– We think of her as family, Yanne Henriksen says about Abby. – How did they do when they had to raise the dog? – We went on a course, answers Henriksen. One cold morning in October, news meets her and the four-year-old vorsteh dog Abby in Sørmarka in Stavanger. Yanne Henriksen and the vorsteh dog Abby. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Have mental problems There is no doubt that most Norwegian dog owners are happy with their furry “children”. Nevertheless, new research shows that the typical family dog suffers from loneliness, separation anxiety and high expectations. That is the conclusion of researchers from the University of Copenhagen in a new study, discussed by Forskning.no. The Danish researchers compared the welfare of the family dog with the village dog, a type of street dog that roams freely in a village without belonging to a specific family. According to the researchers, the family dog has higher welfare when it comes to safety, access to nutritious food and veterinary treatment. But they often suffered from loneliness and unrealistic social expectations from their owners, which can lead to anxiety, depression or aggressive behaviour. The village dog usually does not have these problems. Five signs that your dog is depressed 1. The dog lies still all day A sign of depression is if your dog stops playing, smelling things and exploring different activities. If the dog lies down as soon as you have picked him up, or sighs and does not want to move, this may be a sign that your dog is depressed. A rapid change in behavior can also be a sign that something is wrong. 2. The dog’s lack of or loss of appetite is often the first sign of illness and should always be examined. The dog may either suffer from depression or another physical illness. 3. The dog behaves destructively If your dog has suddenly started behaving badly, it may be that he is depressed. They may start barking, scratching and biting healthy things or urinating inside. 4. The dog does not want to go for a walk The clearest sign of a depressed dog may be that he no longer wants to go for a walk. Dogs need exercise, to be in motion in the fresh air and to go to the toilet. If this is something they suddenly no longer want, it may be a sign that the dog is depressed. 5. The dog wants to be alone Dogs who want to be alone, and who do not seek contact from others, may be ill. This is often linked to the other signs above and must not be ignored. – Are we the ones who get separation anxiety? In the park, news also meets Kari Guldbrandsen. She has two goldendoodles, Tarsan and Luna. Matmor says that she and her husband have raised them as their own children. – I actually think it’s just as bad for us when we’re away from them for too long. We are the ones who get separation anxiety, she says. Grete Wennerlund Pedersen, Inger Wennerlund Pedersen and Kari Guldbransen together with Alfred, Liam, Luna and Tarsan. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news news meets her together with Inger and Grete Wennerlund Pedersen, who own the Irish setter Liam. Grete also has two daughters, each with their own cocker spaniel; Dennis and Alfred. Liam recently became an “only child”, but is often visited by Alfred and Dennis. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news – We are childminders for them, so they don’t have to stay home alone for too long when my daughters are at work, Grete says. But not everyone has the opportunity, and many dogs have to be at home alone for eight hours a day. What does one do, then, to avoid the dog developing a behavioral problem? Alfred and Dennis in the dog walking area in Sørmarka in Stavanger. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Give the dog more choices Behavioral biologist and dog expert Emma M. Garlant gives advice on how to raise family dogs in the best possible way. She points out that we give the dog too few choices. – We put them in situations that they are not prepared to cope with. We force them to be at home alone, to pass other dogs, to have their claws clipped and to sit. There is a lot of coercion. Behavioral biologist and dog expert Emma M. Garlant Photo: Anna-Julia Granberg / Blunderbuss Instead of forcing the dog to do something, we should rather get the dog used to it, she believes. – If you’re going to get your dog used to being home alone, it’s a good idea to start by just holding the door handle. The next step is to go out the door and be outside for one second, and gradually step up, she says and adds: – Many people think that the dogs can be home alone for eight hours without getting used to it, but very few dogs can handle that. Although Tarsan is rarely at home alone, owner Kari Guldbrandsen was careful to get him used to being alone for only a few minutes at a time, before he got used to being alone for longer periods. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Don’t see yourself as a “pack leader” But even if the dog is social and does not thrive alone, according to Garlant, it is a widespread misunderstanding that the dog is a pack animal, as wolves are. – We see that village dogs often live alone, but they are social when they meet each other. A bit like when we meet each other at the shop; we are social and communicate with each other, but then we each go our separate ways. Garlant therefore encourages dog owners not to see themselves as a “pack leader” who must “show who is the boss”. – Such attitudes often mean that one exposes the dog to things that cause him to become afraid or develop aggression or other behavioral problems. Yanne Henriksen says that the dog Abby can be with her both on the sofa and in bed. – My husband is retired, so Abby is also very rarely alone. We have attended courses and trained her, but she is not forced to do anything. Yanne Henriksen together with Abby. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Abide, don’t punish Garlant herself has eight dogs and thinks of herself as their caregiver. – Instead of having this top-down approach, I use what we call appreciation-based methods. We appreciate what we want, and teach the dog an alternative behavior instead of correcting everything it does wrong. She believes that many problems arise from the fact that we expect the dogs to fit into our lives. – They must be seen, but only when we want. If, for example, you think dog hair is ugly, maybe you shouldn’t have a dog, she says. Dennis relaxes in the dog walking area in Sørmarka in Stavanger. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news
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This is how you can raise a dog without loneliness and separation anxiety – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
