Does your dog become anxious as you prepare to leave the house? When you get home, do they erupt in pure joy? While you were away, did they chew on the corner of an end table, break your shoes, or scratch the door? Do the neighbours complain about the amount of noise they make? Do they have accidents in the home? They could be displaying the symptoms of dog separation anxiety.
What is dog separation anxiety?
When a dog is overly dependent on its human and is left alone, separation anxiety occurs. It involves more than just a little whining before you go or some trouble while you’re gone. It’s a significant condition and one of the main causes of dog owners’ frustration, leading to disownership.
There isn’t enough proof to say why exactly dogs experience separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is thought to be brought on by the loss of a significant person or group of people in a dog’s life. Considerably more dogs who have been adopted from shelters exhibit this behavioural issue than those who have been raised by a single household since puppyhood. The illness can also be brought on by other, less significant abnormalities.
Symptoms of dog separation anxiety
The following is a list of common signs of dog separation anxiety:
- Pacing
- Escaping Confinement
- Coprophagia
- Chewing
- Digging and/or Destruction
- Barking and/or Howling
- Urinating and/or Defecating
How to treat dog separation anxiety
Mild dog separation anxiety
If the problem is mild, then the following dog separation anxiety training solutions may work:
- Keep your arrivals and departures low-key and avoid exchanging many greetings. When you initially go home, ignore your dog for a while.
- Set out some recently worn items of clothing that smell like you.
- Think about administering natural soothing supplements to your pet.
- Whenever you go out, give your dog a special treat (like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter). When you go away, only offer them this treat; when you return, take it away.
- Build up their confidence! A confident dog is not an anxious dog.
Serious dog separation anxiety
Even the most delicious goodies won’t be enough to divert a dog who is extremely anxious. You’ll need to ease them into your absence gradually.
When they notice you putting on your shoes or picking up your keys, which are indicators you’re getting ready to leave, they could start to feel uneasy. Do those things, but don’t leave afterward. Put on your shoes, then take a seat at the table. Grab your keys and turn on the TV. Do this repeatedly throughout the day.
If your dog is prepared to be left alone for longer periods of time, only you can know. Take your time. When you’ve increased your interval to around 10 seconds, give them a stuffed treat. Always maintain composure when leaving and returning. Build up the time till you can leave the house for a short period of time gradually. then abstain for progressively longer lengths of time.
What to NOT do to a dog with separation anxiety
“Timing; the difference between making it better or making it worse. ” — Ralf Weber