Puppy Separation Anxiety

Puppy separation anxiety is anguish felt by puppies when they are left alone. When you leave home, your anxious pup may bark or whine. He may also have potty mishaps and be destructive. Dogs with a strong bond to their owner are likely to suffer from puppy separation anxiety.

Prevention of puppy separation anxiety can begin prior to adopting your dog or puppy. 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 be somewhat independent from his mother. A dog that is taken away earlier may experience puppy separation anxiety.

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As soon as your puppy is brought home, training to stop separation anxiety should be undertaken. 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. At first, you should only leave your puppy alone for short periods. 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. Don’t worry, your extra effort will make a difference. Separation anxiety is most often experienced by adult dogs from shelters or strays. It is highly probable that they had a rough life before being lucky enough to be adopted into your household. Stick with them! Often, these adult dogs will be more loyal and trusting.

Approximately fifty per cent of adult dogs will get better with the correct training. That said, your routine may need to be changed to make them less sensitive to being left on their own.

Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety will benefit from you examining their surroundings and situations to figure out what causes this behavior. As with puppies, you shouldn’t make it a big deal when you leave. Start slowly by leaving these older dogs for a short while, gradually working up to a longer period of time.

When you leave, make sure you give your puppy plenty of distractions. Your puppy will usually calm down within 30 minutes to an hour after his bout of puppy separation anxiety. Toys or chewies are a good way to keep him occupied while you’re away. This may assist him in getting over the first barrier. Another option is toys filled with peanut butter or cheese. Your dog will work on it until he reaches the treat which will take some time. This will assist him in forgetting about you and his separation anxiety.

Another good option is crate training. 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. It is important for a dog to feel safe in his crate. You should provide him with treats and food while he’s in the crate so feels good about it. You should leave your dog for short periods, once he has proved to you that he won’t ruin your possessions. 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. It is important to note that separation anxiety happens for many different reasons.

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