5 Ways to Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common problem for many dog owners. While some dogs are naturally more anxious than others, separation anxiety can begin to develop in any pup that feels abandoned or alone. This means that all breeds of dogs are at risk of suffering from this disorder, no matter how strong their breed’s independent nature.

Dog separation anxiety can cause a number of negative behaviors, including but not limited to: dog chewing or clawing at doors and walls, dog howling, barking, whining, or crying for extended periods of time, urine marking in the house, digging holes in the yard

Dogs suffering from severe dog separation anxiety may even be at risk of injuring themselves in an attempt to escape.

Separation anxiety is often caused by a lack of training. Many dogs get used to being alone, only because the family treated them like adults when they were puppies. This means that many pups grow up without receiving any guidance regarding appropriate behaviors when their owners leave the house.

If you are worried that your dog’s separation anxiety is getting out of control, try one (or all) of these 5 tips to help ease their symptoms.

1. Give Your Dog a Job

No matter what kind of work your pup does for a living, the best method to cure dog separation anxiety is having them actively doing something when you are not around. This doesn’t mean that you should force your dog to do difficult tricks when they don’t want to, but it does mean that you can help ease their anxiety by giving them plenty of opportunities to work for their daily kibble.

If there is an activity or trick your dog knows how to do well, try having them perform it before you leave the house. If your dog is having high levels of anxiety, try to keep training sessions short and sweet so that they don’t get too worn out.

2. Treat Your Dog With CBD Oil

CBD oil is becoming a popular way to treat conditions that affect the central nervous system, including anxiety disorders. Thedailyworld also suggested that if you’re looking for an all-natural solution to ease your pup’s separation anxiety symptoms, CBD oil might just be the answer.

Many dog owners have seen great success in treating their pup’s separation anxiety with this natural remedy. This is because CBD works as a natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, helping to ease symptoms on both the physical and emotional side of puppy separation anxiety.

3. Distract Your Dog With Music

Dog separation anxiety can also lead to some pretty loud symptoms, including howling and barking. To keep this from happening when you leave the house, try playing some music to help soothe your pup’s nerves. Keep in mind that classical or jazz may be a bit calming for most pups, but if they show signs of being agitated by the sound of either genre, simply switch to what is most comfortable for them.

4. Keep Your Dog Busy With Dog Training

This is one of the most important tips for stopping dog separation anxiety. If your dog is not receiving any training, they are more likely to become bored at home. This boredom can quickly lead to destructive behaviors that are unpleasant for you and risky for them. To help your pup stay busy when you are gone, stay consistent with daily training. Even if you are able to only work on simple tricks, it can help prevent your dog from feeling isolated when you aren’t around.

5. Take Your Dog for a Walk Before You Leave

One of the most effective ways to cure dog separation anxiety is to exercise your pup before they have an opportunity to become anxious. If you are not able to take your dog for a walk before leaving, try tiring them out with some playtime in the backyard. The more energy they have when they are inside, the less likely they are to become anxious while you are away.

Conclusion

If you follow these 5 tips every time your pup is separated from you without supervision, they will be less likely to show signs of separation anxiety. If you only follow some of these tips, or if your dog’s symptoms become severe, it is time to see a veterinarian for more help with stopping their behavior problems.