compare dog laughter with the sound of dogs panting at www.laughing-dog.org

By Sally Deneen, a freelance writer from Seattle and co-author of The Dog Lover's Companion to Florida (Avalon Travel Publishing).