Things You'll Need:
- Dog Bones
- Dog Dishes
- Dog Leashes
- Dog Toys
- Dog Treats
-
Step 1
Consult your veterinarian to get a correct diagnosis of separation anxiety. Your veterinarian will help you with treatment or refer you to an animal behaviorist who can prescribe effective drug therapies to alleviate your dog's anxieties.
-
Step 2
Practice leaving your dog alone for short periods of time. Pick up your keys and leave for 1 minute.
-
Step 3
Gradually increase the amount of time you stay away. This will accustom your dog to your absence.
-
Step 4
Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings. Instead, pat your dog on the head and offer a quick good-bye or hello.
-
Step 5
Keep your dog confined in a safe area while you are away. Be sure to leave a bowl of water and plenty of chew toys.
-
Step 6
Exercise your dog for an hour each day in places other than your yard or home. This helps your dog feel comfortable in other locations and lets her blow off steam.
-
Step 7
Praise your dog often to build self-confidence, rather than punishing her for exhibiting frightened behaviors. Punishment only increases anxiety and makes the situation worse.
Comments
bobbobberson said
on 8/20/2009 I followed the program taught at http://www.dogseparationanxietyhelp.com. It worked out for my pug. He doesn't cry anymore. It took about a week to see improvement, then another week for it to be gone completely.
rhartland said
on 7/23/2009 Step #4 (Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings) is something I need to really work on. I do a fast goodbye but my dog is so excited once I come home. I usually spend a good ten minutes with her.
I initially tried fencing her into the kitchen with food and a pad but she ended up eating our wall and cabinets. She is fine now that I put her in a kennel although I wish she would have been fine in a more open area.
amjurgena said
on 6/25/2009 My 11 year old golden mix has started to urinate on my couch. There has been a lot of change in his life, I recently divorced and moved him with me into an apartment, separating him from his playmate of 4 years a husky, who now lives with my ex. I also have a new male roommate. He has no problems going to the bathroom outside, and he never goes on the carpet. I tried gating him in the kitchen when I leave, but he starts barking and I can't have him doing that in an apartment. I've even tried putting baskets and things on the couch so he can't jump up there when I'm gone, and I'll come home to them knocked off onto the floor and pee on the couch. I've used an enzyme cleaner and got the couch back to normal....but I'm still worried about his behavior. I know there is something wrong, and I'm afraid he's depressed or anxious or something???? What is going on??
sunkissed2009 said
on 6/21/2009 Hello, I have an 8 month old Chihuahua who is for the most part a very good puppy. He has never chewed any our furniture or shoes, all he chews on is his toys, but he whines really loud when my husband and I leave need to leave the house. Any suggestions with how to get the whinning down to a minimum?
annajane69 said
on 2/9/2009 my 5 month old puppy is the perfect little man except he cries and howles as soon as you walk 2 metres away from him. if you get out of the car to get something from a shop or tie him up even if it is a metre away from you and he can see you he cries and barks and it is getting worse. i have tried many different ways to stop this but nothing works..can anyone help?