Separation anxiety is more than just your pup feeling ill at ease each time you step outside the house. It’s actually a serious condition and one that you need to treat seriously. If you believe your pup suffers from separation anxiety, you might be afraid to leave the house any time for fear of consequences.
Many owners treat separation anxiety as a nuisance and respond by completely giving up on their pups. But this is unnecessary. Separation anxiety can be dealt with if you just have the right attitude and are willing to put in a little bit of effort.
Here are 6 on how to deal with separation anxiety in dogs.
Perhaps the first thing you need to do is to help your pup is to simply keep an eye out for symptoms of separation anxiety. Typically, symptoms include excessive howling, whining, panting, hiding, chewing, and drooling a lot more than before.
It doesn’t require that one be an expert to tell that your pup is uncomfortable. Keeping an eye out for these symptoms should be enough to put you on alert and tell you that you need to be more careful.
While separation anxiety is a condition that affects dogs everywhere, no two dogs will have similar symptoms or similar causes behind those symptoms. Once you keep an eye out for the symptoms that typically constitute separation anxiety, it’s important to begin focusing on why your pup feels the way he does.
Understanding just why your pup feels anxious each time you leave the house is fundamental to finding a solution to his anxiety. There can be many underlying factors responsible for your dog’s separation anxiety. The most common of these factors include:
If your pup has been moved around a lot because of your travel schedule, it will be common for him to exhibit nervous behaviors in your absence.
For example, if you move your pup around from one family home to another, or from one city to another, don’t be surprised if your pup appears unusually anxious each time you leave the house even for a short while.
If the family members in your home are changing very frequently, for example, if you have relatives from other countries or cities staying over at your place, your pup might not cope all that well, and each time you leave the house, he might not be able to deal.
Perhaps what you can or should do in a situation such as this is to make sure your pup is familiarized with the new faces before leaving him home alone with them.
Your pup is like your baby. Just as you wouldn’t leave your baby at home alone with strangers, you shouldn’t be leaving your pup either.
The third and final step is perhaps the most difficult one. It involves you actively dealing with the problem at hand.
As a dog owner, the onus of responsibility falls on your shoulders. Therefore, it is up to you alone to make sure your pup feels comfortable and is not scared each time you are not around.
If you do think your pup has separation anxiety, here are some tips to follow to make him feel at least a little bit better.
Doctors and vets are here for a reason – to make yours and the lives of your pets a lot easier. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional. A visit to the vet can clear your mind and give your perspective. Your vet will be qualified enough to confirm or deny if your pup does have separation anxiety or whether it’s some other problem.
If your pup does suffer from separation anxiety (as confirmed by his vet), you could always ask the doctor for tips on how to deal with it and make your pet feel less uneasy if you step outside the house, even for something like groceries.
As a pet parent, your pup will look up to you and learn from you. As such, you need to set a good example that your pup can then learn from and follow.
Each time you leave the house, make sure you train your pup to act like it’s not a big deal at all. Don’t coddle your pup too much and keep your affection to a minimum.
Your pup needs to realize that it’s not a big deal if you are leaving the house for just a little bit, and it is up to you to convey this message.
Your pup is likely to feel particularly anxious if he has nothing to do and is bored. Try to make sure that each time you leave the house, your pup has doggy toys or treats that will allow him to keep busy and feel less lonely in the few hours you’re away.
You can even take pre-emptive measures like taking your pup for a walk before you leave the house. A little bit of exercise during the day should help him be and stay calm in the moments you’re gone or far away.
Your pup might find it difficult to stay away from you the first few times, but these tips and tricks can really help you learn how to deal with separation anxiety in dogs.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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