Helpful hints on dealing with separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common problem that dog owners experience. For some dogs, being alone leads to destructive behavior, such as ripping apart furniture and scratching doors. Other dogs react with excessive barking, panting, or drooling. Owning a pet with separation anxiety can be a challenge, especially if their behavior is causing damage, not only to your house, but to themselves, as well. If your pet is struggling with separation anxiety, consider the following tips.

Take a Walk

Take your pet for a walk or play a serious game of fetch before you leave your dog alone. An exhausted dog is more likely to relax while you are away than a dog with lots of pent up energy. Bored dogs also tend to display a lot of similar symptoms as separation. Your dog might not be destroying the house because he’s upset he’s alone, he might just be looking for something to do.

Distract Them

Give your dog something to do besides sit around and wait for you to come home. One of the easiest ways to distract dogs is through Kong toys filled with peanut butter and treats. There are also plenty of games available that require your dog to complete a puzzle of some sort in order to get to a treat. Not only will your pet have a job to focus on while you are away, they’ll learn to associate something good with being alone.

Spend Some Time Apart

If all of your time at home is spent with your dog by your side, it’s no wonder that you leaving them would cause them to have anxiety. Try working with your dog to get them to spend time in another part of the house without you. These small separations will help them feel more comfortable when you actually do leave the house.

Don’t Make a Show

If you make a big deal out of leaving and entering the house, your dog will make a big deal about it, too. Leave the house quickly and quietly. Don’t give your dog time to panic about what you’re doing. Likewise, when you come home, don’t pay attention to them until they’ve calmed down and relaxed. If your dog has been barking since you left the house and you immediately reward them with affection as soon as you come home, you are only reinforcing that barking led to attention. Ignoring him until he calms down will help him learn which behavior is acceptable.

Figure Out the Cues

How do dogs just “know” that we’re getting ready to leave? Whether it’s jiggling our keys or putting on our shoes, certain things we do in our daily routines are cues to our dogs that we’re heading out the door. Try desensitizing your dog to the cues you give by breaking up the routine. Put your coat on, but don’t go anywhere. Or try leaving the house for a few minutes and then coming back in.

Don’t Put Away the Laundry

If your dog is particularly attached to one person in your family, consider leaving them with an article of clothing that belongs to that person. For some dogs, being able to smell their favorite person reduces some of their anxiety about being home alone.

The Crate Debate

Crates are not the simple solution they seem to be. Remember that crating your pet will not eliminate their separation anxiety. A dog that barks all day while you’re away will still bark in a crate. Your dog may even hurt themselves trying to break free, especially if they’re not used to being crated. Having a room to roam in with some fun toys and treats will be more beneficial to your anxious pet than a small crate.

Talk to Your Vet

If your dog is exhibiting signs of separation anxiety, be sure to talk to your vet about possible causes. Remember that a dog that urinates in the house may not have anxiety at all but, instead, could be suffering for a urinary tract infection. Your vet can rule out any underlying health concerns and, if you’re pet’s anxiety is severe, they may even recommend medication.

No Punishing

Separation anxiety is not an obedience problem, so never scold or punish your dog for their anxiety issues. Helping your dog become more comfortable alone can take a long time, so don’t expect a miracle in just one day because you left your dog with an old t-shirt and a Kong toy. If you’re struggling to help your pet overcome separation anxiety, consider reaching out to a behaviorist who can help you determine exactly what makes your dog anxious and recommend ways of fixing the problem.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org