All dogs miss their owners when they leave the house. But when pets start behaving in extreme or destructive ways when the owner is out or in the process of leaving, it can be a sign of separation anxiety. Here are the basics of what this condition means and how to deal with it if your dog starts showing the signs.
Time Doesn’t Matter
The time you are actually gone does not make a difference. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety will display the same behavior regardless of whether you are gone for five minutes or five hours.
Every Pooch Is Different
The behavior that each dog exhibits as a result of his owner leaving can really vary. While one pet may bark excessively another might chew up the sofa. Other behaviors include going to the bathroom in the home, digging, howling, and even running away from home.
Can Occur Anytime
Most owners don’t realize it but separation anxiety can occur at any time in a dog’s life. So even if your pet did not suffer from it when he was younger it could be a problem now or later in his life. In fact, there is no singular cause of anxiety which makes it unpredictable.
Triggers
If your dog has suddenly begun to display any of the behaviors mentioned above it could be because it was triggered by something that has recently happened. Often times this can be after a change in his normal routine or an event such as moving to a new home. If you were normally around most of the day spending time with your pet and then started a new job or began to go to school during this time, it could also trigger anxiety.
Try These First
You can often create a new and positive association in your dog’s mind with you leaving the home. This may quickly curb the problem. Simply give him an interactive toy on your way out that will keep him occupied for around twenty minutes or so. Many owners use a toy like the Kong which can be stuffed with treats and is designed so that it takes a while and some effort to get them out.
Chews, bones, and treats that can keep him occupied for a decent amount of time will work too. If you have a crate you can leave it open for him to go to on his own. This can be quite helpful since dogs usually see their crates as a safe space. Having access to it may help to relieve his anxiety.
Do not lock him in it, as some dogs when anxious can injure themselves by trying to escape. You can also use dog gates to help you create even larger spaces for your pet to escape to but without having to worry about him damaging your house when you’re out.
The above advice will work for most cases. But if after trying to apply these tips your pet still seems to be dealing with anxiety it would be a good idea for you to reach out to a professional for help. You may want to talk to your veterinarian and see what he or she recommends or consult a professional dog trainer who has experience dealing with separation anxiety.
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