When you come home from a long day of work, do you notice that your dog has chewed up the furniture and particulates in other destructive behavior? This could be a sign that your dog is experiencing separation anxiety. Helping your dog cope with separation anxiety will result in a more calm environment for both you and your dog. Once you understand how to properly help your dog, you can gradually start to increase the amount of time your dog can be left alone.
What’s Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Oftentimes, dog owners will mistake separation anxiety for other behavioral problems. If your dog has separation anxiety they are usually distressed and often display some type of destructive behavior. Dogs get frantic because of their owner’s absence from the home.
Here’s how to ease your dog’s separation anxiety:
Take Your Dog For A Walk
Start the day by taking your furry friend on a quick walk around your neighborhood. While on the walk, reward your dog’s calm behavior with treats or pets. This will help to reinforce their calm energy when you arrive back at your home. Taking a brief walk in the morning helps to tire out your furry friend, in hopes that they will rest while you are away.
No Talking, Touching, or Eye Contact
When it comes time for you to leave, don’t make a big spectacle about when you must go or when you return home. This tells your dog that the time you both spend apart is not a big deal because you will see them by the end of the day. Depending on the severity of your dog’s anxiety you may need to start this rule earlier in the day.
Proper Goodbye Before You Need To Leave
If you are having trouble with the no-talking, touching, or eye contact rule, try saying a proper goodbye to your dog an hour before you actually have to leave. Remember that this goodbye moment is for you and not for your dog. Your furry friend won’t get their feelings hurt if you don’t say goodbye to them before you leave the house.
Start Out Small
Remember to start out with small steps. Try leaving your dog alone for 5 minutes. Then gradually work your way up to 10 minutes. The more times you practice this, the more your dog will be able to handle you leaving for long periods of time. Continue to increase the amount of time that you spend away from the house until it aligns with your daily work schedule.
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