All on my own - Lonely dogs

As a pack animal, wild dogs would hunt, travel, sleep and eat together. This is an inborn drive that no amount of domestication can eradicate. As such, when your dog is left alone, he will feel quite lonely.

You and your family have become his pack and without you, he is lost. Some dogs handle being alone a lot better than others. But no dog enjoys being alone for extended periods of time. Short of buying another dog to eliminate separation anxiety, there are other things you can do to make his alone time a little more bearable.

Symphony in ‘Bark” Flat

Although this is not a substitute for your presence, leaving the radio on while you are out does help to reassure your dog that he is not alone. Some dogs develop likes to certain types of music, while others enjoy talk radio. With a little experimenting with the radio dial, you will find something that your dog will enjoy. My dog seems to enjoy classical music. As soon as I put it on the radio, he lies down and gets a dreamy look in his eyes. If I put on some be-bop type jazz music, he becomes quite agitated, running around the house and barking at the radio. It was a good thing for the neighbors’ sake that I clued into this before leaving him alone with the radio on.

But like any repeated action, a Pavlovian affect will inevitably result. When your dog sees you approaching the radio, he will automatically assume you are going out. He may start to follow you around and whine or become hyperactive. Either way, if you aren’t going out but are having dinner guests over instead, this can be very annoying. It is also stressful for the dog as he will be very confused when he sees that people are coming instead of going. The solution, don’t leave your dog with your favorite CD playing - turn the dial to talk radio instead.

The Beauty of Timers

Ah, timers. What a wonderful invention. Police have recommended using timers as a theft deterrent for years. Hooking your TV or lights up to a timer set for dusk is a sure way to make the outside world think you’re home. But what about the inside world…namely the dog? As night begins to embrace your house, darkening rooms with its oppressive black blanket, your dog may become agitated. Now, not only is she alone but she’s in the dark as well. Solution: use a timer. This is a great way to comfort your dog in the hours between nightfall and your return home from work. Set your lights and your TV to turn on right when it starts to get dark. Not only are you comforting your dog, by setting a timer you are providing a safety measure for yourself as well.

With the lights on, you won’t trip over anything when you’re walking in with an arm full of groceries.