Puppy with Separation Anxiety. Dogs are very social animals and they need to be around people. They love to play and cuddle with their owners.
Puppies can get separation anxiety when they are left alone for an extended period of time. This is usually because they have never been left alone before.
Separation anxiety in puppies can be helped with some home remedies and training.
There are many ways you can help your puppy with separation anxiety, but it is best if you consult a veterinarian or animal behaviorist first.
Why Do Puppies (Dogs) Get Separation Anxiety?
Puppies get separation anxiety because they are not yet mature enough to understand that they will be reunited with their owners soon. They also don’t have the ability to control their emotions and they can’t differentiate between abandonment and being left alone.
Separation anxiety is a form of anxiety that is triggered by separation from their owner or primary caregiver, often leading to destructive and sometimes life-threatening behaviors when left alone by themselves.
Puppy with Separation Anxiety Symptoms
The symptoms of puppy separation anxiety are:
- when left alone, excessive barking or howling
- Chewing and other improper habits
- Accidents occurring throughout the house, while this may be age-related and not a sign of separation anxiety
- digging or scratching at windows or doors
- Pacing
- excessive salivation or panting
- attempts at escape
- repetitious or obsessional behavior
- Self-destructive behavior
Tips to Help Prevent Puppy Separation Anxiety;
Tell your puppy that you are trusted.
Your puppy has to understand from the moment you bring them home that they can depend on you to look out for them, but there are times when they can’t constantly be with you—and that’s good.
Install baby gates, and establish a routine of leaving your puppy alone in a room for a short while with something tasty to occupy them, such as dinner or a reward like our Chicken flavored munchy sticks. Check out our store page.
Make leaving isn’t a big deal.
When it’s time to go, simply walk away and come back. To help your puppy grow used to it, make your arrival and going a regular part of your life from the beginning.
Do quick, simple things by yourself, such as taking a shower, using the restroom, or putting the laundry in the washer, to teach them that it’s alright to be alone and that you’ll return. They might even look forward to their alone time if you give them a good dog treat.
eventually increasing their alone time
Start with 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, 15 minutes, then 30 minutes—until they are content to be left alone for an hour. Keep in mind to go slowly. Leave them with something to occupy their time while you are away at a place where they feel protected. Toys filled with their preferred treats or xylitol-free peanut butter can be used to occupy them.
Teaching your puppy that being alone is safe and a normal aspect of being a family dog will pay off in the long run but keep in mind that dogs still want socialization and companionship.
Helping Puppies with Separation Anxiety
There are many ways to help puppies with separation anxiety. One way is to take them for a walk or play with them before you leave. You can also leave them in the room where they sleep or take their favorite toy with you.
The second way is by using medication like Xanax, which can calm your pup down when he’s feeling anxious about being left alone. This should only be used as a last resort because it has some serious side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and high blood pressure.
If you want your puppy to stop crying, give him some company by leaving the radio or TV on in the room where he is staying.
It’s important to remember that puppies occasionally have a tendency to start out bored before getting worked up and becoming worried and anxious. If you’re unsure, locate a qualified behaviorist with knowledge of puppy anxiety and ask them to conduct an evaluation.