American Bulldog Separation Anxiety Issues

American Bulldog separation anxiety is one of the most common problems that the average bulldog owner has to address. Your dog annoyingly barking when you leave the house is at the low end of the scale. If this issue is left unaddressed the problem could escalate with your dog making a mess, continuously barking for hours after you leave, or even destroying your house.

The Sources of American Bulldog Separation Anxiety

American Bulldogs feel a direct attachment to their owner, as they are naturally pack animals. When their master leave's the house (leave's the pack) the dog become agitated. Although not liking you leaving, there is no direct cause for them to become agitated. It can be linked however to the attachment of specific actions you take when you leave.

Reducing American Bulldog Separation Anxiety

Reducing the anxiety your bulldog feels when you leave the house has many options. Some of the easiest ways are mentioned here.

Routine Changing - Variations to your morning routine is a good place to start. Your dog may associate things like the alarm going off with you getting and leaving the house. Alter the times you get up and dressed, prepare yourself for going in different ways such as packing your bag or finding your car keys earlier. Pre-leaving anxiety will reduce as a result of these adjustments.

Don't Reward Anxious Behavior - It is so tempting to reinforce the behavior by giving lots of attention and affection to the dog before you leave and then when you return. Work towards removing the connection between leaving and returning with the dogs’ separation anxiety. When you get home ignore your dog for 10-15 minutes until they are calm. Do not give in when they make whining noises and don't make a fuss when you are leaving them. Using the crate by putting your dog inside and leaving the room, then returning at intervals can help practice this exercise. If you don't have a crate you can still practice by leaving the dog in one room while you go into another.

Increase the Periods of Time Left - Changing your dogs’ expectations of how long you are away and when you return will greatly reduce separation anxiety. If your dog is particularly anxious then leave them for very short periods of time to begin with. Your dog will learn that you do always return and the periods of time you can leave them can gradually be extended.

You're Not Being Cruel

A thing to remember is by finding solutions to your bulldogs anxiety issues you are not being cruel or mean, you are doing the complete opposite and helping them. Teaching them that you are in charge and that they have no reason to feel anxious is the aim here. Both physically and mentally, a reduction in dogs’ separation anxiety is best all round.

It is important to address severe and prolonged anxiety issues with your dog immediately. Teaching them not to associate you leaving and returning with the pack order, or their survival, will greatly reduce any feelings of abandonment.

About the Author
Stanley Smith is an American Bulldog enthusiast who has spent many years looking after and training dogs. You can check out his latest website at American Bulldog Problems, where he provides American Bulldog training related advise and information, including American Bulldog Barking, and much

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