Separation anxiety is a relatively common issue for dogs, one that is fairly easy to explain. Dogs become easily attached to and reliant on their owners and when those owners disappear, dogs often have no way to conceptualize the reality that their owner is coming back soon.
Dog separation anxiety is often unknowingly encouraged by dog owners. We make a big fuss when we leave or come home, and in doing so we reward the dog’s concern with our absence, provoking in him even more stress every time we leave.
This can lead to destructive behaviors that can be dangerous for your dog and harmful to your home. Here are some tips to help prevent separation anxiety:
Don’t advertise that you’re leaving
When you’re preparing for work, do you find that you do things in a certain pattern? Maybe you shower, get dressed, have a cup of coffee, grab your keys and wallet, then head for the door – In that order.
Your best friend is watching you, and has learned this pattern as well. Your dog will recognize these signs as a clue that you are preparing to leave the house.
A long getting-ready and packing-up process allows your dog to get all worked up before you leave. Hide the clues that you’re leaving so your dog doesn’t learn to associate certain behaviors with being left alone.
Give him something else to do
Keep him in an area of the house away from the door and give him something fun to do while you are leaving. If he has something else to occupy himself with while you’re gone, he won’t be nearly as likely to have a meltdown.
Use the crate
When properly crate trained, your dog will find comfort in his crate. As long as you have never use the crate for punishment, your dog will feel safe and secure when you put him in his crate when you’re leaving.
Tip: The crate should be your dog’s safe haven, a place he feels secure and enjoys. It should be big enough for him to stand upright without his head touching the top, and he should be able to turn around and lay down easily.
Related:
Create a routine of fun
If your dog sees your departure as a source of fun (he always gets a special treat or to play with a special toy when you leave), he’s less likely to have separation anxiety once you’re gone.
Conclusion
Fixing separation anxiety is hard work. It’s all too easy to get frustrated with your dog’s destructive behavior.
Remember that he’s not choosing to do it out of spite or malice – he is panicked about his own survival without you, the leader of his pack, who is there to protect him.
It’s not fun for him, either; he lives in the moment, and the moments that you are gone are long and terrifying.
If you make the commitment to modify his behavior and succeed in helping him be brave about being alone, you’ll not only save your home from destruction, you will enhance the quality of your dog’s life immensely – as well as your own.
Keep on enjoying life with your best friend!
