Does your dog chew on your shoes when you’re away, destroy furniture or defecate? Don’t get angry too soon, because this could be a sign that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in dogs has been found to be the primary reason behind many frantic and destructive behaviors that pet parents often mistake for other behavioural problems. Treatment for separation anxiety is essential because it will make your dog calm and happy.
This guide will teach you how to ease and treat anxiety in dogs and make you and your pup’s lives better!
What is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
Separation anxiety in dogs is frantic, distressed and often destructive behaviors associated with separation from their pet parents. It can still qualify even if these actions only last for a few minutes. Pet parents often mistake separation anxiety for disobedience or spite, but dogs are actually distressed and upset because of their parent’s absence.
Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include salivating, barking, howling, dilated pupils, panting, trembling and pacing. Behavioral signs include ignoring food, coprophagia, destroying items in the home, scratching at furniture, attempting to escape from a crate or room, and exuberantly greeting their owner as if they haven’t seen them in years.
Read more: Signs & Symptoms of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Causes of separation anxiety in dogs include changes in pet parents, new socialization patterns, changes in surroundings, neglect, long vacations, lack of training, premature adoption, death of a pet friend, heredity behavior, genetics or simply boredom.
How to Stop Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
As a pet parent, your goal is to find the best calming anxiety treatments for your pet. Treating separation anxiety in dogs does not require a medical professional, and you can succeed on your own with persistent work and dedication. Dog anxiety treatment includes behavioral changes that will help your pup learn that being alone is not scary. Here is a list of 10 dog calming treatments:
1. Change Your “Going Away” Signals
Use a different door, put your coat on but don’t leave for 15 minutes, leave your keys/purse/shoes in a different location. The goal is to break your dog’s association of these actions with your departure and not let them trigger separation anxiety. When you leave, give your dog a treat or a toy to play with to distract them. Calming treats for dogs can be used as a short-term remedy for separation anxiety. They will also teach your pooch that being alone is not scary and create positive associations with your departure.
2. Downplay Goodbyes and Hellos
Don’t get emotional when leaving your dog and overexcited when you come back. By paying too much attention to your departure and return, you risk reinforcing the dog’s fear of your absence. Calmly say goodbye and leave. When you come back, quietly say hello and don't get too affectionate until your dog has calmed down.
3. Exercise Your Dog Before Departure
A tired dog is a calm dog. Exercising at least 30 minutes before departure will relax your dog and divert its attention to food and sleep.
4. Train Your Dog to Be Alone When You Are in the House
Tell your pooch to stay in a room by themselves while you go to a different part of the house. If your dog has severe separation anxiety, start with small 5-10 second intervals and work up to 20-30 minutes over several weeks.
5. Create Personal Space for Your Dog
Instead of sleeping with your pup, get them a separate dog bed where you can also pet them and give calming treats. This will teach your dog to enjoy having their own space and be independent of you, which will help ease their anxiety when you’re away.
6. Leave Comfort Items and Background Music on for Your Dog
Items that have your scent such as dirty laundry can help your dog relax and remember that you will come back. Remove stress factors such as chokers, collars, chains, or crates if your dog doesn’t like them. Hide treats around the house so they can hunt them while you're away. Finally, soothing nature sounds can help your dog relax and fall asleep.
7. Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone for Too Long!
Your dog can learn to be alone for part of the day, but if you need to be away for longer than 6-8 hours, bring them to work if possible. You can also structure your errands so that you are only away for short periods of time. If you need to leave for several days, ask a friend or a relative or consider a doggy daycare service or hotel to make sure they're taken care of when you're away.
8. Medicine
To treat severe separation anxiety in dogs, consider calming medicine. Contact your veterinarian to discuss your options.
9. Shop for Anxiety Treatment Pet Supplies
Get a KONG toy which will entertain your pup by engaging them to work for a treat. A dog swaddling jacket can also help ease your pup’s anxiety by applying constant gentle pressure to their body. Check out other anxiety treatment pet supplies.
Kong have a large range of products for small dogs and for big dogs.
10. Get a Petcube!
Petcube Play and Petcube Bites are designed to improve the lives of pets and pet parents. You can talk to your pet through the Petcube App and give treats using Petcube Bites treat cam or play with a laser through interactive pet camera Petcube Play. Regularly interacting with your dog will calm separation anxiety and teach them that being alone is not scary. Your dog will know that you haven't forgotten about them.
For some more valuable information on how to help your anxious dog overcome fears.
Click here to read an article from Your Dog Advisor for steps to help train your pet to overcome their fears.
Click here to read an article from Your dog Advisor about the reasons why dogs howl and what we can do about it.