Effects of preadoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety in newly adopted shelter dogs

摘要: Separation anxiety is one of the more prevalent and difficult to treat behavior problems in dogs. The associated behaviors can be undesirable dog owners damage human animal bond, leading relinquishment or return an shelter. Due high prevalence separation related recently adopted shelter dogs, staff hold a critical role advising educating on how prevent post-adoption. aim this study was propose form that preventive counseling as means preventing development efficacy preadoption education prevention tested prospective, randomized, parallel-group study. Participants included 133 new dogs 6 months age older. At time adoption, sixty-six these were randomly selected receive five minutes anxiety, while remaining sixty-seven served controls. A follow-up survey regarding signs with other potentially conducted month post adoption. Results showed 19 reported their having anxiety. There no significant effect adoption Owners both groups equally likely perform most recommendations given during counseling. Dogs have significantly than without show nervous panicked owner prepared leave (P = 0.0001) being “needy” 0.031). Having another home not protective against group those control put food inside toy at leaving alone 0.0001), suggesting indeed followed by owners. Owner compliance supports idea useful tool for disorder whose course may alter using only basic, interventional information. Brief do effectively occurrence complex behavioral condition. Further investigation should done find specific, effective tools use minimize provide resources develop despite efforts.