Being greeted by your dog at the front door after a hard day at work is great. Walking in the door to find that your furry friend has eaten your couch is not.
One of the most common complaints heard at SCRAPS is that a dog is destructive when left alone. Beyond just chewing, the dog might urinate, defecate, bark, howl, dig or try to escape. In adult dogs this behavior signals more than just a need for house training. It can be a sign of separation anxiety.
SCRAPS has teamed up with premier dog trainer, Lisa Lucas to offer a free class on dealing with the problem. Solutions to Separation Anxiety is free to all dog owners and will be held on Wednesday, February 24th from 6:30 – 8PM at SCRAPS – 6815 E. Trent Ave. in Spokane Valley.
“The class is designed to help owners understand what their dog is feeling and to offer practical advice to overcome those fears,” said Nancy Hill, Regional Director of SCRAPS. “Our ultimate goal is to help owners with their dog’s behavior so that they will be able to keep their pet rather than having to re-home them.”
Attendees are asked to leave their pets at home – preferably with someone.
There is no conclusive evidence showing exactly why dogs develop separation anxiety. However, because far more dogs who have been adopted from shelters have this behavior problem than those kept by a single family since puppyhood, it is believed that loss of an important person or group of people in a dog’s life can lead to separation anxiety. Other less dramatic changes can also trigger the disorder. Situations such as a change in schedule, new member of the household – perhaps a baby, or moving have been associated with development of separation anxiety.
SOURCE – SCRAPS release, February 2016
