Tips On Preventing Separation Anxiety In Your Dog
There are few things as distressing as hearing your pup get upset every time you leave the room or home. Work on this when your pup is young and enjoy smooth sailing later on. If you don’t deal with separation anxiety now, you can count on a huge challenge later.
Do Not Coddle Your Pup
Although it is cute when your pup whines as you go out of sight, do not reward him for this by returning to your pup and picking him up or telling him “it’s okay honey”. Your pup will quickly learn that the more noise he makes the faster you come running to the rescue. Bad habit to start! Coddling children works but coddling dogs does not. Touch is a reward and so is a soothing tone from mom. If you touch or talk soothingly to an upset pup you, are telling them, “I love that noise!! Make it louder next time. Please!”. Pups need to learn to self-soothe in order to grow up well adjusted and confident.
Crate/Confine Your Pup While at Home
Crating or confining your pup while you are at home prevents the crate from becoming a signal that you are leaving thus creating anxiety. Intermittently crate your pup throughout the day, during meal time, nap time or just when you need a break from your puppy. As long as you have provided your pup with sufficient exercise and play time with you then there is no harm in crating.
Expect Some Whining
It is normal for most pups to cry and bark when first left alone. It is only a phase if dealt with properly. Ignore it and it will pass. (I am assuming your dog is safely confined in a crate or exercise pen and you are certain it is only crying/barking because it doesn’t understand being alone yet). If you reward the noise making, you will have an upset, anxious dog for years.
For more tips or information on this or any other topic discussed in my blog, email me at Maggie@CascadeKennels.com