To some people, it's just an annoyance; to others, it's enough to make them take Fido to the pound and vow never to get a dog again. But it's a sign of a condition that affects humans as well as dogs. Maybe they should take a closer look at the dog.

It's called stress, and it's a real condition with real consequences if left untreated. Often, a dog will "act out" when feeling stressed. And because humans don't always understand why the animal is chewing the furniture, scratching up the door, or leaving "reminders" on the rug, they react angrily.

Separation anxiety

One of the most common forms of canine stress is separation anxiety, according to Wayne Hunthausen, DVM, a Westwood, Kansas animal behaviorist whose expertise is often sought by national animal welfare organizations.

"If the dog has bonded in a particularly noticeable way with a human family member and has spent a lot of time with him or her, any change can create all kinds of problems," Dr. Hunthausen says. A good example is when a person who had been spending a ot of time at home with the dog gets a new job that requires a lot of travel.

Depending on the dog's personality, this new situation can cause all sorts of negative behaviors.

"Sometimes, it's really destructive," Dr. Hunthausen says. "The dog will chew furniture, rip up rugs, defecate in the house, bark incessantly when the human companion has left. The possibilities are endless, and most of them are bad."

Even worse than the effect on the household is the effect that stress has on the dog. She can become depressed, lose her appetite, and even lose her interest in the normal activities and events that keep a dog active and alert: long walks, playing with toys, showing affection, and grooming.

"What you have to do is break those long held habits," Dr. Hunthausen says. "It's the same as training a child to adjust to a new situation."

Here's just one example: If you notice that Rex starts to pace back and forth when he sees you pick up your car keys, it's a pretty safe bet that the dog links the car keys to your leaving him. So start picking up the car keys at times when you do not intend to leave the house. Put them in your pocket; take them out and put them on the counter. Take them into the family room with you and put them on the coffee table. After a while, the dog will stop associating the keys with desertion.

Tire him out!

"One of the most important things you can do before you leave the dog is to tire him out," Dr. Hunthausen explains. "Take him for a long walk or a run. And give him some chewable toys-especially those that have food in them-so he'll have something to occupy him[self] with while you're away. " Kong toys that you can pack with peanut butter or in which you can insert a bone, or Buster Cubes that hold kibble, are the kinds of toys that keep dogs occupied.

You ought to see improvement in your dog within a couple of weeks.

If the disruptive behavior continues, consult a veterinarian.

Other causes:

Separation anxiety may be a leading cause of canine stress, but it certainly isn't the only one. Moving to a new home or losing a friend (either animal or human) may be a stress causer.

Again, try to break the dog's old habits and replace them with new ones. "If you see the dog staring out the window, whimpering for a lost companion, don't pet and cuddle him. As heartless as this seems, it only reinforces the dog's depression," notes Dr. Hunthausen. "Instead, get the leash and take him for a walk. Or take him into the yard and play with him."

Note: AAGI has for sale a product called NutriCalm which has been proven safe and effective in treating severe cases of stress.

Reprinted courtesy of Torstar Publications, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.