You leave on a daily basis to go to work and your dog takes a fit as soon as you leave, tearing things up, howling and barking, and just being plain destructive. If this sounds like what you go through, your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. Don’t worry either because you are not alone since many other dog people go through this too every time they leave.
It isn’t just when you leave either because your dog wants to follow you from room to room, never wanting to leave your side ever. One thing you can do for this problem is to get your dog their own chew proof dog crate pad to put on their very own dog bed. Having their own chew proof dog beds can help them realize they can sleep by themselves and this will also help them realize they don’t always have to be with you to be loved by you.
Keep reading to learn more ways to ease your dog’s stress if he or she is suffering from separation anxiety.
Ignore Them
No, you don’t ignore them all the time. When you first get home after being gone for a while, don’t pet them right away. Ignore them for a few minutes and then pet them. This should show him or her that it isn’t a big deal that you leave them for a little while.
Give Them Their Own “Safe” Room
If the separation anxiety is so bad that they chew everything up in your home and you can’t leave nothing down because of them behaving like this, you can provide them with their own “safe” room. A “safe” room for your pet is a place where you can put your dog with his or her own chew proof dog crate pad and maybe even a chew proof orthopedic dog bed to help relax them. The room should also have at least one window in it so they aren’t entirely isolated and they won’t feel so alone this way. Don’t forget to place some of your own dirty laundry in the room with them so they have your scent. By doing this, you will make them feel more at ease when you leave them alone for a while.
Have A Word Or Action That Calms Them
Before you leave for the day, you should repeat a “safe” word or action in front of your dog that will make them realize you are not leaving for good. This can be a calming word or action and said in a calming voice. You can also try sending them to their chew proof dog crate pad or their chew proof crate bed to let them realize they will be along for a while and to get them used to it.
Provide Them With Busy Toys
Giving your dog their own busy toys that will keep them busy all day while you are gone is also a good idea. You can even put these toys in his or her dog bed or dog kennel pad so they can stay in their bed all day and play with their toys while you are gone. Then, once you come home, take them for a walk to let them know they were a good dog for remaining calm all day while you were gone.