Dogs are man’s best friend. Sometimes, your best friends do not think they can exist without you. If your dog barks too much, howls, chews, urinates, or tries to break out of their house, he may be suffering from separation anxiety. Dog separation anxiety training helps you and your dog feel better when the two of you are apart.
Recognize the signs
There are different ways you can tell that your dog may become distressed when you leave them alone. If your dog is constantly at your side and doesn’t like to be in a different room, this isn’t healthy. Your dog doesn’t need to feel dependent on one person. If you are the only person who feeds, walks, and plays with him, then he may feel that he can’t be without you.
Other indications that your dog may have a tendency to suffer from separation anxiety are the behaviors she exhibits when you are getting ready to leave. If your dog starts whining, barking and behaving as if she is stressed when you are putting on your coat, grabbing your car keys, or grabbing your purse, you may have a dog that suffers from anxiety.
Why do they do this?
Why do some dogs suffer from separation anxiety? There may be many different reasons. If a dog is in a family where people are usually at home, they are not accustomed to being alone. If everyone does leave, he may not understand that you will come back, and this anxiety may overwhelm him.
Temperament may be another cause for separation anxiety. If your dog is anxious or high-strung, any change may cause them stress. This is often the case with dogs that are adopted late in life, or have come from a history of abuse. They are not secure in what their lives have been like up to that point, and they anticipate instability.
How can you help?
Dog separation anxiety training can help your pet understand that it is okay when you leave, because you will be back and they can survive while you are gone. There are different ways to approach this training, but it is most often completed in stages to allow your dog to adjust.
One way to help dogs adjust is to make sure other people take care of them. Other family members should spend time with your dog by taking them on walks, feed them, and play with them. They should also take part in training sessions as well. Dogs are family pets, and everyone should take part in their care.
Another way is to have your pet adjust to being away from you for small periods while you are home. This can include having your dog in its crate or in another room, or even outside while you are in the house. Do this for a few minutes at a time until your dog doesn’t react while the two of you are apart.
If your dog is stressed when they see you start your routine for leaving, you can desensitize your pet to these signs. If you traditionally pack your briefcase or put on your shoes before you leave home, start doing these things at other times. This will help your dog understand that these actions aren’t necessarily bad.
Once your canine learns to accept the signs you are leaving, you can progress to other indications you are leaving, such as going to the front door. Put your hand on the doorknob, but don’t leave the house. As with the other desensitivity exercises, your dog will adjust to this sign without becoming upset.
The next stage will include going outside. Stand outside for a few minutes at a time, until your dog learns that you will come back and calm down. Then you can stay away longer.
Only move to the next stage when your dog doesn’t react anymore to the current activity. All animals are different, so there is no exact timeline for this training. You will know when your dog is ready for the next step.
Dog separation anxiety training will help your dog understand that your leaving is not the end of his world. You will come back, and they will be okay without you while you are gone. In addition, this training will help you feel better about leaving your dog alone. No one likes to see his or her dog so upset, and it can make you stressed as well. Now you both can feel better when you are not in each other’s company.