Addressing Separation Anxiety in Your Dog

One of the more common issues in dogs of all ages is separation anxiety. Regardless of the origins of this condition, the symptoms associated with this type of anxiety can be particularly challenging, especially in older adults.

Depending on the situation, most dogs will begin displaying symptoms of this anxiety disorder at a young age. Luckily, there are certain tips and strategies you can use that, once employed, can provide relief for this challenging behavior.

What Causes Separation Anxiety In Dogs?

Multiple different life events may lead to the development of separation anxiety in dogs. One of the most common reasons leading to separation anxiety is abandonment.

Many dogs that have been in constant circulation among shelters experience certain levels of separation anxiety. These animals get used to a constant cycle of abandonment and companionship, and when you take them in, their fear of abandonment causes them to act out.

Some of the common behaviors associated with separation anxiety in dogs may include:

• Frequent accidents inside the home
• High pitched, frequent crying and whining
• Digging at the bottom of their crate or doors in your home
• Doing damage to items in your home while you’re away

Dealing with these challenges can be very frustrating, especially if you have no background in retraining a dog. Luckily, we have a small set of steps you can take to relieve separation anxiety.

Training to Fix Separation Anxiety

You won’t need much for this method, aside from a metal crate used to house dogs during crate training.

1. Set up your dog’s crate in a comfortable area of your home. Don’t put the dog inside the crate just yet.
2. Allow them to smell the crate and get used to its presence. Eventually, you may place their favorite blanket or toy inside of the crate. It also helps if you place a sweater or jacket with your scent on it for familiarity.
3. First, use a treat to lure them inside of the crate. Don’t shut the door, but allow them to enter it without enclosing them. Let one night pass after this step.
4. The next day, lure them into the crate again. This time, shut and latch the door, leaving them inside for a few minutes while you stay in the room.
5. Repeat this step, but the next time, leave the room for five minutes. Return, and let them out of the crate.
6. You’ll continue to repeat these steps until you’ve worked your way up to an entire day in the crate. Increase the time in small increments. Initially, do 15-minute increases until you hit an hour. Then you can jump to four hours, then five, and all the way until you hit eight. This will be a full workday, which is what you’re aiming for.

This method may take some time, but eventually, you should eliminate most of the challenging behavior. Don’t get frustrated, and make sure you give them plenty of praise. If you should have any questions, contact the expert trainers at Dog Training Now Charleston today!