Do Kongs work for Separation Anxiety?

[SummerBoxer]

I just bought a Kong for when I crate Summer and she suffers from separation anxiety. Have they worked for anyone else? My vet recommended it because im really not wanting to put her on medication but she is actually making sores on her head! I have to do something. Any advice?

 

[boxers4life2001]

Well, Maddie suffers from seperation anxiety and she barks alot when she is crated (she's deaf so she doesn't hear herself) I give her her kong every time I crate her. I fill it with treats and pack it with peanut butter (I usually do it the night before and put it in the freezer, this way it's nice and cold for her). It keeps her amused for awhile, how long? I'm not really sure. I think it works alittle for her but not as good as I would like it to. However, i'm sure each dog reacts differently to it. I also have another boxer Chance that is not crated and he is always in the same room as her crate, I think that helps alittle also. Would it help if you left a tv or radio on for her? Might be worth a shot. Oh yeah, I also tried this stuffed animal that has a heartbeat that the dog can feel. I thought that if she could feel somthing she would be ok but I really didn't have to much luck with that.

 

[Love my Boxers]

Kong?

What's Kong?

 

[buddy's_mom_29]

Re: Kong?

Originally posted by Love my Boxers
What's Kong?

http://www.kongcompany.com/

 

[Aimee]

Let me first ask why you are against using antianxiety medication for SHORT term use? If you or a family member suffered from panic attacks would you make them, or would you yourself suffer through them? I am all for natural remedies however, there are certain situations that call for medication. Seperation anxiety, like I've said before, is not an illness that has a quick fix to it by any means. If your dog is harming herself when you leave the house, your vet should be taking a more aggressive course. Dogs that exhibit behavior that is nonharming can benefit from behavioral altering techniques alone, but a dog with true SA requires more than that.

The purpose of the kong as it relates to seperation anxiety is that dogs do not have a concept of time. My behaviorist said that the first 20 minutes you leave the house is most crucial. If you occupy the dog for that 20 minutes, you have a better chance the dog will not be as panicked the entire time you are gone. Problem is, that when you have a dog as stressed as yours, it needs help to be able to focus on the kong. You also have to ensure that you stuff it and FREEZE it so that it takes 20 minutes to finish. Most dogs can lick the peanut butter and get the treats out in less than that. Meaning what you just did was pretty pointless. The dog also is not able to have the kong any other time then when you leave. When you arrive home, it must be taken away and put out of sight. Again, what you are doing is pointless if you leave it around all the time. It is an association with something good upon your departure.

Your dog is needlessly suffering when you leave. Dogs are not human and cannot rationalize like one. A dog that is inflictling wounds on itself needs far more than a kong. I recommend the help of a behaviorist AND the book The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell to help you get started. Good luck.

 

[FlashyTitus]

They work great for Titus. What I do is put a treat inside that is big enough that it will take a while to get out. This will keep her busy and her mind off of you being away. I also went to Petsmart and bought a bone( looks like a cow leg but has a hollowed center and has been dried) and i will put pieces of hot dogs inside the bone. This will also keep her busy. I will do this when I have something to do and need to keep Titus busy. He will chew, paw, roll...you name it until he gets out all of the treats.

 

[SummerBoxer]

I know your intention was to help but why do I always feel like when ever I ask a question on this site im put down. My attempt might have been pointless but I just did what my vet told me to.

 

[Aimee]

Originally posted by SummerBoxer
I know your intention was to help but why do I always feel like when ever I ask a question on this site im put down. My attempt might have been pointless but I just did what my vet told me to.

I think we all here would like to help you however, it's best to keep an open mind on a forum such as this. Don't feel put down. Many times people become defensive because they read a post with a different innotation than was intended. I think we are all guilty of that from time to time

Vets aren't "all knowing" and the better ones will admit that . It's always best to seek out the advice of others who may have had similar situations and do our own research to ensure we are doing the best we can--like you did here. So don't consider your attempts pointless. Learn from your attempts and continue on

 

[Sube Ru's mom]

Summerboxer- i do not think aimee was putting you down, remeber the problem with a board like this is that you dont know how people are really saying things, you have to read what is written and not what you are hearing in your head (trust me it is hard, i have the same problem)
Also, aimee has been through the seperation anxeity with one of her dogs, so her advice is right on.
we had a dog in rescue, really BAD SA and we tried everything, but that we before i really knew about BW and what can be done to help with SA. so when we adopted her out she went to a home where someone is home at all times, she is doing awesome. But i now know what needs to be done, one reason is because i have read aimee's posts.
good luck with summer with time, patience and love you guys will fiqure it out. also i think a behaviroist is a good idea along withe the book the Dog Listener.
Keep is posted on what happens.