DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) For Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can make your dog act out in unusual ways, from bathroom messes to destructive behavior around the house. Learn about new products that work like magic to put your dog’s mind at ease, releasing a scent that only dogs can smell and that combats the effects of separation anxiety.
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Step 1:
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Seperation Anxiety
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It's never fun to clean up a pet's potty mess, or to come home to destructive damage. Separation anxiety is the most common cause of this behavior. In fact it affects millions of dogs each year. While scolding your pet may seem like the most obvious solution, there is a new product that could help. It's called DAP. It looks like an air freshener, but it's not designed to mask odors. DAP stands for Dog Appeasing Pheromone. The device releases a scent that only dogs can smell and it makes them feel more secure. Until recently DAP has only been available in Europe. But finally, American dogs can get their paws on this product. Behaviorists and trainers are hoping this can be part of the solution for separation anxiety.
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Step 2:
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Dog Appeasing Pheromone
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DAP mimics the scent produced by a female dog after giving birth. This scent is nature's way of calming newborn puppies. Ian Ondrizek was tired of coming home to a wet soiled carpet. That's when he turned to DAP. It takes a couple of days just to kick in and for it to spread through the house but actually, it did a pretty good job. In a manufacturer's study, 85% of dogs had a reduction in destructive behavior. Veterinarians say it's not a cure-all, but can be worth a try. Controlled, double-blinded placebo studies have not been done, and they really need to be done. With that said, certainly you're not going to injure your dog by plugging in a DAP diffuser and you might actually help your dog.
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Step 3:
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DAP Availability
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DAP is available from veterinarians and pet stores under the brand names D.A.P. and Comfort Zone. If your dog is destroying your house and your life, DAP could help you plug in a solution. For the Pet Report, I'm Mitch Wilder.
