Dog Separation Anxiety

By Sandra Scott

Puppy separation anxiety is an anxiety or fear experienced by your pup when you leave him. When you leave home, your anxious pup may bark or whine. In addition, he may be destructive or have potty accidents. The most likely puppies to experience separation anxiety are those with a strong attachment to their owner.

Preventing puppy separation anxiety can start before the adoption of your dog. First of all, you should let your puppy be fully weaned away from his mom, normally by the time he is eight weeks old. Puppies need to be given some independence from their mother. A dog that is taken away earlier may experience puppy separation anxiety.

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Anti-separation anxiety training can be started as soon as you bring your puppy home. Firstly, don’t make it a big deal when you leave your puppy on his own. So you mustn’t lavish extra attention and hugs on your puppy. In the beginning, your puppy should only be left alone for a short while. When you get home, you should act normally and not make a fuss.

It may be more difficult to train a dog that is already experiencing puppy separation anxiety at the time of adoption. Rest assured, your efforts will make it worthwhile. Separation anxiety is most often experienced by adult dogs from shelters or strays. They have probably had a tough life before being fortunate enough to be adopted into your family. Stick with them! These adult dogs will frequently be more trusting and loyal.

About half of all adult dogs will improve if given the proper training. However, you may need to change your routine in order to desensitize them to your leaving.

By taking a look at your dog’s environment you may be able to understand what is causing your dog’s separation anxiety. Don’t make a huge fuss when you leave home. Start slowly by leaving these older dogs for a short while, gradually working up to a longer period of time.

When you leave, make sure you give your puppy plenty of distractions. Once the puppy separation anxiety has subsided, your pup will generally calm down with thirty minutes to an hour. Distractions, such as toys or chewies, will keep him occupied for the entire time you are away. This might help him to get over the initial obstacles. Another option is toys filled with peanut butter or cheese. It will take time for your dog to reach the treat so he will work on it until he gets to it. This will make it easier for him to forget about his separation anxiety and the fact that you have left him alone.

Another good option is crate training. Using a crate for a destructive dog is particularly effective. Do not destroy their crate as they think of it as home. You should not use the crate for punishment as the dog will feel negatively about it. It is important for a dog to feel safe in his crate. You should provide him with treats and food while he’s in the crate so feels good about it. When your dog or puppy has convinced you that he will not destroy your home, leave him for a short while. The crate door should be left open so your dog feels that his sanctuary is still available to him.

You should check with your vet for other ideas on how to stop puppy separation anxiety. It is important to note that separation anxiety happens for many different reasons.

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