While raising a puppy, you may have to go through various behavioral issues. Separation anxiety is one such behavioral problem. Although It is one of the most common problems that dog owners face, learning a few tips can help you prevent or address it at an initial stage. Separation anxiety, although seen in older dogs, is most commonly found in younger dogs. So, never overlook the symptoms of SA or dismiss it as something that can be treated later. Instead, try to prevent the condition before it starts.
If you notice your dog getting nervous when you get prepared to leave the house, they start bonking with joy when you are back home, destroy your shoes, or chew the corner of a table when left alone, consider this as a sign that your dog might have separation anxiety.
What is separation anxiety in dogs?
The first step to cure any problem is by understanding what the problem is or what is the necessary cause? Separation anxiety in dogs is a behavioral issue caused due to extreme stress when they are left alone at home. The symptoms may vary in different dogs but the condition depicts that he is extremely terrified to be left home alone on his own.
A few common signs of separation anxiety
- A dog experiencing separation anxiety when left alone might have these common signs:
- Scratches doors and windows or chew things like your shoes.
- Salivate more than usual
- Try to escape the house resulting in serious injury
- Excessive and Unnecessary howling or barking
- Urinating in the house
- Anxious behavior like trembling or whining when you get ready to leave
Ways to treat separation anxiety in dogs
Often the way your dog behaves due to separation anxiety can make you feel exhausted, angry, and irritated. But at the same time, you must also understand that it’s even more devastating for your dog. Hence to help you resolve the condition and reduce or eliminate the symptoms of separation anxiety in your dogs, a few easy steps are suggested below.
Take your dog for a walk before leaving the house
Take your dog for a brisk walk just a few minutes before you leave the house. If possible, put some extra weight on your dog’s backpack. After the walk is over try rewarding your dog with some food and water. This activity can help your dog to be in a resting and quiet mode while you are not home.
Use CBD oil for dogs with anxiety
Although the use of CBD oil is most common in humans, it can be a perfect natural solution to treat anxiety in your dogs and cats. The best part of using CBD is, it doesn’t have any side effects, unlike other anxiety anti-anxiety medications. Hence, it is completely safe. But at the same time, before buying CBD oil to treat separation anxiety In your dogs, make sure it has passed through a 3rd party lab testing. This ensures that the CBD oil you are buying is of the best quality and will not harm your pet.
Avoid touch, talk, or making eye contact with your dog
The time when you get ready to leave the house, try to avoid making it a big deal. Do not touch or hug your dog in a way that’s also hard on your part to leave. Instead, behave in a way that it’s just a usual daily business and no big issue. Depending upon the severity of your dog’s condition, practice the activity for at least five minutes to an hour before you leave and after getting back home.
Start small
Separation anxiety arises in dogs due to the frightening feeling of staying alone at home for the entire day. Instead, try to leave your dog alone for a small-time duration like five minutes and then slowly increase it an hour. Continue the procedure until you can leave him for a complete eight hours a day without him facing any problem.
The bottom line
As you can know from the above details, separation anxiety is quite common in dogs when left home alone. To help your dog overcome the condition, it is necessary that you understand the cause and signs of the anxiety and then do the needful to ease those symptoms. Do not scold or punish your dog for the anxious behavior, as it is not something they did out of disobedience or spite.