PUPPY SEPARATION ANXIETY

If a pet has come into your life during the holidays it will no doubt have received an abundance of attention. However, as household members return to work and school, your new pet may undergo a stressful realisation - that of being home alone.

While cats will cope better, puppies and young dogs will react by incessantly barking, trying to escape, and digging, chewing furniture and personal belongings and other behaviours that, if left unchecked, could cause disastrous outcomes.

Puppies are inquisitive creatures, full of energy and playful urges. While they will nap regularly throughout the day they will also awake to a quiet house without the regular rumblings of children running about and other noisy adventures. The pup will begin to fret, and more often than not, become bored and destructive.

Dogs are pack animals. They require company and even a playmate, but many people will opt for just one dog rather than two. However, there are answers, so read on.

Environment enrichment
This is a term used by many trainers and is increasingly recognised as an essential component of raising a happy dog. It is simply, ensuring the environment is 'rich' with toys, chew bones and interactive games. Any device that works as a safe 'tug-o-war' with the dog releasing little 'treats' when shaken will be popular. Similarly, any toy that rattles or releases a treat will entertain pup. Implement a rotation system with the toys so that pup doesn't get bored and ensure you play with the dog and the toy on a regular basis. Introduce a new toy every few weeks while pup is young, but only keep two or three out and about for him or her to play with. Keep toys in a toy basket. This will not only eliminate a messy garden but your dog will actually enjoy being able to go to the toy box and select a toy to play with. Always ensure pup has a chew bone, a clean and easily accessible bed, fresh water that won't get knocked over, biscuits and access away from the sleeping, play and eating areas for toileting.

While environment enrichment is important, socialisation, regular exercise, puppy preschool, and dog training are definitely required. These activities will stimulate and ensure pup is more relaxed and happy during the long hours at home alone knowing that you will return to play, walk and supply food.

Adapting pup to the new routine
Before returning to school or work, take a week to gradually ease your new pup into the soon to be regular daily routine. If your pup has had the pleasure of your company on a daily basis throughout the holidays, plan outings with the entire family returning at first after two hours and gradually increasing time spent away to eight hours. During this time, ask your neighbours or friends to listen or keep an eye on pup to understand the type of behaviour it has shown and how this changes throughout the week.

If the puppy does not settle, you need to look at the environment it is being kept in and the level of socialisation, exercise and training it is receiving, making a note to increase these activities when you return or before you leave.

A final note
When arriving home, your dog will be ecstatic. It will wiggle, jump, yelp with joy and want to lick you all over. While you may be just as happy to see your pooch - especially after your first day of separation - avoid reacting to this behaviour as rewarding it will only train pup to maintain this level of excitement on each return you make. Instead, hold your urge to leap on the floor for a cuddle and enter the home, as you would normally do. Put down your bag, greet other family members first and then turn your attention to pooch but keep it so pup stays relatively calm.

Similarly, when leaving, do it efficiently and without fuss. Those big beautiful eyes will simply beg you not to leave, but leave you must. If pup starts to bark, just ignore it. Returning to the front door is simply rewarding a bad behaviour. Leave a little trail of treats around the home or garden and pooch will soon be off on a little sniffing adventure.

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