As owners, we get upset when our canine friend is showing symptoms of separation anxiety. We sometimes feel at a loss when they get nervous seeing us leave the house, even just for a moment, making them scratch the door or try to dig a hole through it just to be with us.
In this blog post, we’ll share with you why your dog is feeling this way and what you can do to assure them.
Why do they feel distressed when you’re not there?
Although there’s no conclusive evidence why they’re feeling separation anxiety, the general cause seems to stem from the change in their environment.
- They’ve just been adopted and always want to be with you.
- They’ve experienced a traumatic event, such as abandonment, in the past.
- There was a change of ownership.
- They were left alone for the first time after being cuddled for so long.
- There was a change in the family residence, routine, and/or daily schedule.
- There was a death of a family member.
Any of these can trigger their distress. It’s an innate behavioral panic response to such changes, so don’t feel upset and think that you’re a bad owner.
What can you do to calm and assure them?
It’s best to consult your vet to identify if the behavioral change is caused by medications that accidentally triggered hormonal problems and/or other health conditions. Consult with a professional animal behavior specialist as well to know what plan of action you can take to ease your dog’s anxiety.
In the meanwhile, here are simple instructions you can do at home:
For minor separation anxiety
Understand that your dog’s “panic response” takes time to calm and settle. To treat minor separation anxiety, the main objective is to establish a routine when coming home or leaving
- Upon arrival, you can ignore your dog for a few minutes before petting them. This lets them gradually understand that you’ll always come and that it’s not a big deal if you leave the house. It’s best to do this in timed sessions: a few minutes for the first time and then slowly lengthening the duration.
- Give them your recently worn clothes whenever you leave. Your scent can help calm and settle them down.
For severe separation anxiety
In this case, seek the help of a professional animal behavior specialist. Create a training plan that centers on positive reinforcement. This kind of training allows your dog to slowly learn that it’s perfectly okay to stay in one place, calm and happy, while you’re in another room.
You can also give them a free space to play to distract them from your absence as well as limit the destructive acts like scratching, biting, howling they do.
Shower them with love and affection
Separation anxiety can be treated, and you only have to be patient and consistent in doing the treatment. Constantly shower them with love and affection so they’ll be assured of your relationship.
The simple guidance mentioned above can help you let your dog slowly get used to you not being with them every second of the day, easing their distress and making them live happy and healthy.
