Title: Man's Best Friend & Separation Anxiety Word Count: 621 Summary: A dog is part of every home and part of the family. knowing what your pet is undergoing is very essential to any dog owner Keywords: separation anxiety in dog, separation anxiety, stress relief Article Body: Our homes are almost never complete if we do not have something to cheer us up. Aside from our children and our personal hobbies, the one thing that gives us great pleasure whenever we are at home is our pet --- which is usually a dog. The dog is considered man's best friend and ranks first place as the most beloved animal on the face of the planet. No other animal has received as much love and care from humans. The dog is also one of the most exposed animals on t.v. and in the movie screen. Who could forget the animal adventure classics like Rin Tin Tin and Lassie? Dogs are domesticated, carnivorous mammals related to foxes and wolves. Some of the most common breeds of dogs today are the following: Doberman, German Shepherd, Bulldog, Poodle, Chihuahua, among others. Dogs are very loyal pets. Books, poems, and songs have been written to immortalize the unique relationship between dogs and humans. To this day, no other animal can match the qualities of the dog as a devoted companion and friend. No wonder, thousands if not millions of people can be considered as true-blue dog lovers. Aside from having a loyal “sidekick,” many people keep dogs as pets because they see the hairy, cuddly animal as a “walking, breathing stress relief system.” Dogs help cheer us up especially when we get home from work. Dog owners usually find their pet happily wagging its tail, ready with a loud bark to greet the master. Dog Separation Anxiety By nature, dogs are social animals. They enjoy the interaction with their human masters. Because of this deep attachment, dog owners sometimes have problems with their dogs. One of the most common dog-related problems is called Dog Separation Anxiety. Dogs are a pack animals. They don't want to be left alone. Some dogs will simply can't wait for you to come back home. Most dogs desperately try to get your attention by barking incessantly. Typically, your dog would pace, whine, chew, and even scratch the door whenever you fail to go home at the time it was used to seeing you enter the gate. Whenever you leave your dog for long periods of time, it may be possible that it would suffer from separation anxiety. What to do when your dog has separation anxiety? If you suspect that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it might be wise to consider the following tips and suggestions: l Don't be so melodramatic when you are leaving the house. Make any departures and arrivals low-key. l Show him whose the “master” of the house. You put every action you make in your own terms such as playing with him. l Discourage your dog from being so attached to you. Be aloof when greeted upon arriving home. l Maintain your distance. Do not allow the dog to settle down in close proximity. Give you and your dog some space. Do not call him and leave him here he is. It might be hard for you but it must be done. l Train him as much as possible. l Give your dog a special treat or a reward when he shows good behavior while you are gone. l Another alternative: Leave the radio or TV on while you make an errand. This will make your dog think that it is not home alone. l Do not punish your dog. Dog have fears and can also experience anxiety. The thought of being abandoned really scares them. l Invest in dog toys. It will keep your dog preoccupied or busy while you are away. Indeed, dogs have become part of our family and indispensable to having a fun and enjoyable home life.