Puppy Separation Anxiety

Puppy separation anxiety is anguish felt by puppies when they are 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. The most likely puppies to experience separation anxiety are those with a strong attachment to their owner.

Preventing puppy separation anxiety can start before the adoption of your dog. Firstly, puppies should be fully weaned away from their mother, which usually happens by the time they are 8 weeks of age. Your puppy should be somewhat independent 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. When you plan on leaving your puppy, you shouldn’t make a huge fuss. So you mustn’t lavish extra attention and hugs on your puppy. In the beginning, your puppy should only be left alone for a short while. When you get home, you should act normally and not make a fuss.

It may be more difficult to train a dog that is already experiencing puppy separation anxiety at the time of adoption. Rest assured, your efforts will make it worthwhile. Adult dogs that experience separation anxiety were most likely shelter dogs or strays. They have probably had a tough life before being fortunate enough to be adopted into your family. Stick with them! Frequently, these adult dogs will show greater trust and loyalty.

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. Don’t make a huge fuss when you leave home. Start out slowly and leave the older dogs for a short period, then over time progress to longer periods.

It is also an excellent idea to provide your puppy with distractions when you leave. Puppies normally calm down within half an hour to an hour after experiencing separation anxiety. 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 time for your dog to reach the treat so he will work on it until he gets to 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. It is important for a dog to feel safe in his crate. Feed him food and treats while he is in there so he will have positive feelings about the crate. You should leave your dog for short periods, once he has proved to you that he won’t ruin your possessions. The crate door should be left open so your dog feels that his sanctuary is still available to him.

Your veterinarian may be able to provide you some other ways to prevent 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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Filed under: Pets

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