Indian Spitz is a beautiful fluffy Indian dog breed. They are charming, lovable, playful, and alert. They enjoy human company and crave affection on a day-to-day basis.
But some pet parents find it quite difficult to always be available for their paw baby. This can especially get difficult for busy or working parents.
Some breeds can adapt easily and are quite independent, but some can’t bear the anxiety caused by separation. This can lead to distress and behavioral issues when separated from the handler.
In today’s article we will find out, Can you leave an Indian Spitz alone at home?
Before answering the question, let’s know the breed better. Here’s a small list of things you need to know about an Indian Spitz.
Everything about Indian Spitz
Origin and history
The Indian Spitz is a Spitz-type dog breed found in India. They belong to the utility group and have an interesting history.
Indian Spitz is a crossbreed of German Spitz and Indian Pariah.
German Spitz was bought in India around 1850 to 1870. The breeders wanted to make the dogs more adaptable to the Indian conditions.
They gained their popularity in the 1980s and 1990s when importing foreign dog breeds was quite difficult due to the new rules and regulations.
“Hum Aapke Hain Kaun” was the first movie featuring an Indian Spitz on a screen, where a 6-year-old Indian Spitz played the important role of “Tuffy”.
Appearance and temperament
Indian Spitz often gets confused with Pomeranians, but they both are totally different breeds. They both share similar physical features because they are closely related.
Indian Spitz is a lot bigger compared to a Pomeranian. Spitz can weigh around 15-20 kgs and stand at a height of 30-40 cm. They have a beautiful white snowy coat, fairy, and almond eyes.
They have a double coat, that keeps them warm during the winters and cools in the summers
They have pointy fox-like ears that make this breed highly expressive. The fur covers the inside and the outside of their ears, which means they need extra care while grooming. The tail is over their back curled and looks quite fluffy.
They are high-spirited, intelligent, playful, athletic, obedient, and expressive. Their looks and incredible nature makes them arguably well-loved and popular dogs in India.
Can you leave your Indian Spitz alone?
The answer to your question is NO. Unfortunately, they tend to experience separation anxiety if left alone for a prolonged period. They are extremely fond of human affection, making them prone to anxiety.
Don’t worry, there are many interesting ways in which this situation can be handled. Being patient and training them with love is the best way to combat this issue.
What is Separation anxiety?
When a dog that’s hyper attached to its owner is left alone can cause separation anxiety. Such situations can leave them frantic, and distressed and may lead to destructive behavior.
Pet parents often mistake this behavior to be disobedience or spite, but those innocent creatures are actually distressed and upset because of their parent’s absence.
It is more than just a little whining or mischief, but more of a reaction to the situation.
Causes of such behavior could be left alone for several hours or left alone for the first time, moving from shelter to a home, lack of training, genetics, neglect, change of family routine, loss of a family member, or boredom.
These are the general reasons that can cause anxiety in dogs.
This is a serious issue for many dogs and must be taken care of.
Signs of separation anxiety in Indian Spitz
- Excessive barking or howling
- Pacing in obsessive patterns
- Trying to escape
- Panting or drooling way more than usual
- Destroying things or scratching furniture
- Ignoring food
How to treat separation anxiety?
Firstly, you must have a talk with your vet regarding this issue. This is a crucial step if your dog is suffering from severe anxiety.
But if the condition is mild you can follow these tips and tricks to calm your dog.
1. Leave comfortable items or treats
Give them personal items that have your scent such as dirty laundry. This can help your dog stay calm in your absence and remember that you will eventually come back.
You can also give them special treats each time you leave the house. Hiding treats (toys with peanut butter) around the house to keep them busy while you’re gone.
Indian Spitz enjoys playing games or mentally stimulating activities. Such games will keep them busy and distracted for a long time.
Remove stress factors like collars, chokers, and chains if your dog doesn’t like them.
Pro Tip– Only give items or treats when you’re gone and take them away as soon as you get home.
2. Keep it low-key
Stay calm, and don’t just leave immediately. Keep it low-key and leave after 10-15 minutes. The goal here is to break your dog’s association of fear/abandonment with your departure, as it will easily trigger their anxiety.
As mentioned above, provide them with comfortable items or treats while leaving, this will build a positive association with your departure.
Similarly, downplay your return, as giving too much attention to your departure and return can trigger the fear of your absence.
It’s best to calmly say goodbye and leave or quietly enter the house and greet them.
3. Use soothing music
Playing a piece of calming music in the background will create a peaceful environment for the pooch. Soothing sounds will also help them fall asleep and maintain a steady mood.
4. Medicines
Similarly, you can also use calming medicines to ease your dog in your absence. Contact your vet and consult them before giving your companion any medications. This is a great way to treat dogs suffering from severe separation anxiety.
5. Create personal space and train them
Avoid sleeping with your dog and instead get them a separate dog bed, where you can treat and pet them. This will allow your dog to have a personal space and make them independent.
You can also train your pooch by telling them to stay in a room by themselves without you. Move to a different part of the house and allow them to enjoy their own company.
Start small and slowly work up the minutes for several weeks. Some tricks might work and some might not. But following all these steps will slowly build a positive association with your absence, and it won’t trigger them.
Conclusion
Indian Spitz is a beautiful dog with great behavioral characteristics.
They do tend to suffer from separation anxiety, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t great family dogs. They are one of the best family dogs in India and are extremely obedient.
Providing security, affection, and belongingness is the ultimate goal of any pet parent. I hope you guys found this article helpful and use these tips and tricks to calm your pooch.
