Dog Separation Anxiety Training
Do you do everything in your power to avoid leaving your dog home alone? You are terrified because you know when you return, your place will be in shambles. Furniture will be chewed, the walls will be scratched, there will be “surprises” on the carpet, and at least three angry voice mails from your neighbor complaining about the ruckus. What’s a stressed out owner to do? You certainly can’t stay home all day and all night!
Here are some dog separation anxiety training steps to help overcome separation anxiety for your dogs:
Build Structure, Routine, and Confidence
Make sure your dog is grounded and understands that you are the alpha dog. Everything you do and say goes. This will put him in a calm submissive state, which makes him less anxious. Stick to a schedule when it comes to the attention you give your dog. Dogs thrive on routine, so give him the same amount of play and love time each day.
Be sure your dog has a place he can call his own – a crate or a comfy dog bed in a good location to keep an eye on everything. Build your dog’s confidence through obedience training. If your dog is extremely anxious, crating him when you are out of the house will help keep him calm. One word of warning – use the crate at other times as well, otherwise you’ll soon find yourself battling to shove your dog into the crate when you leave. He has to see the crate as a pleasant place to relax, not a cage.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
So many dog behavior problems are caused due to a lack of exercise. If a dog has pent-up energy and you leave him alone in your house, the energy will combine with boredom and your dog will find ways to entertain himself. Find time to walk your dog every day or bring him to a dog park where you can play fetch or he can play with other dogs. You’ll know your dog has had enough exercise when he comes into the house and flops down on his bed, looking nice and relaxed.
Adjust Your Energy Level
Remember that your dog can sense your energy. Animals feed off your vibes, so if you are anxious about leaving your dog home alone, he will pick up that anxious energy. Don’t make your comings and goings into a big ordeal. Think of how you would say hello and goodbye to your spouse or other loved ones. All your dog needs for a greeting or goodbye is a quick pat and a “See ya later!” If you act like your leaving is no big deal, your dog will learn to act this way too.
Don’t Get Angry After The Fact
If you’re working on the problem and you still come home to a destroyed house or a soiled crate, don’t get angry. This will only make your dog more stressed out because he’ll begin to associate your homecoming with anger and discipline. This will increase separation anxiety for dogs when you are not home – the very thing you don’t want! Stick to your guns with prevention of the problem and know that with patience, you can improve your dog’s separation anxiety problem. Remember, you are the pack leader, so you need to change what you do in order to create a change in your dog.
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