Dogs distressed when left alone
Many dog owners leave for work and lock their pets in the house with dog foods and toys without a second thought. But a new study suggests that leaving your pets alone can cause distress and make them feel just as much isolation as children abandoned by their parents.
John Bradshaw, directors of the Anthrozoology Institute at Bristol University, who has studied pet behaviour for 25 years, said the situation represented a "real and ongoing crisis" for dogs.
Dr Bradshaw and his team put video cameras in the homes of 20 dog owners, all of whom claimed their pet was perfectly happy being left at home while they were at work. In fact, some were shown treading in circles around the doormat, while breathing heavily and whining, and one dog's trauma was such that it had to be referred to an animal psychologist.
In his book, In Defence of Dogs, to be published this month, Dr Bradshaw describes how his black labrador, Bruno, used to chew on his bed, the furniture and the wallpaper when left alone in the house. He explained how canines can become depressed if they experience long periods without company and may resort to causing damage in the home.
However, dog owners were warned not to punish their pooches as they will not understand why they are being chastised. "They have a different kind of memory. They cannot think back and realize what they did an hour ago is the reason their owner is cross with them," Mr Bradshaw stated.
The key to helping your dog to cope with being left alone, he said, is to teach it that seeing you leaving the house results in a positive outcome. This can be achieved by popping back after a short period to give it a treat or some attention, then slowly increasing the length of absence until the dog can be left alone all day.
John Bradshaw, directors of the Anthrozoology Institute at Bristol University, who has studied pet behaviour for 25 years, said the situation represented a "real and ongoing crisis" for dogs.
Dr Bradshaw and his team put video cameras in the homes of 20 dog owners, all of whom claimed their pet was perfectly happy being left at home while they were at work. In fact, some were shown treading in circles around the doormat, while breathing heavily and whining, and one dog's trauma was such that it had to be referred to an animal psychologist.
In his book, In Defence of Dogs, to be published this month, Dr Bradshaw describes how his black labrador, Bruno, used to chew on his bed, the furniture and the wallpaper when left alone in the house. He explained how canines can become depressed if they experience long periods without company and may resort to causing damage in the home.
However, dog owners were warned not to punish their pooches as they will not understand why they are being chastised. "They have a different kind of memory. They cannot think back and realize what they did an hour ago is the reason their owner is cross with them," Mr Bradshaw stated.
The key to helping your dog to cope with being left alone, he said, is to teach it that seeing you leaving the house results in a positive outcome. This can be achieved by popping back after a short period to give it a treat or some attention, then slowly increasing the length of absence until the dog can be left alone all day.
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