| Separation anxiety is one of the more common | | | | keys in your pocket well ahead of time before |
| problems that Havanese dog owners face. After all | | | | leaving. Another common trigger is their morning |
| your dog is extremely loyal and wants to go | | | | walk just before being left. If they know you leave |
| wherever the owner goes. We would love to have | | | | them at home right after you walk them, try taking |
| our Havanese accompany us wherever we go but | | | | them for a walk well before you plan to leave. |
| that is just not feasible especially when we have to | | | | Remain neutral: It is difficult not to give them |
| go to work or to areas where dogs are not allowed. | | | | affection just before you leave. After all you will be |
| Leaving them at home can cause anywhere from | | | | miss them all day too. However, doing this only |
| slight levels of anxiety to severe behavioral problems | | | | escalates their anxiety when you leave them. The |
| that result in barking and destruction of your things | | | | same applies when you return home. Try not to |
| at home. When you come home you may find that | | | | give them excessive attention before you leave or |
| your dog has chewed through your favourite pair of | | | | right after you return. The most effective way to |
| shoes or has peed on the carpet because they were | | | | lower their anxiety is to disassociate your leaving and |
| anxious when you were not around. It is sometimes | | | | returning with the amount of attention they |
| hard to imagine that your cute Havanese turns into a | | | | receive. It is recommended that you pretend |
| little monster at home, all because they get worried | | | | nothing has changed before you leave or when you |
| that you left them and won't return. | | | | return and you do that by ignoring your dog for 10 |
| The Sources of Dog Separation Anxiety | | | | minutes before and after. Don't pet them or hug |
| The main driving force behind the anxiety is their | | | | them during those moments even if they make sad |
| inherent nature of being pack animals and separating | | | | noises or have a sad expression. Remember, you |
| them from the pack causes them uncertainty and | | | | are doing this only to help them reduce their anxiety |
| agitation. They feel a sense of detachment when | | | | when you are not at home. |
| their master leaves and that gets them disturbed. | | | | Start with shorter periods: If you see your dog is |
| In fact, there are certain actions that the owner | | | | getting anxious as soon as you leave, go out for a |
| takes that builds on this anxiety and gets them even | | | | few minutes and then come back in. That will |
| more agitated. | | | | change their expectation of how long you will be |
| For example, if you give them attention before you | | | | gone and when you return. You can slowly increase |
| leave or right after you return and this is done on a | | | | the time you leave them so it would appear natural |
| consistent basis every day, the pattern you set gets | | | | to them that you do come back even if you leave. |
| engrained in their routine and their agitation builds day | | | | You Are Not Being Mean |
| after day. | | | | You may think that some of these methods are |
| Reducing Dog Separation Anxiety | | | | cruel and it certainly feels that way when dealing with |
| What you don't realize is that you actually have more | | | | Havanese dogs who get extremely attached to their |
| control on their agitation than you may think. | | | | owner. What you need to realize is that when you |
| Certain changes in your actions could go a long way | | | | do this you reduce their anxiety which in turn allows |
| in reducing their agitation and thus curbing their | | | | them to be calmer and healthier in the long run. |
| anxiety. | | | | If your dog's anxiety problems carry on for a long |
| Here are some simple ways you can reduce the | | | | time, you should do everything you can to reduce it |
| anxiety: | | | | early and not let it get worse. The last thing you |
| Mix it up every day: If you have a set number of | | | | want to do is come home to find your Havanese dog |
| tasks you do each day before you leave, you may | | | | has done something they shouldn't have and you |
| want to change it around a bit. If you know that | | | | immediately respond by shouting at them (and that |
| your Havanese dog starts to act up when you pick | | | | happens because you created that situation in the |
| up the car keys, for instance, try using another | | | | first place). |
| approach to get your keys the next time. Put your | | | | |