Article by 10-year veterinarian Tahira.
Dogs are so loyal that they will do anything to please their owners. Unfortunately, this includes trying to follow them everywhere, even when it is not allowed. When your dog starts getting anxious, he will bark and whine the entire time you are gone.
This type of behaviour can be very hard on both the owner and pet because it’s a never-ending cycle of separation anxiety for your pup. However, you can manage this problem by taking few steps. Here we will discuss what is separation anxiety? How do dogs suffer from it, and what are some tips about how you can stop this from happening.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety in dogs is when the dog becomes anxious or distressed due to being away from people that he is familiar with. This can be a common problem for many owners and has several causes.
Why does separation anxiety occur in dogs?
Separation anxiety in dogs occurs because they feel that their owner is abandoning them. This causes stress and can lead to destructive behaviour or other problem behaviours such as housebreaking, barking excessively when the dog’s owners are gone, etc.
Dogs who experience separation anxiety often display certain behaviours that their owners can recognize. The dog may whine, bark excessively or destroy things in the house when left alone. Some dogs even urinate and defecate inside, which is a clear sign of this problem because it’s something they would not normally do if nothing is wrong with them psychologically.
7 Tips To Prevent Separation Anxiety
1. Give them their favorite treats
Going out is a big deal for your dog. When you leave, they will be left behind wondering where their pack leader went off and how long it’ll take them to return. To create positive associations when going out on errands or anywhere else outside of the home, we recommend special treats during these times so that our dogs don’t develop anxiety towards separation from us.
In such an event, natural chew treats can help your dog overcome these issues. Chewing is an innate need for dogs. It helps them feel comfort, safety, and security when they are alone or missing their human family members. A natural chew treat can help your dog get over separation anxiety because it gives him a sense of calmness to cope with the stress that he feels at home without his loved ones there.
Natural Dog Treats is a box of unique dog treats containing only high-quality, premium products that aren’t available at your usual pet store. A monthly treat box for your pup is a great choice if you want to give them some natural treats.
2. Don’t make a big deal of “In and Out”
When you come in or go out the door, it’s important not to greet your dog. It can easily overwhelm them and cause anxiety problems later on.
For example, when coming in from outside, don’t make a big deal of greeting your dog as this could be very overwhelming for them. This also applies when going outside if they are nervous about leaving home alone; keep calm so that nothing will trigger an anxious response such as barking or destructive behaviour after being left alone at the house.
3. Recently worn clothes can help
When you leave your dog home alone, they may become anxious because they don’t know when you will return. However, if the clothes worn recently by their owner are kept in view or laid on a chair near where dogs can see it, this will make them feel as though their owners haven’t gone away forever and actually comforted them to some extent.
4. Take your dog for exercise
Leaving your dog home alone before you leave can sometimes lead to extreme distress and anxiety. Take them out for a walk or do some training exercises with them an hour prior so that they are not bored while being left at home by themselves.
5. Medication and natural supplements
If you’ve realized that your dog is experiencing separation anxiety, make sure to research the types of medicines and supplements available. This will allow you to talk with a veterinarian about which would be best for your pup. Not only are they designed specifically for dogs like yours, but they also have been shown in clinical studies to help reduce their signs of stress or fear when left alone so that they can feel more comfortable at home while on their own.
6. Crate train your dog
One of the most effective ways to prevent dogs from having separation anxiety is crate training. After being brought home, puppies are usually left to explore their surroundings and get familiar with all new things around them. However, when they reach about six months old, a change occurs that causes stress for many canines. This change makes it difficult for some pups to cope without constant human interaction.
To prevent such issues, crate training is a very effective way of preventing separation anxiety in dogs. It helps the dog learn to be comfortable while being independent and separated from their owner or family members for some time.
7. Provide interactive toys
Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety will often display signs like chewing, barking, or having accidents before you leave for work or while you are gone because these situations cause a lot of fear and worry within them.
Interactive dog toys are great at reducing separation anxiety in dogs. By providing your pooch with a toy he can use to keep himself entertained when you’re not around, they help prevent him from experiencing any panic or distress and will make the time apart easier for both of you.
8. Research
Finally, another way to help with anxiety is to research and test different methods from other dog owners. Reading about different methods can really help you understand why your dog has anxiety and therefore enable you to help and improve their condition. Here are another 9 simple and natural ways to help a dog with anxiety.
Conclusion
For those of you who are wondering how to prevent separation anxiety in dogs, the best thing you can do is to prepare your pup for being left alone. This means not leaving them home alone for extended periods and always making sure they have plenty of toys that make noise when they chew on them or treat dispensers with a variety of snacks inside so it sounds like there’s someone at home. If this doesn’t work, ask your veterinarian about medication options that might help reduce their symptoms as well.
