How to Train Your Pup When He Gets Anxious Staying Alone
It’s inevitable. When you brought home your new puppy, you spent every waking moment with her. Petting, hugging, kissing and caressing, playing, pushing, feeding and training.
Then it is back to real life. You have to go to work. Rather chocking for your pup. You come home to a disaster or maybe you can hear your pooch before you even enter your home.
Separation anxiety is very real for canines and little puppies. Dogs are social creatures that thrive on company for a multitude of reasons. Your furry baby just lost his litter mates and doggie mom. So she is going to need a little time to adjust. For some puppies that transition is easier than others
If life were up to your dog, every waking moment of his time would be spent with you. It only stands to reason therefore that when you are away for short or extended periods of time, anxiety, confusion and vulnerability begin to crack through your dog’s emotional façade.
Is Your Dog Suffering From Separation Anxiety?
There are many reasons why your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety. Some instances might pin point back to a specific event or trigger.
Others might elude you. But the first thing you should do is to accurately look at your dog’s behavior to see if separation anxiety is in fact the cause of his unwanted behaviors.
- Is your dog getting really worked up and anxious when you are preparing to leave the house? Do things like picking up your car keys or putting on your coat can trigger the behavior?
- Does your dog engage in inappropriate behavior only when you are separated? Behavior such as urinating inside, excessive barking and destructive behavior are common symptoms of Separation Anxiety in dogs.
- Does your dog follow you everywhere you go and immediately becomes distressed if he can’t be near you?
- When you arrive home, is your dog is over the top with his greeting? Does it take a while to calm down?
What Can You Do to Overcome Separation Anxiety?
Things you can do to overcome separation anxiety.
- Start by getting your dog used to small doses of time apart and gradually increase from a few minutes to a few hours.
- List all of your dogs behaviors surrounding your leaving the house. Then one by one, desensitize him from each. For example, if your dog gets nervous the moment you grab the car keys, hold the car keys but don’t leave the house. Repeat for a few days. When your dog is calm with you having the car keys in your hand then leave the house, but come back after a few minutes, before she starts barking. Keep doing this exercise only extending the period of time that you leave the home.
- Take your dog to a Dog Day Care Center. May be not every day but 2 or 3 times a week. It is a great way to socialize, get exercise, make new friends and not be alone all day long.
- Increase the exercise time. A good run and play before you leave will leave him tired and relax for the rest of the day.
- Make sure he is mentally stimulated. Dogs need also to be mentally stimulated. This is as important as proper exercise. Enroll in agility, herding, tracking or any other activities that will provide extra training and stimulation for your dog, some quality time together and some fun for both of you .
- Instead of feeding your pooch breakfast in one setting, stuff some toys like a Kong with food. He is going to have to work to get it and this is something that will keep him busy for a while. Then he will get tired and probably fall asleep.
Remember that scolding, punishing, raising your voice, will not solve the problems but only make it worse. You might need the help of a behaviorist or trainer to help you out.
