Although the term is commonly used, true puppy separation anxiety is more than just a puppy missing its owner!
Puppy separation anxiety is a serious condition that causes extreme anxiety and can be destructive to both your property and your pet’s health.
In this article, you will learn useful techniques to prevent separation anxiety and raise your puppy into a confident, happy dog.
What Does Puppy Separation Anxiety Look Like?
The most common symptoms of separation anxiety are:
- Toileting inside, despite previously being toilet trained.
- Howling and excessive barking while alone.
- Destruction of property and digging. Some dogs become so frantic, that they not only destroy your property but cause trauma to themselves.
- Pacing and circling behavior.
- Your puppy may scrape at doors, windows, and dig in an attempt to escape.
How to Prevent Puppy Separation Anxiety Developing
Utilize Crate training
Dogs are den animals and find comfort in small, enclosed spaces in the wild. This natural instinct makes crate training an excellent way to make your puppy feel safe and secure.
We cover crate training in this article > How To Crate Train your Puppy
Get Moving!
Provide your puppy with plenty of exercise. Take your puppy for a walk 20-30 minutes prior to leaving. Exercise helps your puppy burn energy and releases feel-good endorphins to help your pup relax.
Consider hiring a dog walker to keep your puppy active and give them company during the day.
Get Creative!
Provide stimulation for your puppy by getting creative! Associate your absence with positive play for your pup. Set up an obstacle course for your dog to explore, leave a paddling pool full of sand with their favorite toys hidden for them to discover or hide treats for them to sniff out! Kong toys are a great tool that when filled with peanut butter will keep your puppy busy for hours!
Kong toys are a great tool that when filled with peanut butter will keep your puppy busy for hours!
Downplay Your Exits and Returns
One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is giving drawn-out farewells and welcomes. Make your exit quick.
Stagger leaving “rituals” such as putting on your shoes and getting your keys.
For example – alternate between picking your keys 5-minutes before leaving to 30-minutes before leaving. This prevents your puppy from becoming upset as soon as you do these tasks.
Once you arrive home ignore your puppy until you have settled in and they are calm.
Other Factors and Conditions to Rule Out
If you are worried your puppy is suffering from separation anxiety make sure to rule out other conditions such as:
- Incomplete toilet training or toilet training regression
- Boredom
- Urine marking
- Barking due to over-excitement
- Juvenile destruction
Getting In The Experts
These tools help your puppy to grow into a well adjusted confident dog. In the rare cases where a true separation anxiety develops the best option is to contact a local animal behaviorist. This expert will be able to guide you through desensitization training for your dog.
Keep In Mind
Like many behavior problems in dogs, prevention is far easier than correction! So, if you put into place the calm routines and tools known to prevent puppy separation anxiety your puppy should grow into a well-behaved and confident dog.
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