It isn’t easy for our canine friends to be away from their owners, so they may experience some separation anxiety when away from their pet-parents. We do have a few tips to help us support our dog pals to be calm when they’re left on their own or with a house and pet sitter.
Create Distance:
Conditioning your pup from a young age can help prevent separation anxiety. You can use a play pen or a crate to create distance for your puppy at home. We know, all you want to do is cuddle and play with your new bundle of fluff but try to resist the temptation to overindulge and use the play pen to contain your pup and prevent over bonding. If your pup cries when you leave the room, resist the urge to go running back, because that will show them that crying isn’t a signal for you to be together.
Set Your Authority:
Going out or going to work is a fact of life and most of the time our pups must work into our daily routines. Don’t let guilt lead you into compensating by giving our pets extra attention, even if they’ve damaged the house or yard in your absence! Sometimes just putting your pet in the backyard and not allowing her to follow you around the house will help.
Morning Walks:
Try to walk dogs in the morning before you go out so that they can sleep off their exhaustion for a couple of hours after you’re gone. They – and you – have had their daily exercise and it reduces the time they feel they don’t have you around.
Keep Them Busy:
It’s always a good idea to leave toys and activities around for your pet when you’re not at home. It’ll give them time to explore and will stimulate their minds and senses, so they don’t get bored. There are interactive dog toys on the market that keep your dog occupied with little bursts of reward treats which could be a good investment.
Seek Professional Help:
Separation anxiety in dogs is real, so if you believe that your pet is suffering from it, seek advice from a professional. Anxiety in dogs is one of the hardest things to work with but with patience, persistence and hard work you can help your dog overcome it.