Top Tips for Managing Separation Anxiety in Dogs

If you wonder about ways to help prevent separation anxiety in dogs, then you should understand that this issue has numerous symptoms. These include non stop barking while you are away from home and disturbing your neighbors, defecating or urinating in your home, or causing property damage. But this behavior is not done intentionally. It is a generic response to stress or fear, and this behavior tends to soothe them. 

Stress can be reduced with the appropriate management of stress, especially among small breed dogs like Labradoodles, Shih Tzus, Teacup Maltese, and others. Today, we are going to share more regarding separation anxiety in dogs, including ways to inform whether the dog is facing separation anxiety and what you can do about it.

Overview of Dog Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety in dogs is the generic condition that prevails among the dogs. They experience fear, stress, and even anxiety whenever the owner is away from home due to a robust connection to their owners. A few of the small breed pups display symptoms of separation anxiety whenever there are other individuals; however, the distinctive person they are connected to is not present. Commonly, separation anxiety happens whenever a dog is home alone. Numerous instances are leading to damage to property at home or risk of injuries to your dog due to their panic behaviors.

Tips for Preventing Dog Separation Anxiety

You need not wait for separation anxiety to develop in dogs and turn into a massive issue before you undertake the appropriate action. 

Try Positive Reinforcement Training

Refrain from punishing your dog for their behaviors, as punishments never work out for treating separation anxiety and would eventually lead to elevated levels of anxiety. However, positive reinforcement training becomes the key tool to tire out your dog before you leave your home with certified dog trainers who help neutralize such triggers with the help of positive training techniques like imposing water training with swimming for dogs.

Exercise

Nothing calms down your dog's nerves better than tiring them out, as you can do with Chihuahuas. Exercise is the best preventative tip for treating anxieties in dogs. The energy they lose will make them head out for a nap instead of fighting every closed window and door in your house. You will find more recommendations in the training programs we offer.

Tire Out Your Dog with Long Walks & Puzzle Treats

It is essential to tire your dog mentally and physically, as it is the ideal tool to treat separation anxiety in dogs. You can take your pup or dog for long walks while trying out new routes that enable a huge amount of sniffing while bringing out puzzle toys, even long-lasting treats like a frozen Kong or a Frisbee smeared with peanut butter or other enrichments before you leave your home for the day!

Affection Is Not a Solution

Cuddling, patting, or even telling your dog that it is okay whenever they display the signs of separation anxiety while it inadvertently allows them to know that this is acceptable behavior. Although whenever you are at home, it is essential to offer your dog the independence they need. Refrain from punishing or reprimanding your dog for their anxious behaviors while it becomes an illness and it has an unintentional behavior.

Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone for Long Periods

Also, ensure to leave your dog for a manageable amount of time. Consider dog sitting and dog care services if you find yourself staying away from home for more than six hours and making any other alternative arrangements that have failed.

Stay Connected to Your Pet

Try leaving a piece of cloth behind with your beloved pet that you have worn recently, as it proves comforting to them. Place the cloth in the crate or the bed of your pet to make them feel cozy and secure. Install pet cameras as it will make you look out for your pet while you stay away from home as you can speak with them or dispense their treats remotely so that they know that you are not far away from them. Ensure to use the treats in the right way to reinforce positive behaviors and not form a reward for the highly anxious behavior.

Practice Low-Key Goodbyes and Hellos

Whenever you create a huge excitement during farewells and greetings, it proves to be a sign that you will leave for the day, which triggers separation anxiety. Although it calls for some willpower, try practicing showing your dog less attention for about 15 to 30 minutes before you leave the house and 15 to 30 minutes right after you arrive home, as you should greet your dog calmly and quietly.

Identically, whenever the sound of picking your keys, wearing your shoes, or starting the car triggers your dog to know that you are leaving, try practicing doing so to make your dog understand that it is just a low-key activity that is never linked to leaving your home.

Try Being Away from Home and Your Pet for Short-Times

It would be best if you also tried easing into becoming separated from your pet. It would often indicate to work across varied rooms for the pet if you are linked to a friendly-lap companion across the Zoom calls. Try to extend the time separated by performing a couple of errands in the house for a bit longer than what you usually take.

Flexible Schedule

If the pandemic time has made us learn anything then it is that several jobs are often performed in a better way from home. Therefore, whenever your dog is grappling with your change back to work, try consulting with your supervisor about the scope or probability of working a temporary or flexible schedule that proves to make your departures short or often less predictable. It can aid in making your dog adjust appropriately. Perfectly, it is the temporary mode that will make you a highly productive employee since you need not stress about your dog every day.

Calming Supplements or Medications

Irrespective of all your efforts, if your dog still shows signs of destructive behaviors or anxiety at any time you are leaving your home, then it is important to consult with your vet about whether these nerve-soothing medications or supplements can help. Depending on the age of your dog, their health history, or the seriousness of the symptoms, your vet would recommend a supplement that is distinctively formulated to aid your anxious pet while prescribing medication that reduces separation anxiety in dogs. However, these are the remedies that need time as well as planning. A few might get administered before you leave your home for any significant impact, while others may need a couple of weeks to become completely effective.

Conclusion

Separation anxiety in dogs is an intricate process; however, following the appropriate approach can effectively manage this issue. So, if you are in search of the best furry companion, Happytail Puppies offers an entire range of healthy and adorable puppies for sale. We start socializing and training our pups from their birth to help add the perfect companion to your family. Check out our platform for more details and approaches, as well as tips to have the perfect pup at home!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a couple of primary questions that we answered in our blog today about managing separation anxiety in dogs.

How to Fix Separation Anxiety in a Dog?

Always ensure that you offer your dog a special treat every time you leave. Offer them this treat whenever you are gone, and take it away after you return. Also, follow low-key comings and goings with little excitement.

How Do I Help My Dog with Separation Anxiety at Home?

Dogs deal with separation anxiety, which is often linked to excitement upon the owner's return. Separation anxiety is often prevented by ensuring that the pup has scheduled times to learn to spend time alone in their beds or crates.

Do Dogs Grow Out of Separation Anxiety?

You can work with an experienced dog trainer specializing in separation anxiety cases, which is the most reliable and the best way to garner results.

How Do I Train My Dog to Be Alone with Separation Anxiety?

Always initiate with an absence that lasts about one or two seconds, eventually increasing the time you get out of the dog's sight.

How Long Does It Take to Break Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Try expecting to spend about two months working with your dog to alleviate this type of separation anxiety. Always remember to take it slowly, especially in the earlier stages, which allows the later stage to extend your time off quickly.