If you have a dog, you know that their presence can bring immense joy and comfort. But sometimes, too much time away from their owners can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for our furry friends – this is known as separation anxiety. It’s estimated that up to 14% of dogs experience extreme levels of separation anxiety, while 30-40% may encounter more moderate levels of distress. Luckily, there are some simple steps we can take to help reduce the symptoms and make being away from us easier for our canine confidantes.
The first step in managing your pup’s separation anxiety is to identify it. Common signs can include excessive barking or whining when left alone, destructive behaviors such as chewing on furniture or shredding pillows, frequent urination or defecation indoors, pacing or restlessness when alone and/or hypersalivation (excessive drooling). If any of these symptoms sound familiar for your pup, then it’s likely they’re suffering from some level of separation anxiety.
Once you’ve identified the symptoms in your dog that suggest separation anxiety is present, the next step is to start desensitizing them to the sensation of being left alone. This process involves gradually exposing them to longer periods away from you until they become accustomed to it and their anxiety reduces over time. The best way to do this is by starting small with just 5 minutes apart initially. After each session ensure they are rewarded with treats so they come to associate being without you as something positive! Repeat this exercise a few times a day over the course of several weeks until eventually they will be ready for longer periods away from you without triggering an anxious episode.
It also helps if your pup has enough stimulation whilst home alone. Keeping them busy by providing plenty of toys or interactive feeders like Kongs filled with treats means that their focus isn’t solely on missing you but instead occupied with activities designed just for them! Additionally, leaving music on before departing ensures there are comforting noises rather than total silence which sometimes can contribute towards exacerbating feelings of loneliness and abandonment in dogs.
Behavior modification techniques like clicker training are also useful tools at helping de-escalate feelings of distress associated with separation anxiety in dogs. Clicker training works by rewarding good behavior when left alone; for example providing treats when vocalization such as barking or whining stops after a certain period have elapsed. If done consistently these rewards act as positive reinforcements so that eventually the fear-based reactions begin decreasing until hopefully no longer exhibiting at all!
Lastly, taking regular daily walks together offers great benefits both mentally and physically for our four-legged companions providing an outlet for pent up energy through exercise whilst simultaneously cementing the connection between owner and pet further reinforcing loyalty which ultimately leads directly back around full circle into reducing those feelings related specifically associated with anxiousness caused due to prolonged absences apart from one another Similarly supplementation through either calming tablets or pheromone sprays provide additional soothing measures especially beneficial during particularly stressful episodes like thunderstorms where heightened fearfulness may occur All these measures combined should lead towards improvementwithin manageable levels of distress.
