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041: pinklifestyle You ain't nothing but a howl dog IS SEPARATION ANXIETY IN YOUR DOG CAUSING STRESS IN THE HOUSEHOLD? WORDS BY: JACKIE RIVE Separation anxiety in dogs is a common problem, in fact about 10 percent of dogs and puppies are thought to suffer from separation anxiety. Natural calming herbs though can bring relief to these anxious creatures and help bring serenity to your household. There are different scenarios that can cause separation anxiety in dogs. Maybe you have spent a lot of time with your dog on holiday or raising children and all of a sudden you go back to work or change the daily routine. For busy working women there is often no choice but to leave your dog home alone while you go about your business. Some dogs can find this stressful and all of a sudden become very anxious when you leave. Signs of separation anxiety in dogs are as follows: • away • prepare to leave the house • alone such as destroying furniture or digging • • Anxious behaviour starts as you Excessive barking while you are Destructive behaviour while left Urinating inside property • Crying and trying to escape the Excessive excitement when you return Separation anxiety in dogs can be rather challenging to solve and requires patience In nature, dogs would normally spend their whole life in a pack so being on their own is not necessarily a normal way of life. and re-training. In nature, dogs would normally spend their whole life in a pack so being on their own is not necessarily a normal way of life. You therefore need to work on making this less stressful for your dog. Calming herbs are a useful add-on to help your dog overcome the stress and can easily be administered each day. Taking your dog for a vigorous walk prior to leaving the house is a great idea. You can then leave your dog to quietly rest while you are out. Leave him with some water which you can add some calming herbs to. Always stay relaxed as you are about to leave the house. Don't appear guilty or sad to be leaving the dog as he will pick up on this behaviour. Always act as if it is no big deal that you are leaving. Keep contact to a minimum. Don't chat to your dog and look him in the eyes. Act assertive and confident and your dog will follow your lead. Start off leaving the house for 5 minutes and returning. Then build to 20 minutes, 1 hour and finally 8 hours. Dogs that are hyperactive or anxious often have an unbalanced nervous system. Herbs such as Cchamomile, Llemon Bbalm and Vvervain, can help desensitise and re- balance the nervous system and generally soothe the nerves. These herbs reduce the anxiety or excitability that your dog may be