Separation anxiety in dogs

Does your dog bite your shoes, shred furniture, or relieve himself when you’re away? It could be a sign that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety in dogs has been shown to cause many deranged and destructive behaviors, which pet owners often confuse with other behavioral problems.

Treating separation anxiety is important because it can make your dog calm and happy.

What is separation anxiety in dogs?

Separation anxiety in dogs is the frantic, painful, and often destructive behavior associated with separation from their masters. Even if this behavior lasts only a few minutes, it can be overwhelming.

We tend to confuse separation anxiety with disobedience or anger, but in reality, the dog is upset and upset because his friend and companion is not present.

Signs of separation anxiety

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include barking, howling, pupil dilation, panting, shaking, and strolling uneasily.

Behavioral signs include refusing food, coprophagia, destroying objects in the house, scratching furniture, attempting to escape from the cage or room, and greeting their owners as if they hadn’t been seen in years.

Causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder

Causes of separation anxiety in dogs include: changes in pet rearing, new socialization patterns, changes in the environment, abandonment, long vacations, lack of training, early adoption, death of a friendly pet, or simply boredom.

How can I curb my dog’s separation anxiety?

Once detected, your goal is to find the best possible treatment to relieve their separation anxiety. Treatment of separation anxiety in dogs does not require a doctor; You can do it yourself with persistence and dedication.

Treating anxiety in dogs involves behavior modification that helps your dog learn that being alone is not something he is afraid of.

Next, I leave you a list of tips to calm your dog.

1. Minimize greetings and farewells

Don’t get excited when you leave your dog and don’t get excited when you come back. If you focus too much on leaving and returning, you can reinforce your dog’s fear of absence.

Say goodbye calmly and leave. When you return, greet your dog quietly and without much affection until he calms down.

2. Change your departure signal

Use another door (if you can, of course), put on a jacket, but don’t leave it for 15 minutes and put the keys/purse/shoes somewhere else. The objective is to prevent the dog from associating these actions with his departure and not causing separation anxiety.

Give your dog a treat or toy to play with while you’re away to distract him and create a positive bond with your game.

3. Train/play with your dog before you leave

A tired dog is a calm dog. If he exercises for at least 30 minutes before going outside, your dog will be able to relax and devote his attention to eating and sleeping.

4. Teach your dog to be home alone

Put your dog alone in one room while you go to another part of the house. If your dog has severe separation anxiety, start with short 5-10 second intervals and increase to 20-30 minutes in a few weeks.

5. Create a personal zone for your dog

Instead of sleeping with your dog, give him a separate bed where you can also pet him and give him treats, so your dog will learn to enjoy his own space and be independent of you, which will help reduce his anxiety when you are not around.

6. Provide your dog with background music and all possible comfort

• Objects that smell like you, such as clothing, can help your dog relax and remember that you’ll be back.
• If your dog doesn’t like stressors, such as chokes, chains, or crates, remove them.
• Hide treats all over the house so he can look for them while you’re away.
• Finally, natural soothing sounds can help your dog relax and fall asleep.

7. Don’t leave your dog alone for a long time

Your dog can learn to stay alone for part of the day, but if you’re going to be away longer than 6-8 hours, take him to work if possible.

You can also schedule your work so that you are only absent for short periods of time.

If you’re going to be away for a few days, ask a friend or relative, or consider a dog daycare service or hotel to make sure the dogs are taken care of while you’re away.

8. Medication
To treat severe separation anxiety from your dog, consider giving him sedatives, always as a last resort after you have exhausted all the above options, and always under the supervision of a veterinarian.

9. Buy pet products to treat anxiety

Entertain your puppy by buying a KONG toy that allows him to work for rewards. A piece of advice I give you if you buy a KONG is to tie a rope and the other end a fence / high table / fence / tree, etc. so that playing does not get under a sofa, start digging and have to buy a new sofa?

Another useful interactive toy for dogs are the cameras that allow you to throw treats, talk to your dog and even some have barking alerts, sending you a message through the app and you can see through the camera what it does and thus calm them down.

Follow these tips and we hope your dog stops having anxiety.

Do you help us share?