How To Handle Your Dog's Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety in a dog can be troublesome and tiring. Your dog may be clinging to you as you leave the house or may be causing problems at your house while you're away. You have to leave your house from time to time and can't always be home, so training your dog and doing some exercises to help your dog is a must. To help your dog with his or her separation anxiety read on for tips.
Calm Your Dog
Your dog may begin to feel anxious every single day as you get ready to leave the house. If this is the case, watch your dog to see if you can tell when he or she begins to act anxious. Is it while you are dressing for your day, while you are making breakfast, or when you begin to put on your coat or shoes? Dogs pay attention to what you're doing and are very smart, so they know what's going on. If you can pinpoint when your dog is beginning to get anxious, you can offer him or her a treat to help change his or her focus so he or she isn't looking at this time in a negative way.
Do A Trial Run
Leaving for a short period of time as a trial run can help ease your dog's fears a bit. You can practice getting ready and giving your dog treats and only leave for a very short period of time. Take a walk around the block without your dog, or just a quick drive. Don't make leaving a big to-do, and when you get home, reward your dog with a treat and extra love.
Give Your Dog Something To Focus On
Give your dog something to do while you're away such as giving him or her a bone to chew, a treat puzzle to figure out, or a Kong toy filled with a treat or peanut butter. By giving your dog something to do when you're leaving, you are giving him or her something else to focus on other than you and you are also giving him or her a reward.
Exercise Your Dog Before Leaving
Before you leave for the day, exercise your dog by playing fetch a few times or by taking your dog for a walk. This can help tire your dog out a bit and will help wear out some of his or her extra energy. If this isn't possible, use other ways to stimulate your dog such as with dog toys so he or she has something to do while you're away. With something else to do, he or she won't feel the need to chew on your belongings while you're gone.
If your dog has separation anxiety, it can make leaving the house difficult. Take action and train your dog so he or she understands that you will come back for him or her and that he or she will be alright. Talk to a veterinarian at a clinic like Berlin Township Animal Hospital about other helpful tips to combat separation anxiety.
Share