Beagle Canine Separation Anxiety

Is your dog Anxious? Learn how to control issues like Separation Anxiety.

Where Separation Anxiety comes from

The best way to cope with and hopefully cure separation anxiety is to understand its roots. Beagles as a breed are more social than other breeds of dog. They were originally bred to hunt in packs, to be loping beside several others of their kind as they chase down a rabbit. A sporting beagle is rarely alone. He always has his fellow beagles around him, whether they be hunting, eating, or sleeping. A single beagle in your home will be confused, as every part of him screams out to be with you at all times. He needs to be taught differently than what his nature tells him.

The best method to deal with separation anxiety is through prevention. If you can nip a problem in the bud before it even starts, you and your beagle will be much happier. There are a few measures you can take to stop or curb separation anxiety, hopefully before it begins.

The Owners contribution to the behavior

People in general have routines in every part of their life, whether they realize it or not – as do dogs. Your dog picks up on your daily routines, including the routine you follow when you are preparing to leave him for the day. The running shower, the jingle of your keys, the sound of the door opening - all of these are clues that he is going to be left alone again. These actions are also usually done in the same order daily, allowing the dog to know what’s coming next, causing the stress within him to mount.

Possible Solutions for controlling Separation Anxiety

An easy way to deal with the stress this causes your beagle is to break up your routine. Just simply pay attention to what you’re doing, and when you’re doing them – then switch things up a bit. Instead of immediately heading towards the bathroom for your morning shower before work, walk to the table and jingle your keys a bit. The dog won’t understand what’s happening. Simply by doing things in a different order than what you are both used to, the dog will think that everything’s fine and that you won’t be leaving him again. Your routine will be broken up and won’t be the big deal that it used to be to your beagle.

You can even take this opportunity to sneak out of the house rather than making a big show of leaving. Often people feel that since they’re going to leaving their dog alone for the rest of the day they need to give him a lot of loving before they leave: a big hug, petting, or generous head pats. Once again, by you standing in front of the door and giving him a lot of attention, you clue him in to what’s coming next, causing him anxiety. Try simply leaving without saying good-bye to him.

Another option that may work better for those who crate their dogs when they’re left alone is to crate the dogs for short durations throughout the day.  Every few hours or so throughout the day, try locking your beagle in his crate for two to five minute periods. By doing this, your letting him know that being crated is no big deal and will lessen his stress when the time comes for him to be crated for your entire work day.

In short, always remember that your beagle picks up on cues that you give him – even when you are not aware of them. Dogs do like the security a routine gives them, but a routine that leads up to something they do not like – such as separation – can cause them great stress. By modifying your daily routine, you may be able to train the dog into accepting separation more easily.