Maintaining pets can be a tremendous responsibility, and you want to provide for their wellbeing even when you leave for work. Unfortunately, some beloved dogs experience separation anxiety whenever their owners leave them alone during the day – this wastes both your time and theirs, leading to property damage or self-harm from your beloved friend. This article’s focus is to help manage separation anxiety in pet dogs.

Reduce Separation Anxiety in Your Pet Dog by following these methods

Before beginning to treat separation anxiety in your dog, it is important to first determine that they are affected. Sometimes symptoms might be due to another health issue or disease instead; below are telltale indicators of dog separation anxiety.

* Bad Potty Habits
Your dog should be trained enough to control its urinating and defecating needs without breaking away from you; be wary if he displays poor potty habits after each breakaway from you.

* Depression upon embarking on your trip

Your pet should be very calm and cuddly once settled into reception. However, if it begins barking and howling every time you prepare to leave or have already done so, they likely suffer from separation anxiety. These signs include continuous barking, howling, or other distress signals as long as you remain absent.

Other distress behaviors may include chewing and biting home items.

* Elude You Your dog may attempt to escape through windows and doors when left alone, hoping to always track its scent back home and find you when necessary. However, always following its scent is key as well!

Pacing uncomfortably and compulsively

Frequent drooling, panting and salivation: (Flannigan & Dodman, 2001)

Reduce Separation Anxiety in Your Dog With These Effective Strategies

Before leaving the house, take your dog out for a stroll – this will both appease and wear out your pup, leaving him or her too excited to throw tantrums!

Subdue departures and arrivals.
Separation anxiety may have its roots in excessive touching and eye contact between you and your pet, so try not to keep bidding him/her farewell each time that you leave or come home – be subtle with both, particularly after long absences! Dogs are easy to train; help teach it some independence!

Treats should always be given when leaving, to create the association between their absence and pleasant things such as treats – like those given upon entry – and treats being received when returning home. When you return, take away their reward immediately so as to strengthen this association between absence and treats.

Make a long goodbye with your dog Unfortunately, many pet owners experience separation anxiety too – if this applies to you too, be sure to say farewell well before leaving home, just so no surprises pop up at the time of departure! Just make sure not to engage their attention at that exact moment of departure!

Medication should only be administered if strongly undesirable symptoms present themselves. Training your dog out of separation anxiety may take more time than anticipated; what are you to do if anxiety symptoms become too destructive for your home or the pet’s safety? Calming drugs may help at first; when training starts working effectively (Thielke & Udell 2015).

Be calm, assertive and assertive at all times.

Your dog is an emotion detector and can sense weakness; be the adult between you two by being confident and assertive as they attempt to keep you within their home territory.

Just recently you became acquainted with your canine’s temperament. Always take extra special care in providing their well-being and emotional support; should symptoms persist seek medical assistance immediately.