Understanding Bichon Frisé Separation Anxiety
Understanding Bichon Frisé separation anxiety can help you prevent lots of bad behavior like unwanted barking, chewing things, etc.
This article will be explaining some common causes of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety, signs of separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé, and ways to avoid separation anxiety.
Bichon Frisé is prone to separation anxiety and this separation anxiety can be triggered immediately their owners want to leave home.
Let’s start with some common causes of separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé.
Causes of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety
The major cause of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety is leaving them alone at home for too long or when they are separated from their owners for some time.
This is not to say that this is the only cause of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety, so let’s discuss other causes.
The following are some common causes of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety:
- Lack of socialization. Many dogs are not given enough socialization, which can lead to fear and anxiety around people and other animals.
- Separation anxiety is often caused by prior traumatic experiences such as being abandoned, rehomed too many times, or left behind when going on a walk.
- Genetics can also play a role in causing separation anxiety, with some dogs being more prone to the condition than others.
- Bichon Frisé that are overweight or obese are also more likely to experience separation anxiety.
- Lack of exercise can also contribute to separation anxiety, as can be kept in a confined space such as a crate.
- Certain medical conditions, such as hyperactivity or anxiety, can also lead to separation anxiety.
- Birth of a newborn baby.
- Presence of a new family member.
- Bringing in a new pet.
Now you understand some common circumstances that can lead to Bichon Frisé separation anxiety let’s discuss some common signs of separation anxiety.
Signs of separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé
Most of the time, some Bichon Frisé owners do misunderstand signs of separation anxiety as signs of aggression.
While in real-time aggression can be one of the common signs of Bichon Frisé separation anxiety.
That being said let’s highlight some common signs of separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé you should know.
The following are some common signs of separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé:
- Your Bichon Frisé dog shows signs of restlessness when left alone.
- Coprophagia.
- The Bichon Frisé dog becomes excessively vocal when left alone.
- Urinating and defecating in the wrong places when left alone.
- Your Bichon Frisé dog barks excessively when left alone.
- Attempting to escaping.
- Your Bichon Frisé dog hides when left alone.
- The Bichon Frisé dog becomes destructive when left alone.
- Chewing, digging, and destruction of valuables.
- The Bichon Frisé dog shows signs of anxiety when left alone.
- Increased level of aggression.
Ways to handle separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé
Separation anxiety is a very common problem in Bichon Frisé and can seriously affect their quality of life.
There are a few things you can do to help your Bichon Frisé cope with separation anxiety.
- Make sure your dog has plenty of toys and activities to keep them occupied when you’re away. This will help them to forget about where they are and reduce the anxiety they feel.
- Take your dog on regular walks to help them get used to the idea of being away from you. This will help to exercise them and reduce their anxiety.
- Provide your dog with positive reinforcement when they are calm and behaving normally.
- Consult your veterinarian for medical attention.
Ways to prevent separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé
Handling separation anxiety is different from preventing it, just so you know there are many ways of preventing separation anxiety.
The following are some common ways to prevent separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé:
1. Proper crate training
Separation anxiety is a common problem in Bichon Frisé and can be very debilitating.
It can lead to destructive behavior and even lead to the dog being euthanized.
There are many things that you can do to help prevent separation anxiety in your dog, and Crate training is one of the most effective.
Crate training is a technique that has been shown to be very effective in preventing separation anxiety in Bichon Frisé.
Bichon Frisé that is Crate trained tends to be less anxious and more relaxed when they are separated from their owners.
This is because they know that they are safe and secure in their Crate, and they aren’t constantly worried about being left alone.
2. Tire out your Bichon Frisé before leaving
Tiring out your Bichon Frisé will go a long way to keep them calm while you are away.
When you tire out your Bichon Frisé they will relax and sleep which will reduce the amount of time they stay awake.
There are a number of ways to tire out your Bichon Frisé which include the following:
- Playing fetch game
- Running around your house with your Bichon Frisé.
- Playing hide and seek game with your Bichon Frisé.
- Teaching your Bichon Frisé to jump obstacles.
- Playing treasure hunt.
- Talking your Bichon Frisé for a walk before leaving.
3. Providing a second pet
Providing your Bichon Frisé with a second pet which can be a dog or cat is one of the most effective ways to prevent separation anxiety.
This basically means your Bichon Frisé will have a friend to keep him busy while you are away.
4. Avoid all exit signals when leaving
Avoid giving Bichon Frisé any exit signals, such as picking up your keys, since this might cause them to experience separation anxiety.
Making a big production out of going or coming back for the day is unnecessary.
Keep your distance and avoid touching, conversing, or meeting eyes as you leave.
Many dog trainers concur that as soon as you return home, you should start educating your dog that being apart from you isn’t all bad.
You may need to enforce the rule for five minutes or perhaps an hour before leaving and returning, depending on how afraid the dog is.
5. Provide a reference point for your Bichon Frisé
The majority of unsocialized Bichon Frisé feel safe in their own domain, which is why they generally won’t let people or other animals inside it, not even their bed or room.
Give your dog a reference point where he recognizes the surroundings as quiet and pleasant to help him cope with separation anxiety.
Ensure that your dog has everything he requires at the reference location, such as a chew toy or relaxing music, so he will instantly know it is a secure location.
While you can take your dog there on occasion, you shouldn’t force a Bichon Frise to venture outside of its comfort zone. Let the Bichon Frisé depart on its own terms instead.
I hope this post helps you and your Bichon Frisé deal with separation anxiety.
Always talk to a veterinarian if your Bichon Frisé has separation anxiety, and you can’t fix it.