Help for anxious pups
| Published: 26th May 2008 10:53 |
Is your dog suffering from separation anxiety?
The Dogs Trust coined the famous slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas" and many of us have certainly heeded this warning when considering whether to purchase a pooch.
But even after great deliberation and with the best intentions in the world, if you buy a dog and you lead a busy life then you could still find yourself in trouble. Dogs need a lot of attention and if you're not there to give it, then both you and your canine friend are going to suffer.
There can be nothing worse than returning home from a long day at work to find that your dog has chewed everything in sight. And have you ever heard your dog whine and cry when you leave the house? It doesn't do this to annoy you or simply because it's bored. Your dog may well be suffering from separation anxiety.
But don't worry, there's no need to get a puppy therapist on the case just yet. All the answers you need to transform your miserable mutt into a happy hound could be at your fingertips on website dogseparationanxiety.net.
Founder of the site Kristi Patrice Carter sheds some light on the condition: "Separation anxiety can be a heartbreaking condition to watch your dog go through. It's important to me that dog owners understand that their dog isn't being deliberately destructive or annoying. Dogs with separation anxiety just miss their owners. I created this site especially so that dog owners can understand their dog and learn how to treat the condition."
The site aims to take a holistic approach to treating dog separation anxiety. Carter explains: "My cousin had a dog with this distressing condition and it was only through a combination of behavioural therapy and medication that she could retrain her. The transformation was astonishing".
On the site, Carter has included information about medical treatments that can be useful for dog separation anxiety, but also includes a variety of behavioural approaches to the problem.
The site has a networking aspect too, in that it encourages visitors to make comments on the articles posted or to ask Carter and her team more specific questions about dog separation anxiety. You can even find out what music to play to make your dog happy and what new medications and treatments can be used to address its condition.
Animal lover Carter wants owners to understand their pets and to work to overcome the separation anxiety phase. "It really is a treatable condition, but one that requires the owner to be patient and loving towards their dog," she says. "The turnaround in my cousin's dog, was incredible. You just need to be persistent and caring."
For more information about dog separation anxiety, visit: www.dogseparationanxiety.net.
