Boxer Separation Anxiety

The separation anxiety suffered by a dog is a major problem for all concerned, and can be a living hell for owners if the anxiety manifests as destructiveness which can very often happen.

Many owners return home to find such horrors as destroyed leather sofas, shredded beds and generally trashed rooms.

Unfortunately, the natural reaction when faced with this catastrophe, is to shout and scream and punish the dog, however this will not help at all. The reality is that the dog has been distressed and it has acted because of this, so the solution has to address the dog’s anxiety.

Dealing with Boxer separation anxiety needs to be a gradual and patient process.

Firstly, it is essential that leaving the house is not made into a drama. Many time-poor households these days can be rather tense places in the mornings as everyone races around trying not to be late for work, meetings or school.

An anxious dog can easily be swept up in all the tension, building up to the dramatic departure of the household occupants. A more peaceful departure can become less of an issue for the dog.

The aim is to make departure less of a concern for the dog and to reduce its significance, and to do this in easy stages.

Start out by leaving the house, but return after a minute or so. This must be repeated many times, gradually increasing the time of your absence.

It is essential not to make a fuss of the dog on your return, just ignore it. When the dog has been sitting quietly for a while then a low key greeting can be given.

All of this is designed to make coming and going less of an event and an emotionally charged situation for your dog.

Solutions for Boxer Separation Anxiety

• Reassure your dog by rubbing your scent from your hands to a favorite toy.
• Leave owner-scented clothing or cloth on your dog’s bed to give contact reassurance.
• Some dogs respond well to a toy filled with interesting food which will divert them for quite some time.
• A treat such as a marrow bone before you leave can provide another focus for their attention.
• Always leave quietly without any goodbye scenes.
• During the transition and adjusting period, make sure your dog can not observe all the  signals of departure such as putting on your coat, getting your bag and keys etc, by putting it away in another area while you get ready.

The most difficult part of this training is at the beginning, but fortunately it does become a little easier as you go along. It is essential to take it gradually and progress slowly at first.

Every dog will be different in the amount of time it takes to modify the behavior, and solve the Boxer separation anxiety problem, depending on the severity of the condition.