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It's a dog's life: Pets depressed because they are left home alone all day by working owners
- Pets become down when owners go to work, a new documentary claims
- Dogs are filmed and can apparently be seen howling and 'self harming'
- 'Separation anxiety' comes from 'strong link' with humans
By AMANDA WILLIAMS PUBLISHED: 13:26 GMT, 18 August 2013 | UPDATED: 15:40 GMT, 18 August 2013
One in four dogs is suffering from depression - even turning to self harm - because they are left at home alone, it has been claimed. According to a new documentary, the pets become down when their owners go to work, and the problem is worse for those with masters who work long hours.Mark Evans, former chief vet at RSPCA, presents the Channel 4 show, called Home Alone Dogs, in which the pets are filmed and can apparently be seen howling and 'self harming' when left alone.
One in four dogs is suffering from depression - even turning to self harm - because they are left at home alone, it has been claimed
The programme will be aired later this year. The documentary makers say that the 'shocking' results include scenes of dogs pacing and spinning on the spot.
Dr Nicola Rooney of the veterinary school at the University of Bristol told the Sunday Times that even when dogs seem relaxed and happy they could be concealing high levels of physiological anxiety. And bestselling canine author Dr John Bradshaw told the paper that dogs have a very strong link with humans.
According to a new documentary, the pets become down when their owners go to work, and the problem is worse for those with masters who work long hours
He said: 'You can train a dog to do all sorts of things and understand our gestures... and we expect to turn all that off by saying, "We're going out - relax have a kip, chew a bone, we'll be back soon." They don't understand that.'He advises pet owners to slowly build the amount of time they spend apart from their dog to limit separation anxiety. In 2007, the makers of Prozac launched a special canine version of the anti depressant on the pet market which comes in a chewable form and tasty beef flavour.
One in four dogs is suffering from depression - even turning to self harm - because they are left at home alone, it has been claimed. According to a new documentary, the pets become down when their owners go to work, and the problem is worse for those with masters who work long hours.Mark Evans, former chief vet at RSPCA, presents the Channel 4 show, called Home Alone Dogs, in which the pets are filmed and can apparently be seen howling and 'self harming' when left alone.
One in four dogs is suffering from depression - even turning to self harm - because they are left at home alone, it has been claimed
The programme will be aired later this year. The documentary makers say that the 'shocking' results include scenes of dogs pacing and spinning on the spot.
Dr Nicola Rooney of the veterinary school at the University of Bristol told the Sunday Times that even when dogs seem relaxed and happy they could be concealing high levels of physiological anxiety. And bestselling canine author Dr John Bradshaw told the paper that dogs have a very strong link with humans.
According to a new documentary, the pets become down when their owners go to work, and the problem is worse for those with masters who work long hours
He said: 'You can train a dog to do all sorts of things and understand our gestures... and we expect to turn all that off by saying, "We're going out - relax have a kip, chew a bone, we'll be back soon." They don't understand that.'He advises pet owners to slowly build the amount of time they spend apart from their dog to limit separation anxiety. In 2007, the makers of Prozac launched a special canine version of the anti depressant on the pet market which comes in a chewable form and tasty beef flavour.
