Of all the breeds of dog that you can choose from, Labradors are one of the favorites. This is really no surprise, as these dogs are friendly, loving and deeply devoted to their owners. As with all other breeds however there are certain issues that you may come across when you own a Labrador, one of the most common being separation anxiety.
This is actually a very common behavioral problem with many breeds of dog. Dogs with separation anxiety can be very difficult to manage, and so this may be a difficult time for both you and your dog. It is important that you have patience and understand that there are things you can do to effectively deal with your dog’s separation anxiety problem. Of course the easiest thing would be to stay home all the time with your dog but because this is obviously not the case you will have to figure something more permanent.
There are a few tips that can be helpful in dealing with your dog’s separation anxiety problem, but the first thing you should try is quite simple. Get them out for more exercise, even if this just means taking them for a walk around the block. The more physically active they are the better they are going to feel, and therefore the less likely they will be to have any behavioral problems.
Another idea is to begin softening your returns and departures. This means when you are going to leave, instead of giving the dog extra attention because you think this is going to help your Labradors behavior, you should try to slip out the door while they are not looking, or at least make yourself as unnoticeable as possible. This will train the dog to understand that you have to go out and that they just have to deal with it.
If you have tried these methods and are still having a problem, this will really not be a surprise because Labradors are often quite stubborn. There are more serious methods that you can use however, medication being one of these. Anti-anxiety medications are the most commonly prescribed, and they are used to suppress anxiety in the dog. These medications are usually only used on dogs with severe separation anxiety however, as they can cause withdrawal symptoms in dogs just as they can in humans.
Drugs are also never considered as being a long-term solution and so you will need to work with your veterinarian in order to come up with a lifelong plan for the dog. You will need to create an effective and productive treatment program for your dog, one that they will be able to follow for the rest of their life and keep from getting the separation anxiety back.
Ask your veterinarian for more information on Labrador problems if you are not sure what to do or if you have tried methods to no avail. For more Labrador information, try reading up on some dog books on Labradors.
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