Dogs, how I love them. Those adorable floof packages, those clumsy obedience robots, those deliciously dim manufacturers of unfailing allegiance and excruciating attractiveness. Dogs are very attached to their humans, and they probably dream about us when they sleep. As a result, billions of people adore them in return.
That is, of course, one of the reasons it is so difficult to leave them alone. Whether you’re going away for the day or just going to the bathroom, your dog will most likely stare at you as if you’re leaving for good. Their eyes will widen, they will begin to whimper, and they will appear to believe that this is it – they will be alone for the rest of their lives.
Only when you return triumphant from what they regard to be an excessively long voyage into the unknown will their heartbreak be broken. Why, we pondered at IFLScience, do they seem to be unaware that you’re returning? Is there anything you can do, specifically, to persuade them otherwise?
To try to find an answer to this issue, we called the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in the United Kingdom, which assists in the rescue and rehoming of cats and dogs around the nation. Their Canine Behaviorist and Welfare Team (CBWT) handled the situation admirably, but be warned: after reading this, you’ll never leave your puppy alone again.
Consider the following scenario. You’ve said your goodbyes, walked out the door, and are gone. The doggo begins to feel stressed as the truth of the situation dawns on it.
“When stress levels grow, a dog’s heart rate, respiratory functions, and stress hormone levels, such as cortisol, are likely to rise as well,” the CBWT said to us.
“For the majority of dogs, the first 30 minutes after being left alone is frequently the most distressing moment,” they say. “However, for some people, this increased degree of stress might remain for the duration of their stay.”
The most obvious indicators of painful isolation are “protest vocalizations” and “destructive conduct,” but there are other signs as well. Excessive salivation and pacing are other common signs of severe stress. Urinating on the floor is most likely a stress reliever for them.
It appears that dogs never get used to you leaving. After a time, they pick up on specific clues from you – heading towards the front door, looking for your keys, locking the toilet, and so on – that indicate you’re ready to depart, and terror sets in sooner rather than later.
“Because dogs are sociable creatures, it’s impossible to determine what they’re thinking when they’re left alone,” the CBWT continues. We can’t ask them since they aren’t terrific conversationalists. It’s unclear if they believe we’ve abandoned them for good or whether they’re simply tremendously dependent creatures. Some may not be afraid, but bored if you don’t provide them with anything to do.
Some dogs, like their humans, are simply better at handling stress than others. If dogs are left alone for an extended period of time without any appropriate coping methods, they might develop separation anxiety and sadness.
However, the CBWT suggests that some dog types or breeds are better equipped to cope with stress when they have another dog to share the stressful experience with — however this is very dependent on the dogs’ unique quirks.
Would a dog that is emotionally stiff be able to aid a dog who is significantly more worried weather the storm of an owner’s disappearance? Possibly, but it depends on how the later dog reacts to the former’s tranquility.
“In certain circumstances, one dog might learn from another about being uneasy in that environment,” according to the Battersea team, thus pairing canines can occasionally make matters worse. Unfortunately, it’s really tough to tell.
It’s almost probable that their early experiences of being left alone had a significant impact on how they dealt with loneliness as adults.
“All persons may learn that being left alone is okay during the important socializing phase as a puppy, about 3-14 weeks old,” the CBWT notes.
“This may be accomplished by gradually and positively increasing the amount of time they are left alone, so that it becomes longer and longer each time.” Don’t put them in the deep end too soon, especially while they’re young.
Older canines are more difficult to control, but a similar “gradual process of desensitization” might be helpful in the long term. Again, your mileage may vary.
So, what can you do to assist in the situation? Another animal rehoming organization, Woodgreen, proposes making a “home alone box,” which includes soft toys, “a rawhide chew or pig’s ear, a few dog biscuits wrapped separately on sheets of newspaper, empty toilet rolls,” and other items.
Place it in front of them as you’re preparing to leave the house, and let them search through it. Then, without making a fuss, leave the house with confidence.
“Leave them for a brief period of time the first time you do this, less than twenty minutes,” their website advises. “As soon as you reenter the home, pick up the box and the parts he’s taken out of it and set them to the side.”
The idea is that your pet will figure out that these particular goodies will only appear when you leave the house. As their confidence improves, you’ll be able to spend more time away, and they’ll hopefully be less distracted by their box of distractions. Closing the blinds to prevent them from getting distracted by your departure may also help.
To summarize, if you have a dog, the ideal time to teach it to accept brief periods of solitude is while it is a puppy. Just try not to see them trembling in fright or getting filled with grief and doubt as you shut the front door behind them for the first time. It’s probably wise to prepare yourself for the cacophonous welcome you’ll receive when you return home.
Cats, on the other hand, are likely to enjoy seeing you leave the house. When no one is looking, there’s no better moment to plot humanity’s demise.
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