As dog owners, few things are more heartbreaking than coming home to a stressed, anxious pup who has torn up the house out of loneliness and distress.
Separation anxiety in dogs is a legitimate condition that requires empathy and a step-by-step desensitization process.
With patience and these five steps, you can help your furry friend gain confidence and calm when left alone.
Step 1: Detect Signs of True Separation Anxiety
The first step is making sure your dog’s destructive behavior or vocalization when alone is actually separation anxiety, not just misbehavior or boredom.
Telltale signs include digging, chewing objects, urinating or defecating indoors, excessive drooling, and frantic barking or howling.
Other dogs pant excessively or have repetitive behaviors like pacing in a fixed pattern when their owner leaves.
True separation anxiety involves panic – if you see these signs within the first 30 minutes after you depart, it’s likely separation anxiety at play.
Step 2: Patience and Baby Steps
Like any confidence-building exercise, you can’t rush the process of desensitizing your dog to being alone.
It requires taking baby steps over time to increase her alone-time tolerance. Start by just stepping outside the front door for a few seconds, then re-entering and remaining calm and quiet to avoid rewarding anxious behavior.
As she remains relaxed with you briefly out of sight, you can slowly increase the time away over days and weeks.
Leaving an audio cue like the TV on can also provide comfort during small absences. The key is increasing alone-time gradually, not all at once.
Step 3: Use Crate Training and Positive Associations
A crate can be an invaluable tool for safely containing your dog and managing separation anxiety. But first, you need to use positive reinforcement to make the crate an inviting safe space rather than a feared confinement.
Feed your dog meals in the open crate, treating and praising as she enters.
Once she’s comfortable, you can close her in for brief periods while making positive associations by hiding treats for her to find upon your return. Over time, the crate becomes a serene alone-time nook.
Step 4: Keep Arrivals and Departures Uneventful
Dogs are masters at sensing energy and emotion. When you make a huge fuss before leaving or upon returning home, you’re unintentionally rewarding frantic, hyper behavior.
Instead, aim to keep arrivals and departures as calm and uneventful as possible.
A simple “I’ll be back” or treating for quiet behavior when you grab your keys can set the right tone.
Likewise, resist shouting excited greetings or scolding upon re-entry. With practice, your dog will learn that alone time is no big deal.
Step 5: Explore Other Aids Like Pheromones and Supplements
For some dogs with severe anxiety, positive reinforcement may need to be combined with other calming aids. Dog pheromone diffusers release synthetic versions of the natural compounds dogs use to relax their canine “family.”
You can also discuss over-the-counter calming supplements like melatonin or dog-specific anxiety relief products with your vet. When paired with training, these tools can further reduce panic during the reconditioning process.
While overcoming separation anxiety takes time and commitment, don’t lose heart. Celebrate small victories like a few minutes of calm departing behavior.
With empathy and this gradual training process, you can help your beloved dog gain independence and finally feel at ease when home alone.
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