Testimonial: How Impact Dog Crates Helped This Dog's Separation Anxiety

Testimonial: How Impact Dog Crates Helped This Dog's Separation Anxiety

Anxiety is a commonly discussed topic, as it’s estimated that a large percentage of citizens have experienced or are currently experiencing anxiety. Fortunately, the stigma surrounding such mental health conditions has decreased, resulting in many people feeling more comfortable opening up to seek help. However, a lesser-known type of anxiety, yet a still very prevalent type of anxiety, is dog anxiety. Just like us humans, dogs can experience dramatic fluctuations in their mental health. Of all conditions, one of the most common to be found in dogs is anxiety. 

So what is dog anxiety? Dog anxiety can take on many forms, and it is not uncommon for some dog owners to not even know that their dog’s behavior is a result of their anxiety. Anxiety in dogs can be classified as periods of great stress that your dog experiences. Contrary to what many assume, this does not mean that an anxious dog will experience anxiety 24/7, as it’s quite common for anxiety in dogs to be triggered by external factors. An example of this would be a change in an environment that causes distress to your pup. Loud noises (such as fireworks), new people, and other drastic changes can easily trigger a dog’s anxiety. 

Furthermore, a type of anxiety quite common with dogs in particular is separation anxiety. Separation anxiety functions very similarly to anxiety, however. the underlying causes are what sets it apart. When dogs experience an excessive attachment to their owner, being away from their owner- even for brief periods, can cause them extreme distress. This is called dog separation anxiety. For many pet owners, managing their dog’s separation anxiety can be quite difficult and mentally draining. After all, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may be more prone to acting out in destructive ways. This extreme behavior is typically triggered when the dog is away from their owner. For example, say you need to go run a few errands and leave your dog alone. A normal dog might be content with a few toys laying around and the most amount of trouble they get up to being them chilling on the couch for a bit. On the other hand, a dog with separation anxiety could easily become too overwhelmed and stressed in this scenario, as they are not able to seek comfort in their owner’s presence. This commonly results in the dog’s anxiety manifesting in behavioral issues when this happens. Tearing up couch cushions, destroying household appliances, and having potty accidents are just some of the many common behaviors of dogs suffering from separation anxiety. 

How can you help a dog with separation anxiety? 

Utilize Treats

We get it; you can’t be with your dog all the time (even if you may want to). That being said, an effective tool for minimizing your dog’s anxiety when you’re away is a treat. Giving your dog their favorite treat can induce a variety of positive feelings and emotions in them. While their owner leaving would otherwise be a very distressing situation, when an anxious dog has a treat, they may be more likely to associate it with positive emotions instead. In other words, their owner leaving them will not be as catastrophic, as they are excited about their special treat. Repeat this step anytime you leave your pup, and pretty soon, your leaving them will cause no stress at all. 

Exercise Them

All of us humans- at one point or another, have heard how awesome exercise is for our physical and mental wellness. Well, the same applies to dogs. Not only does exercise ensure your pup remains in peak physical condition, but it can also ensure they are remaining healthy mentally. This can be crucial for preventing and managing anxiety in dogs. Simply walking around your neighborhood or playing a game of fetch are great ways to introduce more exercise into your dog’s life. Think about it this way; when your dog has gotten a lot of pent-up energy out of their system, they have less energy left to get anxious. In both humans and dogs, exercise has been shown to provide numerous calming and relaxing effects, which is what makes it a great tool for managing stress and separation anxiety in dogs. 

Provide a Safe Space

One of the most widely recommended tips by veterinarians, experts, and owners is to provide a safe environment for your pup. It’s been shown that a safe and quiet environment can work wonders for dogs suffering from anxiety. The reason for this is that busy and loud surroundings can become easily overwhelming for dogs, resulting in them becoming wound up and stressed. The best and most effective way to prevent dogs from experiencing this uncomfortable anxiety is by providing them with an enclosed environment just for them, such as a dog crate. 

The Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate provides a safe, comforting, and secure space where your dog can destress and relax. Constructed from heavy-duty aluminum, this crate is designed to protect even the most skilled crate escape artists. Unlike flimsy wire crates, which can seriously injure anxious dogs during their escape attempts, the Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate is indestructible and puts dog safety first. Plus, with this crate, dog owners have the peace of mind of knowing their dog- and home, are safe from harm.  

Testimonial: Dakota’s Story

As a pet company, we’ve heard many different stories about separation anxiety in dogs. After all, dog anxiety is a very common concern of many owners. Instances of dogs injuring themselves escaping a wire crate, wreaking havoc on a house, and destroying precious possessions are some of the many stories we are used to hearing. The following is a story we received from a customer, Adam, about his dog who previously struggled with separation anxiety. After his pup, Dakota, easily broke out of a wire crate, Adam made the decision to invest in the Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate. Continue reading to learn how this crate helped Dakota overcome his separation anxiety. 

"We met Dakota in late October, the day after he was picked up running loose in our neighborhood west of Houston. He was skinny but in otherwise okay shape with no obvious injuries. He had no collar or tags. We took him to our vet (we also have a 7 year old Italian Water dog) who determined Dakota was about 11 months old,  had no implanted ID chip, and apart from some weight loss and dehydration, was in pretty good health, all things considered. Our local police posted his picture on their Lost Pet Facebook page and after ten days and more than 22,000 views no one claimed him. Sadly, our area is a popular “dumping ground” for unwanted pets. It was clear no one was coming forward to claim him. Dakota then got the royal treatment of shots, immunizations and blood tests.  For him, it was like winning the lottery.
We soon discovered that Dakota experiences extreme separation anxiety. Separation issues are not uncommon among Huskies but Dakota’s was through the roof. We were concerned about how he’d behave when, eventually, we would have to be away for some length of time. We owned a wire crate which we used when our Lagotto was younger. When we tried getting him accustomed to it he reacted very unpleasantly, to put it mildly. We tried everything our trainer suggested: make it a party every time he goes in the crate, shower him with treats. Nothing could convince Dakota that anything about that crate was a good idea.  We put him in it for less than half an hour, one day, while we ran some errands. Dakota flattened one end of the wire crate, completely separating it. When we came home he was fine, but it was clear that a traditional wire crate was useless."
"We did some quick looking and found what we thought would be a crate sturdy and safe enough to hold Dakota. We were sure It was an upgrade; a furniture style wooden crate made with strong,  vertical bars. We went through the same routine: making it an appealing safe place. Encouraging  him to enjoy going in and out of the crate. Dakota wasn’t buying it. He hated the new crate as much as the old wire one. The very first time we were gone less than 20 minutes Dakota chewed through the wood, bent one of the bars enough to pull it loose and he was free."
"We were astonished. We knew we had to up our game at that point. A friend told us about Impact Crates so we did some more research.
Fast forward three months: Dakota is now 55 pounds, well fed, much adored by our family and absolute pure energy shaped like a Siberian Husky (63% Husky, 17% Malamute, 11% German Shepard and 9% Samoyed according to his DNA) He is a very sweet tempered, loving, and gentle dog. We’ve had Dakota for exactly three months and our Impact High Anxiety crate for one month. When it arrived Dakota’s reaction was immediate. It was like night and day."
"In no time he learned the “crate” command and sits in the crate obediently. I’ve actually caught him sleeping in it. When we need to crate him, after a minor amount of Husky drama,  he lays down and relaxes. He’s been crated for up to two hours and has only managed to scratch the paint a little. We can watch him on our Ring “DakotaCam” when we’re out so we know he's calm and secure. Knowing he’s safe and can’t hurt himself and seeing the positive influence that the High Anxiety crate has had on Dakota has made a world of difference."

"Many thanks to everyone at Impact for an awesome product." -Adam Szantay, owner of Dakota. 


 

Thank you to Adam for sharing your story! We are so happy to know that our crate has helped Dakota overcome his separation anxiety.


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