Sheedy explains that the friendship was initiated to help Zeus with his separation anxiety. In the video, the two puppies can be seen immediately getting on, snuggling, playing on the beach, and watching TV.
The video text explains, “POV: You surprise you dog who suffers with separation anxiety with a forever friend,” while the caption reads, “Don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch this without crying.”
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reported that more than 23 million American households, nearly one in five nationwide, adopted a pet during the pandemic, including President Joe Biden, who adopted a purebred German shepherd puppy, Commander.
While we were all stuck at home, our pets got used to us being around and there have been reports of separation anxiety in pets since the lockdown restrictions eased.
Los Angeles-based VCA Animal Hospital reports: “Separation anxiety describes dogs that usually are overly attached or dependent on family members. They become extremely anxious and show distress behaviors such as vocalization, destruction, or house soiling when separated from the owners. Most dogs with separation anxiety try to remain close to their owners, follow them from room to room, and rarely spend time outdoors alone.”
Pet advice website Fetch suggests the most common signs of separation anxiety are:
Howl, bark, or whine to excessHave indoor “accidents” even though they are housebrokenChew things up, dig holes, scratch at windows and doorsDrool, pant, or salivate way more than usualPace, often in an obsessive patternTry to escape
The website suggests a number of ways to treat separation anxiety, including establishing a predictable protocol for rewards. “Take each of your dog’s most valuable rewards and ask yourself: ‘What behavior does my dog need to learn?’ and ‘What behavior should I never reinforce?’
“With separation anxiety you must reinforce your dog for settling down, relaxing and showing some independence, while attention seeking and following behaviors should never be reinforced. Therefore, training should focus on extended and relaxed down stays and going to a bed or mat on command.”
User Foxtrotter said, “i tried that… it taught the new one separation anxiety.”
User Lieke wrote, “We also have a cocker spaniël and a german shepherd, best combo ever.”
User Tina Bebbington wrote, “I have a border collie we rescued a cocker spaniel who had a really traumatic start in time they are inseparable they love each other to bits.”
Newsweek has reached out to Sheedy for comment.
