How to Help a Dog With Separation Problems

Make sure that all your homecomings and departures are very low-key. You don't want to get your dog excited right before you leave. If your dog is excited as you walk out the door it is difficult for your dog to calm down. This can result in your dog chewing to channel all the energy he has.

If you come home and find that your dog has destroyed anything, DON'T punish your dog. If you punish your dog when you come home your dog will start to associate the punishment with your homecoming. If your dog associates punishment with you coming home you'll make the separation problems worse. Your dog will get stressed every time you leave; to relieve the stress your dog will chew more.

Dogs with separation problems need a lot of exercise. Give your dog a lot of aerobic exercise. Running, hiking and swimming are all good activities to do with your dog.

Mental exercise is also important for a dog with separation problems. There are some great toys that you can leave for your dog when you go to work. Two great toys are Kong toys and Buster Cubes. These toys can keep your dog mentally active when you are gone. Check out the Resources section below for links to more articles on Kong toys and Buster Cubes.

Dog daycare is a great place to bring dogs with separation problems. Daycare can help with exercise, and you don't have to worry about your house being destroyed while your dog is at daycare.

A dog that has separation problems has no tolerance for being left alone. Training requires helping build your dog's tolerance for being left alone. This is done gradually. You can start by leaving your dog for just a few minutes at a time. Walk out of your house, wait a minute or two and then walk back in. Keep doing this until you can leave for longer and longer periods.

It's also important to understand that a lot of dogs' separation problems start before the owner leaves the house. Your dog is constantly paying attention to you and your movements. Most of us do the same things in the same way as we get ready to leave the house. Picking up our cell phones, putting our jackets on, grabbing our keys are all steps that trigger dogs' separation anxiety. It is a good idea to practice going through the motions of leaving, walk out the door and coming back in.

Crating your dog can also be helpful, but this can sometimes be too much for a dog with severe separation problems. You may have to gradually get your dog to accept the crate.