Herald - Issue 406

Page 46 • The HERALD • 13th May 2021 v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v 38 Pylewell Road, Hythe, Southampton, Hants SO45 6AQ Tel: (023) 8084 1000 Fax: (023) 8084 5651 www.hythevets.co.uk An Independent Local Practice The Pet Healthcare Centre ANIMAL MAGIC Do You Need Help with Dog Problems? BK9Confident Say goodbye to training problems, unwanted behaviours, pulling on the lead, fear reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, recall problems, puppy problems, confidence problems, dominant behaviour, resource guarding and much more! Stop unwanted behaviours like chewing, excessive barking, pulling on the lead, jumping up, scent marking indoors etc. E-learning courses available from £9.99 FREE Courses & Resources Private & Confidential Consultations from £20 Qualified Advanced Canine Behaviourists, Insured, Experienced, Force-Free Methods Only Enquiries T: 023 8178 17 07 E: dogs2fosteruk@gmail.com in association with www.dogs2fosteruk.org Is Your Dog Suffering from Separation Anxiety? by Dogs2Foster Withmany dog owners nowreturning to theworkplace, we have seen a signi cant increase in referrals from owners of dogs su ering from separation anxiety needing professional help. To de ne separation anxiety, the symptoms only prevail when a dog is separated from their main attachment gure who is typically the owner, but it can also be a companion dog. It can also be caused by cognitive dysfunction, the loss of hearing or eyesight due to a newfound lack of con dence, declining health, or ageing. Dogs are very sociable creatures; they form strong bonds with their human family and are happiest when in their company. Dogs who are regularly le alone for long periods of time can be very negatively a ected both physically and mentally. e condition is common in varying degrees in rescue dogs who have been abandoned or mistreated. It is a highly distressing condition for a dog, professional help should be sought. Research suggests separation anxiety most frequently occurs a er a change of guardianship, environment, members of the house and routine. Symptoms include lack of appetite/anorexia caused by depression, increased appetite and weight gain due to boredom, sudden onset aggression due to fear/ frustration, laziness, disinterest and lethargy due to lack of mental stimulation, fears, phobias and anxiety manifesting into other activities, withdrawn, timid, lack of eye contact, cowering, tail between legs etc, never settled, destructive behaviour like chewing furniture, personal items of their owners, trying to escape via any possible exit, digging at the carpet or so furnishings, excessive licking of paws/chewing on own limbs, constantly following owner around, shivering or appears irritable/agitated. Separation anxiety can be triggered by one event or a combination of experiences. It can o en be attributed to the owner’s behaviour and energy around their dog, particularly when they leave or return to the home. Anxiety in dogs is somewhat misunderstood generally as owners o en believe their dog is being naughty or behaves badly on purpose but this is not the case at all. e dog cannot help how he feels, how he behaves is his way of communicating just how rotten he is feeling. To punish a dog with anxiety will only make the anxiety worse. You can speak to a canine behaviourist if you are concerned about your dog, a one and half hour consultation is charged at £79, alternatively you can download our presentation ‘How to Resolve Separation Anxiety’ for just £4.99, both are available via our on-line shop at: www.dogs2fosteruk.org ere are also free courses, presentations, and resources for owners to download too. If you wish to speak to a canine behaviourist, please call: 023 8178 1707. Common Issues with Puppies and Rescue Dogs by Deborah Cole, Forest Pet Services Have you taken on a ‘lockdown puppy’ or new rescue dog? Sometimes a er the rst few months, owners nd they need some extra guidance. A common problem is young dogs that react and bark at other dogs on walks. Usually this is because the puppy has been unable to socialise with many dogs or people in their rst few months, due to social distancing. Consequently, some inexperienced young dogs begin to fear strange dogs, instead of learning social skills normally through trial and error. ey learn that barking can send the fearful thing away – as it tends to send owners away! is is an issue that can be resolved with patience and repetition, by training your young dog to focus on you and rewarding them with praise and a high value treat, whenever you spot a dog approaching in the distance. You do need to be vigilant and react before your dog has time to start barking! Try to ensure your dog only has positive experiences when other dogs walk past. Don’t force your dog into close encounters through this period. Be calm and positive. Teach them to sit and focus entirely on you for a reward – use a cue word such as ‘watch’. Gradually your dog will begin to associate strange dogs with a positive outcome (reward), and you should start to notice reduction in their anxiety and barking – they will probably look at you for their treat instead! Eventually you can just praise. e process can take a few weeks to several months, depending on your dog, so be patient. Consistency now really will be worth it for years of calmer walks. Forest Pet Services o er professional dog walking and puppy socialisation. For more information: www.forestpetservices. co.uk or: 023 8087 1008.