Jack Russell Terriers For Dummies by Deborah Britt-Hay

Author:Deborah Britt-Hay
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119675617
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2019-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

Sometimes, regardless of your best efforts to provide a peaceful oasis for your puppy, he will still view your absence with some trepidation. You may find that your puppy barks for a few moments when left to his own devices but then settles into a quiet nap until you return. Or your puppy may get excited in the hopes of going with you but then, when he’s convinced you’re going out alone, resolve himself to playing solo until your return. In extreme examples, however, your dog may succumb to separation anxiety.

Dogs who truly suffer from separation anxiety exhibit classic signs of claustrophobia when left alone. Basically, they panic. In their efforts to calm their fears, these dogs may tear up carpet, try to claw their way through doors, or bark until they can’t bark any more. Although puppies are natural demolition derbies and usually outgrow this destructive phase, an adult dog who suffers from separation anxiety is a different kettle of fish altogether.

You first need to understand why this behavior occurs. Because you have become your terrier’s pack, he feels vulnerable when you’re away. Essentially, his backup buddies have left him all alone. Instead of taking a deep breath and waiting it out as humans may do, your dog begins to fret about the fact that you may not return. The more he frets, the more anxious he gets. The more anxious he gets, the more he tries to escape the confines of the house to reunite himself with his pack. As his concern builds into panic, his actions escalate. He begins to claw at the carpet surrounding the doors or the screens covering the windows. He may lose control of his bodily functions and soil the carpet, or he may dig frantically at the door jamb to try to open the door. All these things can lead to significant destruction of property in a very short time.

Separation anxiety is very real for your dog and is actually akin to a human anxiety attack or claustrophobia. Your dog isn’t being destructive out of spite. He simply becomes so agitated that he can’t control his anxiety.

It’s easy to become frustrated with an overly anxious dog, and your first instinct will be to punish the dog for his destructiveness. This probably is the worst course of action you can take. Imagine, for example, that your child gets separated from you in a grocery store. She calls out for you, but you’re out of earshot. At first, your child isn’t too concerned because you usually respond promptly to her calls for help. But as time passes and you don’t reappear, your child gets more anxious. Pretty soon she’s crying and then screaming, trying to find you. When at last you discover that your child isn’t where you thought she was, you go searching and finally find her a few aisles away. Instead of consoling her frantic wails, you yell at your child and swat her on the behind for not staying close to you.

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