Coping With Small Dog Anxiety

Many small dog owners must learn to manage anxiety. Anxiety can range from annoying to downright destructive. Avoid dealing with property destruction, accidents indoors, and incessant barking by managing small dog anxiety.

What Causes Small Dog Anxiety?

Dogs are pack animals. It is in their nature. Your pet is very attached to you as you are both his pack and his pack leader, so he will naturally become nervous if you leave. Even if your dog doesn't want to be left by himself or doesn't want you to leave, this still shouldn't become a problem for you.

In some cases, a portion of the problem is that the owner rewards the behavior. Small dog anxiety is rewarded when you pay excessive attention to your stressed and anxious dog before you leave and after your return. Because of this, your pet will feel very anxious while you are away.

Techniques for Reducing Small Dog Anxiety

You can reduce dog anxiety in a number of ways. I am just going to mention a few, but I hope you will begin to consider additional things you can do. Research small dog obedience products. There are many good items that can help you deal with this problem.

1. Change your routine from day to day. Especially add variety to your leaving the house routine. Your pet will soon know your daily routines. If your small dog is struggling with anxiety, it will begin when he sees this trigger. Small differences in your routine can be very beneficial, so be creative.

2. Be careful not to reinforce anxiety. Don't pay a lot of attention to your dog when he is anxious. This will only reward small dog anxiety. Many people love small dogs and desire to console their anxious dog. Dogs are not humans, and treating them like humans is a mistake. Perhaps it is wise to comfort small anxious children, but not small anxious dogs. By avoiding giving your dog attention for his anxiety, you are sending a message that the anxiety is unwarranted. Additionally, a good item to employ may be a crate. Place your dog inside a crate or cage and let him stay there for a little while, then come back and check on him. Help them to make the connection that leaving leads to returning.

3. Leave for a short time, then build up to longer times. This concept is similar to using a crate. Begin by leaving the room or the house for just a few seconds. Then come right back. Practice this at various times. Work on adjusting your dog's expectations of the length of your absence. If you regularly vary the times of your training then you will be helping your small dog change his expectations. Helping to make your dog feel different about your absences will support anxiety reduction.

Keep in mind that this isn't cruel. Some people think it is mean to ignore dog anxiety. Remember that your dog is not a person. If you avoid reinforcing his anxious behavior, it will help him to relax and feel secure in the knowledge that you are a reliable pack leader who will keep him safe.

Even if anxiety doesn't make your dog tear up your house, you still need to do something about the anxiety problem. It is important for you to help your dog feel relaxed and calm so that he can be a happy pack member and enjoy his life.