Daycare services for the anxious dogs of Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego is a dog’s paradise, it’s true. Plenty of green space for hikes, walks and play, this prime location in the Portland metro can provide for great experiences with the curious canine.
However, not every moment can be spent with the furry friend. And sometimes that lack of time together can develop into disaster. Is your dog tearing up the house when you’re gone? Do they become more terror than terrier when you have to step outside for work each day? Are you looking for a solution close to home?
Your dog may be suffering from canine separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is a stress behavior developed from a fear of, you guessed, it separation. Dogs are loyal, social animals and no one and nothing can replace the affection of their person. It’s more than just chewing up a single sock or making mischief while you’re gone. It’s a learned behavior designed to give them attention, good or bad, in order for them to feel noticed and loved. Even for the most destructive dog, it can be hard for their human to stay mad.
At Safe Journey Dog Boarding, separation anxiety is a behavior we have come to recognize in many dogs. It’s a natural response humans have too. For an anxious dog, every time you leave them alone is like the first day of school on repeat. Even though crate training may work at the start of their dog days, eventually it can sculpt the conditions for unwanted behaviors.
Composing together all the best sources of canine health on the internet from the ASPCA to the the Humane Society, we have listed all the signs and symptoms for canine separation anxiety below, along with certain treatments that might just help this prickly predicament.
Would you look at those eyes? How could someone stay mad at that?
Signs your dog has separation anxiety:
- Digging and scratching at doors and kennels
- Howling, whining, barking for long periods of time
- Destructive chewing
- Urination and defecation despite house-training
What causes separation anxiety:
- Being left alone for the first time
- Being left alone when accustomed to human contact
- Suffering a traumatic event during social interaction with other dogs
- Changes in family routine or structure (losing a family member or other pet)
How to treat mild separation anxiety
- Don’t make a big deal out of arrivals and departures
- Leave your dog with recently worn clothes
- Go for a morning walk before leaving for work
- Establish a word or action or treat that you use every time you leave that reassures your dog that you will return
How to treat severe separation anxiety:
- Create a loosely confined safe place for your dog with a window
- Give them busy, active toys for distraction (food puzzles and chew toys go great together)
- Have a friend or family member visit them during the day for a walk and playtime
- Consider using an over-the-counter calming product
How can dog boarding assist in solving your dog’s separation anxiety?
You might be skeptical that is all there is to it. You might have noticed that traumatic experiences with other dogs might form or trigger your dog’s separation anxiety.
It’s true, for some dogs, daycare may not be the answer. For dog-selective dogs and dog-aggressive dogs, it might be best to leave them at home or engage in limited social contact with a dog-sitter. Young pups also benefit greatly from staying at home during the first year of their life with you, just so they know where and what to call home base.
Eventually, however, the nest can grow too small and become nerve-racking for a restless, helpless, energetic breed. Contained in one room, some dogs just want to be let out.
If you’re working from home, you might just want some peace and quiet while toiling on an assignment. There can be a great deal of emotional conflict while balancing for your winsome wolfie’s needs and the tasks at hand. Taking Fido to a daycare on a schedule can provide for those needs, set a routine and structure their week which would otherwise see them stuck at home.
For dog’s entering young adulthood, a daycare gives the anxiety an outlet. At a cage-free daycare puppers play in cohorts, with a daycare staff group leader and plenty of space to engage and disengage at will. For dogs with separation anxiety, daycare can provide an amply, able solution to solve your dog’s restlessness without neglecting them by accident.
Dogs are creatures of habit—that’s why they work so well with us humans—and forming good social structures and routines with exercise and play is important in preventing them from fostering over reliance on their human.
This is where Safe Journey Dog Boarding can help. We pride ourselves on providing the best possible daycare service for the Portland metro area. Our facility is located just over the Ross Island Bridge. With over 1400 square feet of space, dogs can blow off steam, make new friends and busy themselves with plenty of exercise.
No longer will they dote on when mom or dad will come back. Instead our environment will provide your dog all the stimulation they need to start living life rather than waiting for their human to live it with them.