How to Deal With Your Dog's Separation Anxiety

Separation problems are very common with dogs. Dogs are highly social animals and some have a difficult time being left alone. Separation problems can result in housetraining issues, chewing and destructive behaviors, barking, digging and anxiety. If your dog is having a separation problem--the following are some steps you can take to help him overcome it.

Things You'll Need

• Patience

Instructions

1. Understand your dog's behavior. Your dog is not destroying your house to spite or get back at you. Your dog is highly stressed and cannot handle being by herself. You need to help your dog feel secure when left alone.

2. Help develop your dog's tolerance for being left alone. Your dog becomes stressed when you leave. To increase your dog's stress tolerance you need to gradually leave your dog alone for longer and longer periods. This is accomplished by putting on your jacket, grabbing your keys like you're leaving and walking out the door. Once you're outside, wait about 5 minutes and walk back in.

3. If your dog can handle the 5 minutes, increase the time to 10 minutes. Once your dog can handle the 10 minutes, keep gradually increasing the amount of time you're outside.

4. This does require some time and patience. Crate training your dog can also be very helpful when you have to leave for longer periods of time (see Resources below for links to crate training articles).

5. Exercise your dog. A dog that has separation problems and a lot of pent-up energy will result in disaster.

6. Bringing your dog to a dog daycare may be an option if your dog does not like the crate and if your dog is very active. The exercise and mental stimulation at the daycare should help your dog overcome separation anxiety.

7. In extreme cases you may need the help of your veterinarian. A vet can provide medication for dogs that are extremely stressed when left alone.

Tips & Warnings

• Separation problems require patience.

• Don't train when you are stressed or tired.

• Never punish your dog for separation problems. If you punish your dog after the fact, it will only confuse your dog and make the behavior worse; your dog will associate the punishment with you coming home.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Portuguese
• FREE Dog Training Articles, Videos and More