Separation anxiety in dogs...new sofa a week later

clmstudios (53)in #dogs • 5 years ago (edited)

How to help with your dog's separation anxiety

If your dog seems to worry when you're heading out, destroys stuff when you leave the house, follows you from room to room when you're home, goes berserk when you come back and seems to be eyeing you suspiciously even before you leave—you may be dealing with a case of separation anxiety.

Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit distress and behavior problems when they're left alone. Some of the most common ways:

Digging and scratching at doors or windows attempting to reunite with their owners

Destructive chewing

Howling, barking and whining

Urination and defecation (even with otherwise house-trained dogs)

What causes separation anxiety

It's not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don't. But remember, your dog's behaviors are part of a panic response. Your dog isn't trying to punish you! They just want you to come home!
These are some of the scenarios that can trigger separation anxiety:

Being left alone for the first time.

Being left alone when accustomed to constant human contact.

Suffering a traumatic event, such as time at a shelter or boarding kennel.

Change in the family's routine or structure, or the loss of a family member or other pet.

How to treat minor separation anxiety

Don't make a big deal out of arrivals and departures — ignore your dog for the first few minutes then calmly pet them.

Leave your dog with recently worn clothes that smell like you.

Establish a word or action that you use every time you leave that tells your dog you'll be back.

Consider using an over-the-counter calming product that reduces fearfulness in dogs.

How to handle a more severe problem

Use the techniques outlined above along with desensitization training. Teach your dog the sit-stay and down-stay commands using positive reinforcement. This training will help them learn that they can remain calmly and happily in one place while you go to another room.
Create a "safe place" to limit your dog's ability to be destructive while you’re away. A safe place should:

Confine the dog loosely (a room with a window and toys, not total isolation)

Contain busy toys for distraction

Have dirty laundry to lend a calming scent cue or other safety cues