前言
当您的视线离开小狗一段时间或外出返家时,家中乱成一团的景像是很多主人共同的经验。
鞋、袜、窗廉、电话线、桌脚、玻璃杯盘、脚踏垫等各式家具用品无一幸免,当然这是您家
小狗的杰作。气愤之余,小狗不免遭到一阵叫骂甚至毒打,不幸地,这种状况常不断重演,
也逼得畜主神经衰弱甚至由爱生恨地把小狗赶出家门,没错,这就是典型小狗乱咬所产生的
困扰。
首先我们必须心平气和地分析这个问题,才能寻求破解之道。小狗啃咬的行为其实在一个月
大之后就开始了,牠们会先从舔咬自己的手脚开始,进而咬同伴的耳朵、尾巴、四肢,渐渐
地,周围的物品也会成为牠们啃咬的对像。刚开始也许您觉得牠们的举动很有趣,之后您开
始觉得不耐烦,直到有一天牠们闯了大祸,小狗乱咬的问题于焉浮上台面。
其实小狗咬东咬西是正常的行为表现,只是因为不小心咬了人们认为不应咬的东西罢了。小
狗乱咬东西,有人认为是牠们社会化过程的具体表现藉以累积生活经验,有人认为这是小狗
精力旺盛之余发泄的方式,也有人认为这是小狗换牙阶段的过渡期。不论如何,以人们的观
点而言,乱咬就是乱咬,不行就是不行,非得纠正牠不可。
首先您可以替牠们准备一个或两个不易咬坏的玩具,并让牠们习惯且拥有属于牠们的东西。
玩具以塑胶或橡皮且可清洗的材质最好,其他如大猪骨或牛皮骨则不妥(易因细菌污染造成
下痢),有些主人为了宠爱小狗而买了大堆玩具,这样容易造成反效果,因为太多玩具会使
小狗无法辨认什么可咬什么不可咬。
其次,您最好将物品收拾妥善,避免引诱犯罪,尤其当您外出时,最好限制牠们的活动区域
,让牠们在能力所及之处,只留下玩具作为牠们唯一的摧残目标。小狗通常在一岁以后,身
心发育逐渐成熟,乱咬的举动也会自然减少。
有一点必须注意,当您回家后发现牠们大肆破坏的惨况时,不管是基于气愤或调教的出发点
,所作出的任何惩处都是无效的,因为小狗不会明白为什么遭受主人的修理,只会徒然增加
小狗的身心负担。不过,若是狗赃俱获的立即惩处,倒是满有吓阻效果的。此外,为了必免
小狗因浑身精力旺盛无从发泄,常带牠们出去跑跑跳跳则是您的义务也是小狗应享的福利。
狗狗乱咬东西的行为
狗狗用口就像人类用手,狗狗用口咬东西来解除无聊和紧张,人类则是用手,狗狗也用口来
吃东西和作防御,狗狗咬时也会有快感,所以狗狗或多或少都会咬,可是他又分不出来那个
是玩具那个是家具,只要能咬而且咬的到,他一定不会放过,狗狗为何会咬?
1. 当狗狗长牙齿的时候特别喜欢咬,就像婴儿有东西就往嘴巴送一样,长牙时牙龈有东西
咬也会比较舒服。(狗长牙约在九月龄前结束)
2. 一些疾病可使狗狗喜欢咬,甚至于破坏性的咬,胃肠障碍、牙齿牙龈疾病、吃了草、树
枝、毛发,电线等,会刺激胃肠道而引起狗狗的乱咬。
3. 焦虑不安也会促使狗狗乱咬,有些人紧张焦虑时会咬指甲或抽烟或喝酒来解除它,狗狗
会用吠、无目的走动和咬东西来排除,有分离性的焦虑,怕闪电,无聊,长期被关也都
会引起狗狗乱咬。
什么令一只小狗焦虑?
Ø 被威胁(狗或人)
Ø 环境中充满暴力、愤怒、侵略性
Ø 愚笨之主人,经常以强迫性使狗儿做一些事,如强拉拖带要他前行
Ø 每天接受太高要求的训练或日常生活
Ø 幼犬进行太多运动
Ø 太少运动及游戏
Ø 肚饿、口渴
Ø 要上厕所时无法实现
Ø 太冷或太热
Ø 痛楚或染病
Ø 太吵
Ø 被迫独处
Ø 突发的可怕情况
Ø 经常被受打扰
Ø 突然的转变
4. 不适当的处罚也会激发狗狗乱咬东西,特别是当主人出外回来,看见狗狗把家里搞得乱
七八糟或是大小便,就大声骂甚至打,狗狗有非常好的生理时钟,当饲主回来就会打骂
,这样几次后他就会习惯,狗狗就会有主人回来前的焦虑,当主人回家前,他已经乱咬
东西破坏给你看,这样恶性循环,没完没了。
治疗乱咬东西的恶习有三步骤
1. 解除可能引起乱咬的原因。
2. 诱导他去咬该咬的东西例如玩具、人造骨头等。
3. 防止他去咬不该咬的东西。
狗狗有胃肠疾病、牙齿牙龈的病应找医师治疗,克服狗狗的分离性焦虑,所谓分离性焦虑是
当你准备出门他会焦虑不安,离开时他会哀鸣、怒吼、吠叫,不在时东西被咬的乱七八糟,
你回到家会像跟屁虫一样,走到那里跟到那里。
要狗狗不咬东西实在是困难的事,重点在于让狗狗咬他的玩具而不是家具或你的东西,你必
须找出他喜欢咬的玩具,多买几种不同的玩具,找出喜欢的类型后就多买那类的玩具,在玩
具上抹上他喜欢食物的味道,鼓励他去咬他的玩具,每次他咬自己的玩具时就赞美他,不要
以自己不要的鞋子或衣服或袜子之类的东西当狗狗的玩具,这样会让狗狗以为那些东西是可
以咬的,狗狗自由活动时应把会被咬的东西收拾干净,让他咬不到,无法收拾或不想收拾的
东西可以喷他不喜欢的气味在上面,辣的辣椒、苦的柚子皮汁或东西、酸的柠檬或醋,总之
,你想的出来而没有毒的都可以,千万别喷有毒的东西在上面,记的把他喜欢的玩具随时放
他身边,在尚未确定狗狗不会乱咬东西时,饲主应该时时监视,如果看到他咬不该咬的东西
就要严厉即时的制止,千万别咬后再制止,在无法监视狗狗的行动时应把狗狗关起来或隔离
。每天带狗狗出去运动消耗他的体力也是防止他乱咬的方式之一,以上简述提供作参考。
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分离焦虑症
分离焦虑症是一种很重要的问题行为,能造成宠物与饲主双方情绪上极大的苦恼。分离焦虑
症会发生在任何年龄或饲养中的任何时期,这也是饲主会将狗儿安乐死或丢弃的最普遍原因
之一。
分离焦虑症的征兆?
有分离焦虑症的狗儿在与主人分开时会变得异常忧郁。每只狗儿表现出来的行为可能有所不
同,有的狗儿只要主人不在视线范围内,就变得焦虑,所以他们会亦步亦趋地跟在主人身边
。有的狗儿可以忍受自己待在房间里,但牠们会经常地去检视主人是不是还在家里,然后才
能安心地去别的地方玩玩具或啃骨头。有的狗儿是饲主离开家里才会变得焦虑,也有的狗儿
在饲主刚离开家时,还可以独处一阵子,但如果饲主离开的时间变长,牠们就开始焦虑。这
种焦虑随着主人外出时间的延长而增加,表现出来的行为会有:哀泣、踱步、流口水、吠叫
、咆哮、过动、搔抓、咀嚼、挖掘、乱尿、食粪、和破坏主人的东西或家俱等。有分离焦虑
症的狗儿往往会有上述不止一种的行为同时出现,更严重时,有时甚至会有自残的举动或破
坏门窗跳出去的行为出现。有分离焦虑症的狗儿通常在主人回到家里时,也会表现得异常兴
奋,牠们会呜呜叫、跳起来扑人、转圈圈且持续一段异常长的时间,甚至主人可能只离开家
里几分钟的时间回来,牠们也会表现得如此异常兴奋。
如何导致分离焦虑症?
目前尚无法得知确实的原因。不论家里只有一只宠物或有很多只宠物,分离焦虑症都有可能
会发生。在年幼时期没有良好的社会化,也就是与人类或其他狗狗没有良好互动的狗狗,发
生分离焦虑症的风险就会增加。饲主工作时间改变、搬家也有可能形成分离焦虑症的原因。
也有些狗狗是在年纪渐长后慢慢形成的。如果您的狗狗有分离焦虑症的行为出现,您一定要
明白狗狗的这些行为是因为焦虑而产生,责骂或处罚只会让狗狗更困扰、更忧虑及更糟的行
为。有专家使用摄录影机观察那些曾经因为搞破坏而被处罚的狗狗,牠们在主人正常会回来
的时间前,焦虑的程度更为增加,那不是因为牠在忧虑一个人独处,而是在忧虑主人回来后
会得到的处罚。
如果我的狗狗有分离焦虑症,我该怎么办?
如果您觉得您的狗狗得了分离焦虑症,第一步就是带去兽医院做一个健康检查并和兽医师说
明牠的状况。这是要确认您的狗狗的行为真的是因为分离焦虑症而不是因为其他的原因,例
如乱尿尿有可能是因为泌尿道感染的问题,狗狗会吠叫可能只是因为牠听到有另外一只狗等
等。兽医师会建议您做一个体检来确定狗狗没有潜在的疾病造成狗狗这样的行为,体检包括
血液检查和尿液检查,这些检验对医师在用药前先确定狗狗的健康状态非常重要,同时也要
让医师知道狗狗目前有没有服用什么其他的药物或是之前有什么健康上的问题。
如何治疗分离焦虑症?
治疗分离焦虑症最有效的方法通常是行为矫正和抗忧郁药物双管齐下,二者对治疗都是很重
要的一环,只用其中一种方法往往不能达到成效。因为药物能够让狗狗放松心情专注在行为
矫正的练习上,行为矫正的练习才能真正帮助狗儿改变牠们的行为。
药物治疗:
药物的治疗一定要在医师的指示下用药,而且要有耐心地长期给狗狗服用。
行为矫正:
行为矫正同样需要持续一段时间,可能数周或数月之久。这些矫正需要专家的协助,或有些
您可以自己在家做,帮助狗儿减轻牠们的焦虑,例如:
1.Stay的训练,可以教导狗儿放松心情,如果您可以教导狗儿一段时间的Stay,您不在的时
候,牠会比较学着如何放松心情。
2.从非常短暂的离开开始,例如您知道如果您出去10秒钟,牠就会开始焦虑,那么就从离开
5秒开始,回来后如果狗儿表现得很平静,就给个奖赏,这样渐渐拉长时间,只要每次都
在狗儿开始焦虑前回来,表现好就给奖赏。可能需要持续数周或数月,所以耐心很重要。
3.确定您离开家后,狗儿待的环境是舒适的,例如正常的温度、舒适的床垫、充足的光线等
等,有些狗儿如果可以看到外面的状况,会比较没那么焦虑,但有些则相反。有些狗狗被
留在室外就会比较焦虑,让牠进室内则好多了。有些狗狗给牠一个抗忧郁的玩具,牠就会
专注在那个玩具上而忽略您的离开。
4.年纪大的狗,可能需要更多次出外上厕所的时间,所以如果您会长时间不在家,找人带狗
狗出外散步和尿尿,也可减轻牠们的焦虑。
5.狗狗有生理时钟,知道何时牠又要被单独留在家中,就开始忧虑了,偶尔改变一下您的作
息,让牠搞不太清楚什么时间牠会被留下。
6.增加运动量可减缓狗儿的焦虑,专家建议一天有二次45至60分钟的散步。
7.有些狗本来就是工作犬,所以可以训练牠做一些工作,当牠在工作时,就会专注在工作
上不想其他的。
结论
狗狗有分离焦虑症不论是对您或对狗狗都是一件令人沮丧且困扰的事,只要有耐心和适当的
处理是可以治愈的,千万不要处罚牠,也不要放弃牠。
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Separation Anxiety
Katharine Hillestad, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith Veterinary Services Department
Separation anxiety is an important behavioral problem, which can cause
tremendous emotional distress for both dogs and owners. It can occur in dogs of
any age or breed, and is one of the most common reasons for pet owners to
euthanize or give up their dogs.
What are the signs of separation anxiety?
A dog with separation anxiety becomes abnormally anxious when separated from
his owner. The severity of the anxiety and the behaviors that the dog exhibits
vary from individual to individual. Some dogs become anxious if they cannot
actually see their owner; they constantly follow the owner from room to room.
Other dogs can tolerate being alone in a room but will check frequently to
reassure themselves that the owner is still in the house, and then go back to
playing or chewing on a bone in another area. Still other dogs do not become
anxious until the owner actually leaves the home. Some dogs become most anxious
as soon as the owner leaves, and other dogs have a period of time during which
they are comfortable alone, but they become anxious if the owner is gone for an
extended period.
This anxiety often increases the longer the owner is gone, and can result in
behaviors such as whining, pacing, salivation, barking, howling, hyperactivity,
scratching, chewing, digging, urinating or defecating, and destruction of
personal items or household objects. Dogs with separation anxiety often exhibit
more than one of these behaviors. Dogs have been known to break their teeth and
tear their nails and skin trying to get out of crates, and to destroy doors,
and jump through windows as their anxiety increases.
Dogs with separation anxiety also often have an overly excited response when
their owner returns home. They may whine, jump, or run in circles. This
behavior may go on for an abnormal length of time after the owner gets home,
and the dog will have the same extreme response even if the owner has only been
gone for a few minutes.
What causes separation anxiety?
No one knows, for certain, why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others
do not. Separation anxiety can occur in animals from multiple or single-pet
homes. Separation anxiety may be more likely to occur in animals with a history
of abuse or of multiple homes. Dogs that have missed out on normal social
interaction with people or other animals, especially as puppies, may also be at
increased risk. A dog that has never had a prior problem may develop separation
anxiety when there is a change in the owner's work schedule, or after the
household has moved to a new home. Some dogs may develop separation anxiety as
they grow older.
It is important for owners of dogs with separation anxiety to understand that
the inappropriate behavior the dog is exhibiting is due to anxiety, and not
because the dog is angry or trying to 'get back' at the owner. Scolding or
punishing the dog will only lead to confusion, more anxiety, and worse
behavior. By videotaping some dogs whose owners have punished the dog for his
destructive behavior, they have demonstrated that the dog's anxiety level
increases just before the owner would normally come home. In these cases,
behaviorists feel the dog's problem behavior is not due to anxiety about being
alone, but because the dog is anxious about the probable punishment it will
receive when the owner returns.
What should I do if I suspect my dog has separation anxiety?
If you feel your dog has separation anxiety, the first step is to discuss the
situation with your veterinarian and have the dog undergo a complete physical
examination. It is important to make sure that your dog's behavior is truly due
to separation anxiety and not to something else. (For instance, inappropriate
urination may occur if your dog was never actually fully housetrained, or if he
has a urinary tract infection. A dog may bark when alone because he feels he is
protecting his property, or because he can hear another dog.)
Your veterinarian may recommend some testing to make sure your dog does not
have any underlying medical problems, which could contribute to behavior
problems or make them worse. Tests may include a complete blood count, a
chemistry profile, urinalysis, thyroid testing, a blood pressure check, and an
ECG. These tests will also be important to verify the health status of your dog
prior to being placed on any medication. Be sure that your veterinarian is
aware of any other medication your dog is already taking, and any previous
health problems.
How is separation anxiety treated?
For dogs with separation anxiety, the most effective approach is usually a
combination of behavior modification exercises and anti-anxiety medication. It
is essential to realize that both medication and behavior modification
exercises are important parts of therapy for dogs with separation anxiety. In
most cases, using one component alone will not be sufficient to achieve
success. The medication is used to help your dog relax so that she can
concentrate on performing the behavior modification exercises; the exercises
are what actually change the dog's response to a stressful situation, over time.
Medications: Commonly used medications include clomipramine and amitriptyline,
which can be prescribed by your veterinarian. Any anti-anxiety drug prescribed
by your veterinarian needs to be given exactly as directed. Dogs with
separation anxiety have a higher overall anxiety level, and drugs used as part
of a treatment plan for separation anxiety need to be given regularly, not just
when the dog seems anxious. Patience is important; it can take weeks to months
for certain drugs to become effective. It is often necessary to try several
drugs or combinations of drugs, to determine what will work best for an
individual dog.
Behavior modification: Your veterinarian may be able to give you help with the
behavior modification exercises, or refer you to an experienced animal
behaviorist or trainer in your area. For the best result, it is important that
the person you work with has had experience working with dogs with separation
anxiety.
Behavior modification exercises must be done consistently (for weeks to months)
to see results, and the exercises may need to be continued for life. For an
idea of some basic things you can try at home to help your dog feel less
anxious, see the section on lonely/anxious barkers in the article "Barking: A
Common Behavior Problem."
Another component of behavior modification that may help your dog to be less
anxious is increased exercise. Exercise has mental as well as physical benefits
for dogs. Veterinary behaviorists often recommend 45-60 minutes of intense
activity twice a day. If your dog is a 'couch potato,' start out slow and build
up the intensity and length of time over several weeks. If your dog has any
health problems, check with your veterinarian before starting the exercise
program.
In addition to exercise, mental stimulation (playing fetch, working on
commands, practicing agility exercises at home or in a class) is also
important. Many types of dogs were originally bred to do a job, and they can
become stressed without the mental activity they would normally use if they
were "working."
Conclusion
Keep in mind that your dog does not have this problem behavior because he is
mad at you or trying to 'get back' at you.Punishment, especially after the
fact, will only be confusing and cause more anxiety. Always start with a visit
to your veterinarian to rule out health problems. Separation anxiety can be a
very frustrating and traumatic situation for both you and your dog, but with
patience and proper treatment it can usually be dramatically improved.
Reference:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=2266
http://www.dog.org.tw/vet/[email protected]
http://www.royalah.com/modules/articles/article.php?id=45
http://topvet.topet.net/dog_behavior_4.htm
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我的狗之前就是有分离焦虑症,这个疾病在治疗上需要持续的耐心,我认为我的情况和原因
是因为环境的改变太大。它小时候是有我和另外三位室友照顾它,等于说,它随时随地都有
四个主人在身边陪伴它。而后生活环境改变,它必须常常一只狗留守在家,于是就产生出问
题,不过它是以不安的吠叫为主。在治疗上就如同上述所说的,除了内科给药外,必须长时
间的矫正,而且最好能请家人或是邻居一起帮忙。
当然仿间也有许多训练用书,有提到怎么提升宠物对饲主的信心和服从心,也有许多训练动
物留守的训练,和如何防止它乱咬东西。如果是单纯的乱咬东西,问题会很好解决,戴口罩
也不失为一个良好的方式之一。但如果是分离焦虑症,你应该先给予治疗。
就如同人一样,人也有这种疾病。在郁期(depressive episode),患者会感到忧郁,包括闷
闷不乐、伤心、提不起劲、悲痛等等、如果进入重郁,也有可能感到失去生存的动力。郁期
的行为视轻重程度(mild or moderate depression to severe depression)而定,包括不想
讲话、睡眠时间变长、哭泣、自杀等等。同理心,当人有这样的疾病存在时,我们应该给予
治疗,而不是把他手脚绑起来不让他自杀,或是限制它活动。