Do Bichon fries experience separation anxiety?

This post answers: Do Bichon fries experience separation anxiety? What does separation anxiety look like in Bichon fries? How to reduce separation anxiety in Bichon fries? What are some additional tips to manage separation anxiety in Bichon Frise?

Do Bichon fries experience separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is especially common in Bichon’s frises. This is because they are companion dogs, a category of dogs that become very closely connected to their holders.

Unfortunately, because they are so prone to developing this condition, many bichon breeders will only lend to people who can maintain their dog with them at all times.

Certainly, the bichon frise is a highly intelligent and trainable breed of dog. This makes it easier to handle the problem through professional training.

What does separation anxiety look like in Bichon fries?

Some signs and symptoms of separation anxiety in Bichon fries are:

Barking and howling

Bichon fries who experience separation bark excessively. Their barking is usually high-pitched or in the form of a moan.

Destructive behavior

When Bichon fries experience separation anxiety they might show destructive behavior by damaging various household objects such as furniture.

Defecation or urination

The most common symptom among Bichon fries when they experience separation anxiety is to defecate or urinate and various places in the house.

Self-harm

When Bichon fries experience separation anxiety might indulge in self-harming behaviors such as falling off the windows or balconies are getting stuck in a compact place.

How to reduce separation anxiety in Bichon fries?

Some ways to reduce separation anxiety in Bichon fries are:

Using desensitization training

In desensitization training, the Bichon fries are prepared to feel comfortable without the owners when making them understand that it is completely safe to stay alone, and the pet owners will eventually return.

Use the stay command

The stay command is similar to the set command where the pets are asked to remain in the place when their owners move away from them.

Out of sight stay command

This can be viewed as an extension of the state command where the pets are put into the habit to stay where they are while the owners are not to be seen anymore.

Place training

Place training is the method where pet owners teach their pets how to stay at home while they are out of their sight by staying in a place that they are put in.

Build confidence

It is very important to build the Bichon frise confidence about staying alone and understanding that their anxieties will reduce gradually once they get into the habit. This confidence is built when the pet owners leave them alone for gradually increasing periods.

What are some additional tips to manage separation anxiety in Bichon frise?

Some additional ways to manage separation anxiety among Bichon frise are:

Consult a vet

Pet owners must consult a vet for a proper diagnosis of their Bichon Frise. Though symptoms like barking, whining, defecating are some symptoms of separation anxiety they can be caused due to other reasons as well.

Assuming that the Bichon Frise is anxious and hence is carrying out disruptive behavior might be a cause of the neglect of the actual problem. Thus pet owners must consult their veterinary doctors to get the right diagnosis of their Bichon Frise and then treat it accordingly.

Avoid punishment

When pet owners are trying to reduce the separation anxiety amongst their Bichon frise the first thing, they must keep in mind is that punishment for their actions is only going to worsen their symptoms and resulting anxiety rather than getting it in control.

Pet owners must understand that their pet’s negative behaviors are because of the stress and panic that was caused due to their absence.

The best way to help avoid such negative associations is to shuffle the order of things that the pet owners do before their departure such that it does not lead to a pattern that their Bichon Frise picks upon.

Use distraction

The best way to help Bichon Frise from experiencing a sense of anxiety when their owners are away is to keep them distracted.

Pet owners can take the help of companion toys, food dispensing toys, or any object that reminds them of the owner’s presence when they are away to keep them distracted for a while without feeling uncomfortable.

Tire your Bichon Frise before leaving

Exercising your Bichon Frise helps to tire them out in a way that they require some amount of rest and recovery time putting them to sleep. This can be done by taking the Bichon Frise for walks and playing with them in the backyard

Using a pee pad

Waiting for the owners to come back to get done with their washroom needs might be very stressful for many Bichon Frise and impossible in some cases.

To reduce the stress related to their washroom needs owners can place pee pads which makes it easier to get rid of their washroom needs when needed

Select the right toys

Toys can be of two types one that provides entertainment when Bichon Frise feels alone, upset, and require toys to interact with, the Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy helps perfectly for the role of a companion toy.

The second one could be using a treat dispenser which helps to distract Bichon Frise when the pet owners are away.

A proper treat-dispensing toy can help keep the dogs occupied while the owners are away and fulfill their hunger needs too.

Play canine-specific calming music

Leaving the TV or radio on leaves no control over the type of commercials that are displayed, while playing calming music tailored for dogs can aid in a happy mood and a nice environment for the dog when left alone.

Through A Dog’s Ear: Music To Calm Your Canine Companion which is available as unlimited streaming, a CD, or an MP3 can be used for the purpose.

Conclusion

Leaving your Bichon fries for very long hours can cause a sense of discomfort and anxiety in them. In such situations, individuals must lookout for other ways such as having a relative or a friend visit them so that they feel a sense of comfort when they are left for very long hours or a few days.

Despite taking all the measures if Bichon fries still experiencing separation anxiety, then pet owners must consult a vet to identify other underlying reasons.

Frequently asked questions: Do Bichon fries experience separation anxiety?

Can a Bichon Frise be left alone?

Bichon can be left alone comfortably for 6 to 8 hours.

Do bichons like being alone?

If the Bichon Frise suffer from separation anxiety staying alone for more than four to five hours might lead to intense fears and discomfort.

Why are bichons so hard to potty train?

As Bichons are a smaller breed their bladders are smaller than many other breeds making them difficult to hold their urine for very long periods like other breeds

Citation

Bichon Frise’s Separation Anxiety: What to Do