Separation anxiety in dogs can be a difficult thing to address. It can appear to start out of nowhere or it could be something that your dog has always struggled with. Separation anxiety is more common than some may realize. It occurs most typically when the owner leaves the home and the dog is left by themselves. The dog becomes extremely anxious by the lack of presence of their owner and becomes panicked. They then may chew, bark or howl incessantly, urinate or defecate, dig and scratch and even try to escape. In severe cases, some dogs have been known to chew through doors or walls if enclosed in a single room. This can lead to serious harm for your pet.
The anxiety can be triggered by many things, most commonly being left alone. The dogs become distraught and the anxiety begins. Changes in a dog’s environment, such as a move or addition of a family member may also fuel anxiety in a dog. No one truly knows why this anxiety develops, however it can be very difficult for your dog, as well as the pet parent to cope with. After a visit to a vet to rule out any medical factors that may be contributing to your pup’s symptoms, there are a few things you may try at home to hopefully help alleviate your pet’s anxiety upon your departure. As with any condition, it’s important to recognize that there are varying degrees of severity and each dog’s response to any interventions will be different.
-Desensitization Once you realize that your dog has separation anxiety, it may be helpful to slowly desensitize them. Jingle your keys randomly throughout the day when you have no plans to leave. Your dog may initially come running because they think you are leaving and they are becoming anxious, but over time, if you continue to do it, the goal is to lose the association of the key sound and your departure. Another strategy is to step outside several times throughout the day. As your dog becomes more comfortable with very short absences, slowly increase the time. The hope is to desensitize your pup from the cues that lead up to your departure.
-Cue Words Another good tool to use is a cue word. “I’ll be back” may be something you say each time you step out, whether it is for a moment or a little longer. This over time may help your dog associate the cue word as a reassurance that you will return.
-Shorter Durations It’s important to start small with your pup. Don’t try a few strategies and then assume they are fine. It takes patience and time to help your dog acclimate with your leaving and lessen the panic that they associate with it.
-Comforting Items It may be helpful to provide your dog with some comforting items when you do leave. An example is a shirt that you have worn. This may be reassuring to them. The smell may help them feel less anxious.
-Distractions Another strategy is to provide your dog with some distractions while you are out. Hide some treats around the house or provide them with a special dog-friendly chew toy that they receive only when you are leaving. This may not only provide a distraction, but also help them associate your leaving, with a positive experience that they look forward to.
It’s important that you slowly help your pup ease into you leaving and hopefully help calm their anxiousness as well. Make sure you are looking after your pup and keeping your house dog-friendly so that your pooch doesn’t get into something that could be dangerous to them. Maintain a healthy diet with your dog and consider providing them with a dietary supplement from NuVet Labs. Many NuVet reviews have been written by customers who have shared the great things they experienced while providing NuVet Labs’ supplements to their pets. Start learning more about the wonderful products that NuVet Labs has to offer by visiting the NuVet reviews.