Because of uncaring owners and inappropriate training, Pitbulls have been given a bad rap over the years. A friend from high school had a beautiful Pitbull, and she was the sweetest dog I had ever met. She never behaved aggressively, and she was always loveable and very happy to see me. Separation anxiety was also never a concern, until my friend went away on a business trip. That is when the problem began.
One day my friend came home from work as usual, but he could not believe what he found upon entering his living room. His Pitbull Roxy had completely destroyed his sofa. He could not understand why his sweet dog of five years would begin destroying the house. He wondered if the dog was suffering from a sudden case of separation anxiety. He had just returned from New York, and the dog’s personality had suddenly changed. Separation anxiety seemed to be the reason why the Pitbull began destroying the house, and it was something I wanted to help him resolve.
A Pitbull Needs Plenty of Exercise
Roxy was getting plenty of exercise. My friend took the dog on a two mile walk on a nearby trail almost every day. She did not have pent up energy. Destroying the house should have been the last thing on her mind. While he was home the dog seemed to sleep several hours a day, and it took a little thought to figure out what had changed.
A Week Away from Home
My friend’s Pitbull Roxy vacationed at my home for a week while my friend was out of town, but it was obvious that the dog missed him terribly. Although the Pitbull did not destroy anything in my home, she seemed very sad. I did my best to relieve her separation anxiety by taking her for walks and giving her lots of love, but she was still not nearly as jovial as she was when I visited his home.
Roxy’s Separation Anxiety Issues
After my friend returned from his trip and Roxy went back home, she seemed nervous. Even though he was home for a few days, the dog still seemed to be affected by separation anxiety. Roxy did not know if he would be leaving again for an extended period of time, or if he would ever come back if he happened to leave again. She ended up destroying the sofa because of her anxiety and her fear of further separation.
Time, Lots of Love and a Large Sturdy Den
My friend purchased a large sturdy cage, provided his Pitbull with a comfortable bed and a heavy bowl of water. In time her anxiety went away and her behavior returned to normal. After using the cage for a few weeks, my friend began leaving Roxy’s cage door open while he was gone. He was no longer worried about her destroying the house. She used the comfy cage as a den, and destroying the house was no longer an issue or a concern.
Source: Personal Experience
