Tips on Avoiding Issues
Are you returning to the workplace? Are you concerned about your dog’s behaviour in your absence? A change in your dog’s routines can create the symptoms of dog separation anxiety. Your dog experiences real stress during your absence if not prepared.
Separation anxiety shows itself through symptoms like excessive salivation, barking, whining, destroying items in the home, scratching at walls, doors, and floors, and attempting to escape from the crate, or room. It is a form of panic attack.
Little changes will help teach your dog to have the self-confidence he needs to handle being alone and you can start these changes today.
Here is what you can do.
- Separation anxiety is fairly easy to overcome with a gradual approach, slowly increasing the amount of time spent in a crate or a place in your home where the dog feels safe as well as consistent obedience training—when you are at home as well as away—proper amounts of exercise, and strong leadership.
- You must teach your dog to be quiet and be calm for increasing periods of time. We need to teach patience and calmness and reward that instead of excitement or fear. When he is out with us, we should not be attempting to constantly interact with him. Let him learn to entertain himself with his interactive toys.
- Dog separation anxiety is often unknowingly encouraged by dog owners. By making a big fuss when you leave or come home, you reward the dog’s fear about your absence, making him even more stressed every time you leave. When you leave him, do so quietly and do not provide cues. Ignore the dog when you enter or leave your home: no touching, no talking, and no eye contact. Do not respond to the dog until he is relaxed. Only then should you reward him with praise or treats. A calm dog will have a relaxed facial expression with a slightly open mouth and his tongue hanging out, he rolls over for belly rubs, tail wagging side to side and his legs will be off to the side when he is laying down.
- Practice lots of commands and tricks: sit, down, give a paw, roll over, etc. This will give your dog lots of confidence in himself and in your leadership. Show your dog what you want from him in and around the house, and during daily routines. Instead of a long training session it is better to break it up into shorter periods, two minutes here, five minutes there. Training should continue during walks as you go. Teach your dog to sit before crossing the road, and to sit when meeting others, people, and dogs.
- Place a crate in the busiest room in the house. You want your dog to learn to accept all the normal every-day movements, noises, and happenings within your home, and realize it is not necessary for him to be involved in everything because you are the one in charge.
- Do not allow your dog to follow you everywhere. He can watch what you are doing but he should be able to wait quietly until you finish. This creates independence.
Separation anxiety can be overcome with time and patience. Do not wait until the week prior to going back to work before you start preparing your dog. Start right away.
Consult a professional animal behavior specialist if you need more assistance resolving your dog's issues.
