72 - CREATING A CALM ENVIRONMENT

Dogs become anxious for many reasons. If they are young, the world is new and filled with strange objects. Some of these objects may be scary – loud sounds, sounds from unknown locations, people who are different than what the dog has been exposed to – the list is extensive. Dogs can pick up anxiety from anxious owners. They may also become anxious when they are left alone. After all, dogs are social creatures and want to be with others, whether it be one of their own species or their very special companion – you.

As dogs become anxious, they will express it in ways you won't like. They may bark endlessly. They may chew up whatever happens to be within reach. This can mean furniture, clothing, shoes, bedding, whatever happens to be available. It certainly isn't about how something tastes. It's more of a stress-relieving behavior, similar to a human biting his cuticles.

What can one do to help a pup whose behaviors when he is alone produces problems? Try to resolve the issue by alleviating the problem. The ideal solution is to see that the dog is not alone during the day. This can mean finding a pet sitter who will make a mid-day trip to your home to walk and play with your dog. How about enlisting help from a retiree who might also appreciate having some company during the day? If you can find a well-run doggie daycare, the pup will have not only human companions, but doggie playmates as well. You might consider adding another dog to your family (hint: the shelter has many wonderful dogs wanting a home). Before considering this option, schedule some play dates with other dogs to see if your dog enjoys other dogs and, if so, what types – small, large, quiet, boisterous? The last thing you need is to add more stress for your already anxious pup.

If the only option is to leave your pup home alone all day, then you will need to seek some ways to help her occupy her time. The first thing to do is set up an area in which she will be safe. Try placing an exercise pen in a small room with easily washed flooring. Inside the pen, place the dog's crate, water bowl, and a bathroom area (if the dog is small, ill, not house-trained, or a puppy). The bathroom option can be piddle pads or a litter box filled with litter or grass to help with house-training.

You will also need to provide some approved chewing toys. Kongs are one of the sturdiest toys available and these can be stuffed and frozen then given to the dog. Getting the food from the frozen Kong will take quite a bit of work and time, giving the dog an outlet for her frustrations. If you use a frozen Kong to serve the dog's breakfast, it will allow her to focus on something other than your absence. Other toys which require thinking are available such as a Kong Wobbler, the Tug-A-Jug, and toys by Nina Ottoson (these are rather pricey), but should be used only while the dog is supervised.

Leave music or the television going in your absence. The noise will help drown out other noises which may spook the pup. Through a Dog's Ear has been recorded using “psychoacoustic techniques” (http://www.throughadogsear.com/music.htm) and can be downloaded to your computer. It's quite calming for humans, too. Though classical music is reportedly the best for calming dogs, you will need to experiment as some dogs have not read the Puppy Instruction Manual and seem to prefer hard rock or jazz.

The sense of smell dominates a dog's world. Use this to your advantage. Add lavender, as that is known to be calming. Comfort Zone is a brand of Dog Appeasing Pheromone and mimics the pheromone produced by mother dogs as they nurse their pups. It is highly effective and available as a wall plug-in, a collar, and a spray. There are also calming collars, lavender shampoos, and, if necessary, supplements like L-theanine, melatonin, and tryptophan which can be given with the approval of your vet (avoid any that contain xylitol which is poisonous to dogs).

You will also need to change your arrival and departure routines. Remember, dogs watch our every move and they know our routines far better than do we. Try scrambling the order in which you do things in the morning. Make your departure and your arrival home boring. No more “kissy face and hugs, Mommy will be home soon, I will miss you, poor baby.” Just leave. When you come home, ignore the puppy until she settles, then get her outside to potty and say your calm “missed you.” There will be plenty of time to play and enjoy each other later, just don't make it the homecoming ritual.

Should your dog begin to destroy furniture, doors, crates, and hurt herself in the process, you may be looking at more than separation distress. Your dog may have separation anxiety and will, most likely, need to be seen by a veterinary behaviorist who may use drug therapy and a behavior modification program to address the issue.

Creating a calmer environment for our pets may have an added benefit. We may just get calmer owners as a result. Isn't it worth a try?