How to Handle Separation Anxiety in Your Puppy

Puppy separation anxiety is fear or distress experienced by your puppy when he is left alone. An anxious dog may bark or whine when you leave for work or go to the store. In addition, he may be destructive or have potty accidents. Dogs with a strong bond to their owner are likely to suffer from puppy separation anxiety.

Preventing puppy separation anxiety can start before the adoption of your dog. First of all, you should let your puppy be fully weaned away from his mom, normally by the time he is eight weeks old. Your puppy should have some level of independence from his mother. When dogs are taken away before then, they may be prone to puppy separation anxiety.

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Anti-separation anxiety training can be started as soon as you bring your puppy home. Firstly, don’t make it a big deal when you leave your puppy on his own. Don’t tell your puppy you’re sad to leave him and give him extra hugs and kisses. In the beginning, your puppy should only be left alone for a short while. When you return, don’t make a fuss and carry on with your life as usual.

A dog that is already showing signs of puppy separation anxiety when he is adopted may be more difficult to train. Never fear, your hard work will pay off. Strays or dogs from shelters are the most likely adult dogs to suffer from separation anxiety. It is highly probable that they had a rough life before being lucky enough to be adopted into your household. Stick with them! These adult dogs will frequently be more trusting and loyal.

With appropriate training, about 50 per cent of adult dogs will improve. That said, your routine may need to be changed to make them less sensitive to being left on their own.

It may help a dog that experiences separation anxiety if you take a close look at his situation to determine the cause for his behavior. As with puppies, you shouldn’t make it a big deal when you leave. Start out slowly and leave the older dogs for a short period, then over time progress to longer periods.

When you leave, make sure you give your puppy plenty of distractions. Once the puppy separation anxiety has subsided, your pup will generally calm down with thirty minutes to an hour. While you are away from home, it’s a good idea to leave him with chewies or toys to keep him busy. This may assist him in getting over the first barrier. Another possibility is toys stuffed with cheese or peanut butter. It will take your dog some time to get to the treat and he will work away at it until he reaches it. This will assist him in forgetting about you and his separation anxiety.

Crate training is another good option. Crates are especially effective with dogs that tend to be destructive. They think of the crate as their home so do not destroy it. You should not use the crate for punishment as the dog will feel negatively about it. Dogs should think of their crate as their sanctuary. Feed him food and treats while he is in there so he will have positive feelings about the crate. When your dog or puppy has convinced you that he will not destroy your home, leave him for a short while. To make your dog feel secure, make sure that the door of the crate is left open so he is able to access his sanctuary.

Your veterinarian may have other suggestions to stop puppy separation anxiety. However, it is important to understand that dog and puppy separation anxiety happens for a variety of reasons.

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