Separation Anxiety

When dogs have this, they literally panic right before you leave, or panic right after you've left. Separation axiety is a serious emotional problem. They literally fear being left alone.

A couple of things to look for:

• Whining or pacing before or after you have left
• Panting or drooling
• Shaking
• Sweaty pads
• barking or howling
• Soiling in the house (if they are supposedly potty trained of course)
• lack of eating or loss in appetite
• Chewing or digging, especially around doors (entrances and exits)
• Dilated pupils
• Aggressive behavior

Once you establish that your dog has this, it's your job to teach them that they can be by themselves safely. A couple of ways to do this:

• Crate training. Use the crate when you are at home at first. Don't only use it when you leave and don't ever use it for punishment...they will never learn to like it if you do. Use it when you are cleaning, eating, or have guests over. Use it as a babysitter when you can't be around them. This will allow them to see that even though you are around, you don't necessarily need to be together. Also use it for sleeping so they associate the crate with sleep. Eventually you will be able to use it for when you are not home. Always have something for them to do in it as well.
• Don't punish the dog upon your return. If you come home and find things chewed up or soil on the floor, don't punish them, they won't remember what they did. If you continue to do this, you will make them afraid for you to come home. They don't "know" that they did anything wrong, they just know that you were mad the last time this happened. You literally need to be taught EVERYTHING.
• Ignore before and after you leave. Always remember to keep your comings and goings as low key as possible. Dogs always feed off of your energy, if you make it a big deal that you are leaving, they will too. If you immediately get excited when you come home, they will only read your tone which will only reinforce their insecurities the next time you leave.
• Change your routine and make your departure a good thing. Dogs are very observent, they will pick up your routine before you leave very quickly. This causes the dog to start fearing being left alone once you start the same routine the next time. Do him a favor and change it up. Also, make sure you do something that could get the dog excited for you to leave. You could always give them their favorite treats, bones or toys. I would do this in small frequent intervols before actually leaving for good.

Make sense? If not, email me!

Tags: separation anxiety, routine, crate training, crate