We all know that dogs are the favorite pet in the US, but that’s only becoming more true. Believe it or not, more than 23 million American households adopted dogs during the Covid-19 pandemic, a record-high rate!
Unfortunately, that came with some negative consequences for some of our beloved fur balls. For one, spending so much time with them may have hurt their ability to be alone. Let’s talk about separation anxiety in dogs and how you can help yours live their best life!
What Is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is when dogs become upset upon separation from their owner. This can come about for many reasons, including a dog’s previous history, genetics, or simply having little experience alone, especially as a puppy.
With so many dogs adopted during the pandemic, people were spending more time with their pups than ever before. This has made separation anxiety worse for many dogs, but separation anxiety does not affect all dogs, even under the same circumstances. Still, it’s important to know how to spot it.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
To know how to help your pup with separation anxiety, you first need to know if they have it! Some common signs may include:
- Barking or howling
- Chewing on or destroying furniture
- Trying to escape
- Pacing
- Coprophagia
- Urinating or defecating
- Whimpering
- Loss of appetite
The list goes on. In extreme cases, some dogs may even exhibit self-harm or similar behaviors. This could include excessive paw licking or tail biting, which can cause serious injuries if left to persist.
If your dog exhibits extreme behaviors like this, it could be a matter of safety. In this case, finding treatment for your dog’s anxieties is essential.
How to Help Your Dog With Separation Anxiety
If you believe your dog has separation anxiety, this can really impact their quality of life and lead to worsening conditions both mentally and physically. Fortunately, there are ways to help reduce and treat their anxieties. Here are some ideas to help you get started!
Give Your Dog Some Exercise
Before you leave, consider taking your dog out for a walk, playing with them in the backyard, or prompting them to run around. The less energy they have before you leave, the better! They may choose to spend their time relaxing or sleeping instead of engaging in destructive or self-destructive behaviors.
If you can, consider waking up a little early to give yourself time to enrich your dog. This small step can go a long way for their health and well-being. Exercise is essential for animal wellness.
While different breeds are different, dogs need between 30 minutes and two hours of exercise each day. Make sure yours is getting enough!
Enrich Your Dog
Keeping your dog’s mind occupied is a great way to help with anxiety. When you leave the house, make sure that your dog has something to stay busy with. This could include:
- Food puzzles
- Interactive toys
- Scattering pieces of food around the house
- Chew toys
- “Pet TV”
- A virtual communication system
The list goes on. If your dog gets excited over these toys, give them to them right before you leave and they may not even realize that you left for a while!
Don’t Make a Big Deal About Leaving
When you leave for the day, don’t touch, talk, or make eye contact with your dog. This will help communicate to your dog that it’s no big deal when you leave.
Conversely, if you make a big deal about leaving, this may communicate to them that you’re leaving for a long time, or even permanently. Although it may be painful to give this up, it can worsen their separation anxiety.
If this is a problem for you, don’t worry. You can still do these things before you leave, just make sure to give your dog the love they need well before you go. This will give them the quality time and enrichment they need without worsening the blow when you walk out of the door.
Get Professional Help
With the help of a professional pet communicator, your dog can learn to overcome separation anxiety. Essentially, a pet therapist can help your dog in similar ways to how human therapists help. Now that we know more about how dogs’ minds work, your pet psychic can even use color therapy to help your dog while you’re away.
Start Smaller
If your dog has really bad separation anxiety, start using the above tips for shorter periods and gradually working up. We understand that you may have to leave for work daily, but use as much time as you have.
You can start with a simple 5-minute test run to see how your dog does. You can try hiding outside or out of their view after leaving an interactive toy or puzzle for them and see how they react. If they are fine after a few minutes, consider taking a short trip to the grocery store or something without them.
However, if they react with harsh behaviors, finding treatment right away is essential. As much as you may want to, you can’t always base your life around your dog.
Help Your Pup Today
Now that you know how to help ease separation anxiety in dogs, put these tips to use right away. Nobody wants their pet to suffer, especially when you’re not around to help them through it. Fortunately, there are ways to help them live fulfilling and happy lives no matter where their best friend is!
Stay up to date with our latest news for your furry friends, and book now to get your pet the help they need!
