Some of my readers have written to me and said that their dogs become upset when they are left home alone for any period of time. We can't always take our dogs with us on our Alaskan adventures.
That's a common problem - in fact, it's so common that it even has a name: “separation anxiety.”
I've heard of lots of creative ways to ease your pets' stress, like leaving the TV or radio on for "company" when they are home alone. Unfortunately, that could actually be doing more harm than good. Studies have suggested that TV and radio can actually CREATE stress for our pets because of the drastic changes in programming and the random mix of musical styles.
Think about it - how scared would you be if you suddenly heard gunshots, sirens, or dogs barking?
The TV and radio certainly create "noise," but they don't necessarily create a relaxed environment.
Dog owners sometime ask, “Does music soothe pets the same way it can relax people?" The answer is "yes" - but it depends on the music.
Studies have been done to examine the relationship between music and stress, and some of the results might surprise you. All music is not the same…and neither is the effect on animals. Classical harp music is used around the world to help alleviate stress in dogs, cats, chimpanzees and other animals. Even animal shelters are installing sound systems and using music to create a more serene environment.
In particular, studies show that dogs and cats seem to show lower levels of stress when exposed to classical music. Cats will relax in front of the speakers when classical music is playing, and many dogs will actually bark less - especially when listening to the music of Bach.
There are a few places to purchase C.D's for your dogs on the web. I like the selection from http://throughadogsear.com also, http://petproductadvisor.com.
Try one of these C.D's next time you have to leave your dog at home. It will leave you dog relaxed and happy.
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