Separation anxiety in a Lhasa Apso dog is not extremely common, but it can occur from time to time. Not only does it cause your dog to suffer, but it often leaves a mess for you to clean up or possibly ruins your shoes. Preventing separation anxiety in a Lhasa Apso is possible with patience and consistency.
How do you prevent separation anxiety with your Lhasa Apso? By changing routines and training your dog to be alone, they will handle separation better. Treats and entertainment also help to keep your Lhasa Apso calm while you are not home. It is not an immediate fix, but rather a process that will take time.
In this short guide, we’ll discuss the most common and effective ways to help your Lhasa Apso survive their separation anxiety. Doing so will help both the dog and the owner!
Prevention Methods
There are numerous methods for preventing separation anxiety in Lhasa Apso dogs. While the obvious idea is to not leave your Lhasa Apso alone, it just isn’t realistic. Although there are some tricks to preventing separation anxiety prior to it affecting your dog, some are unable to avoid it. At that point, it becomes preventing an anxiety episode rather than preventing the condition as a whole.
The first method for preventing the development of separation anxiety is to have times where the Lhasa Apso is ignored. This might seem harsh, or hard to do, but it can save a lot of trouble in the future. It is said that this method can even correct separation anxiety after it has become an issue. When your Lhasa Apso is following you around and clearly seeking attention, it is a good idea to not respond every time. If the dog can get used to the lack of attention sometimes, your absence will be handled easier.
Even if your Lhasa Apso seems to handle your absence just fine, leaving them alone for more than 8 hours at a time can cause the development of separation anxiety. If you must be away for longer than an 8 hour period, ask a friend to stop in and check on your pup, take him or her to doggy daycare, or bring them along with you.
Crate training is another method that can prevent separation anxiety from starting up. Dogs are naturally comfortable in smaller spaces. It makes them feel safe. If your Lhasa Apso was crate trained from early on in life, they would be more comfortable with being left in their safe space for a longer period of time. If they were not crate trained from puppyhood, try putting them in their crate for 15 minutes or so while you are home so that they can begin to get used to it. Crates also help to prevent a variety of destructive tendencies when the Lhasa Apso is alone.
While crate training is one of the popular methods of preventing anxiety, you know your Lhasa Apso best. If he or she is a dog that does not like being in a crate, forcing them to stay in it for a long period of time is not a good idea. In fact, doing so may make the separation anxiety even worse. Use your best judgment to see if your Lhasa Apso would do well in a crate for a longer period of time.
From the beginning, make it a reward for the Lhasa Apso to get to stay home alone. If he or she were to receive a special treat each and every time you leave the house, they would be much less likely to feel anxious over the process. This treat could be a Kong toy, which makes the pup work at getting the treat out, or a favorite toy that they are only allowed to have when they are alone. If you are a person that strongly dislikes the squeaky toys – here’s your chance to use one!
Exercising your Lhasa Apso just prior to leaving them home alone is a great method for preventing anxiety. Since it doesn’t take much for a Lhasa Apso to get tired, a quick game of fetch or a short walk should be enough to exhaust them. When the dog is tired, they are much less likely to care that no one is around.
Teach your dog that being alone will not cause them harm. This is done most easily by leaving them in a room alone for a short period of time while you are home. Start off small, such as a minute or two, then progress to more and more time over a period of a few months. If your Lhasa Apso has already developed separation anxiety, it may be necessary to start with seconds rather than minutes.
Prevention also lies in avoiding emotional goodbyes or hellos upon returning home. While it may be exciting to see your Lhasa Apso after being gone for a few hours, getting them wound up does not help anxiety issues. By calmly leaving the house without making a show about it, your Lhasa Apso will be more likely to stay calm as well.
Dogs tend to learn our habits and routines easily. Your Lhasa Apso will likely know that you are about to leave when you grab your coat off the hook, reach for your keys on the shelf by the door, and when you head for the door that you always leave by. In order to throw them off the routine, switch it up. Keep your keys somewhere else tomorrow. Put on your coat several minutes prior to leaving. Use a different door to go out to the car. This will help to avoid the initial trigger to anxiety.
Many Lhasa Apso dogs with separation anxiety feel comforted by music or the television. If you were to leave on quiet music or turn the tv on simply for the noise, it can help the dog to feel as though they are not alone. There is now a television channel specifically for dogs called DOGTV. This channel has become a proven method for decreasing stress and anxiety in dogs.
Comfort can also be found in items that have your scent on it, such as a blanket or t-shirt. Because of a dog’s enhanced ability to smell, a worn t-shirt might help them to remember that you are coming back or may even feel more like you never left.
Some dogs with separation anxiety find comfort in a swaddling jacket. It will wrap your Lhasa Apso so that it feels like they are being held. Much like swaddling a baby, this method helps them to feel safe and secure.
As a last resort, or for a dog with severe separation anxiety, medication may be necessary. There are several medical options for this type of health concern. Common medications include Diazepam, Paroxetine, and Amitriptyline. There are also homeopathic medicines and supplements that may help. Speak with your veterinarian if your Lhasa Apso might be in need of medication for this type of anxiety.
The prevention methods for separation anxiety in a Lhasa Apso can be a lot to take in. Since there are so many methods, it may be necessary to try one or two at a time so that you can determine what works best for your Lhasa Apso.
Signs of Separation Anxiety
There are a handful of signs that you might look for if you believe separation anxiety is happening with your Lhasa Apso. However, some of these signs are also signs of a normal Lhasa Apso, so it is important to understand the difference between your average puppy chewing a hole in their blanket and something more severe.
Excessive chewing can be a sign of separation anxiety. How do you know if this is just your Lhasa Apso being a puppy or having serious feelings of anxiety? Continuous chewing that doesn’t improve over time or with training is a major indicator. If your Lhasa Apso doesn’t attempt to chew on the kitchen table while you’re home, they may only feel the need when they are alone and anxious.
Scratching at the door or attempting to escape their enclosure is another sign of separation anxiety. It is considered normal for a Lhasa Apso to scratch or attempt escape for a short period of time, but if it continues, anxiety may be present.
Barking and howling that continues on for a long period of time is a clear indicator of anxiety as well. Lhasa Apso dogs are prone to barking as an alert, so if they hear a noise or see something unusual, it probably means nothing. However, if neighbors report that your Lhasa Apso is barking for the entirety of the time you are gone, suspect anxiety.
Another possible sign for separation anxiety is pacing. Obviously, you will be unable to see if your Lhasa Apso spends their time pacing if you are not home. This is where a camera comes in handy. Many people use their security cameras while others use a system called PetChatz, which allows for a video call to your dog while you are not home.
If you were to come home to unusual accidents in your home, your Lhasa Apso may experience separation anxiety. For a trained dog, a few hours without going outside should be no issue. If your Lhasa Apso dog is urinating inside while you are gone for just a short period of time, anxiety may be the cause. If you were gone for an 8 hour period, however, it may not be anxiety related and more so he or she was just unable to hold it for so long. After all, would you be able to hold it for a full 8 hours?
The final indicator of separation anxiety to be on the lookout for is excessive panting and drooling. Lhasa Apso dogs are not generally a drooling breed, so if they were to do so while you are away, it may be clear that they do not enjoy being left alone.
Usually, symptoms or signs of separation anxiety are constant. If your Lhasa Apso is chewing on the furniture today, but the next few days of being left alone are showing no indication of doing so, he or she probably hasn’t felt anxious. It is also common for the dog to exhibit more than just one sign. If multiple indicators are occurring when left alone, separation anxiety is the likely culprit. A qualified veterinarian can confirm or deny your suspicions.
Unconventional Methods of Improving Anxiety
While the previously discussed methods are widely accepted ways of improving your Lhasa Apso’s separation anxiety, there are additional ways that may help that are a little different. These include foods that are said to decrease anxiety, teas that inspire a calm atmosphere, and even a doggy massage.
There are a number of people that stand by the use of food as a cure to anxiety. If it doesn’t completely cure it, there are many that believe it still helps. The first of these is blueberries. Why? Blueberries are said to have antioxidants that are said to prevent stress. It is possible that your Lhasa Apso will eat them plain, but if he or she has no interest, try hiding a few in dog food or mixing with yogurt.
Sweet potatoes and kale are other foods known for preventing stress and anxiety because of their richness in vitamins. Between these two, getting your Lhasa Apso to eat sweet potatoes is probably far easier than feeding them kale.
Meats include beef, turkey, and oily fish. Beef, because it is a natural antidepressant. Turkey and fish because of the presence of Tryptophan, which is known to cause sleepiness.
Additional foods known to decrease anxiety include pumpkin seeds, hemp oil, whole oats or brown rice, quinoa, and almonds. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements that may help your Lhasa Apso to feel calmer. Feeding these foods to your Lhasa Apso 30 minutes to an hour before you have to leave would give enough time for his or her system to process the necessary nutrients.
Chamomille tea is a beverage known for its calming qualities in humans. In truth, it can be calming for your Lhasa Apso as well. This can be given to your dog prior to leaving in small increments or even by soaking a treat in the tea.
You may also try giving your dog a massage prior to leaving the home to enhance their relaxation. There are paid dog masseuses in the world, but if it is something that is going to be required each time you leave the house, learning how to properly massage your Lhasa Apso will have its benefits. For stress relief, it is best to use slow strokes moving from the neck down.
These additional methods may provide your Lhasa Apso with the calm attitude needed for you to leave the house. Remember to keep time away from home at less than 8 hours and to remain unemotional yourself. Your Lhasa Apso’s separation anxiety may become less of an issue if these methods are consistently used.
Related Questions
What toys are best at keeping my Lhasa Apso entertained in a safe way?
In many cases, bones meant to keep our dogs busy, such as rawhides, cause choking hazards. The best toy for distracting your Lhasa Apso for a long period of time is a KONG toy in which a treat of your choice can be hidden inside.
Can Lhasa Apso dogs receive therapy?
There are many Pet Psychologists or Animal Behavior Therapists that may be available to help your Lhasa Apso with numerous issues. These issues can range from bad habits, anxiety, or behavioral issues.