You’re Ready To Go To Work, But Your Puppy Just Ain’t Ready Yet To See You Walk Out The Door.
Whenever you leave your pup, you observe how he becomes anxious being left alone.
Whether your canine friend scratches at the door, chews on things every time you leave the house, goes to the bathroom, or cries and bark excessively, you know there’s something wrong. If you see these things, it is more likely that your dog is having separation anxiety.
So, what can you do when you’re having trouble with your puppy’s separation anxiety? Here are a few helpful tips to remember.
Make Your Pup Comfortable At Home
You need to make sure your pup becomes comfortable living in your home as soon as possible. Remember, your pup is entering a new environment. If you are not able to make him feel at home, separation anxiety can easily set in.
There are different ways for you to make your pup feel welcome. Here are a few tips:
- Let him explore your home, both inside and outside of your property.
- Establish routines.
- Shower your pup with lots of love, care, and affection.
- Introduce your pup to all members of the family – including other dogs you may have.
- Provide him with basic and essential stuff such as comfortable beddings, toys, and food.
- Start training.
When your pooch is comfortable in your home, he would less likely feel anxious by the time you leave your home. They would understand that they are at home safe and happy.
Take Your Pup For A Walk
You may want to take your dog for a walk before leaving your home. You can do this first thing in the morning when you are scheduled for work. Make your walk as active as possible.
The goal here is to allow your dog to spend those excessive energies. So, by the time you leave him, he would be in a calm, quiet, and relaxed mode.
Don’t Make Leaving And Arriving A Big Production
As loving pet owners, we would like to leave our dogs with hugs, kisses, and sweet goodbyes. Sometimes, you’ll even talk to your dog asking him if he’ll miss you. The same thing goes when you arrive home.
Those things can send a signal to your dog that your leaving is a big deal and that you could be out for a long time. At best, you might want to consider not touching, talking, or establishing eye contact with your dog for about five to 10 minutes before you leave your home. Don’t worry; you won’t most likely have his feelings hurt when you don’t say goodbye.
If you’re having trouble with that suggestion, you can say goodbye earlier so when the time when you will actually leave, there’s no need for more drama.
Desensitize Your Dog
Sometimes, you just have to let your dog get used to the times when you are away. You can start by leaving our dog alone for five minutes.
Once your dog seems to exhibit no separation anxiety, you can then extend that time to ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, to sixty minutes. The idea is that you increase the time you are away until your dog can survive without you in full eight hours.
Have Someone Accompany Your Dog
Whenever possible, let someone take care of your pup when you’re away. It could be a family member, a pet sitter, or someone you trust. When your dog is with someone even when you’re out, he will feel more secure and less anxious.
Final words
There’s no doubt: raising a pup can be challenging at times especially during the first few weeks and months. However, don’t give up.
Separation anxiety is definitely treatable and manageable. It shouldn’t be a cause for you to abandon your pup altogether because some folks really do leave their dog just because of separation anxiety.
You don’t have to be that person. Choose to be someone who handles your pup’s anxiety like a boss. Be that someone who will be with your pup through thick and thin.
If you need more help, be sure to speak to your vet or anyone who is knowledgeable about dog separation anxiety. Do your own research as well to learn more.
