Are you dealing with puppy separation anxiety with your little buddy? Greetings, new puppy parent! So, you brought home a sweet ball of fur who melted your heart with their big, round, innocent eyes. Then suddenly, your puppy starts the behavior of whining and barking like there’s no tomorrow, spinning into a tizzy, the second you leave the room?
Mmm, seems like your little puppy might be suffering from separation anxiety. Not to worry, though! We’re here to help you and your pooch make it through this tough phase with some fun, practical tips. Let’s help your puppy overcome separation anxiety and turn those tearful goodbyes into wagging tails.
Create a Comfort Zone
Your puppy should have a comfort zone, a place where they feel safe and relaxed while you’re away from home. Think of it as your puppy’s personal sanctuary where they feel safe and secure, free of anxiety and stress.
Establish a quiet area in your home for the safe space, make sure it’s away from distractions. The corner of the living room or your bedroom are ideal locations for the spot. Kit it out with a bed or crate, a few pillows, and some blankets.
Your puppy knows your scent, and that makes them feel safe. So, sleep with an old sweater or hoodie for a few nights and then leave it in their bed when you go away. Your scent on the clothing keeps them from feeling stressed and anxious.
Fill the crate with your puppy’s favorite chew toys, squeaky toys, and puzzle toys to keep them entertained and their anxiety on hold. The more they have to do, the less likely they are to feel anxious and won’t stress about you not being around.
Smart devices make a world of difference. Fit a pet camera system to keep an eye on them during the day. The system features an intercom and speaker system. So, if you see your pup having a hard time at home, you can patch through to the intercom system in your home and speak to them to calm them down.
Practice Leaving
One of the biggest stressors for puppies and dogs is seeing you walk out the door. Dogs don’t understand you have responsibilities outside the house. So, they assume you’re never coming back every time you leave.
Fortunately, you can accustom them to your leaving by practicing it with your dog in a controlled manner. This baby-steps process for your fur baby starts with leaving your dog alone in the bedroom for a few minutes. Increase the time you leave them alone by a few minutes every day until they’re comfortable with you not being around for long stretches.
If your pup gets anxious watching you prepare to leave, get them accommodated to you leaving. Pick up your keys, put on your jacket and shoes, and then sit in the lounge for 15 minutes. This behavior confuses your dog and makes them think you’re not going anywhere, reducing their stress.
Engage Them
Puppies are full of energy. If you don’t work that energy out of them, it builds up, leading to mental health issues. Combine that with separation anxiety, and you can begin to dsee why this could become a problem.
Instead of channeling their energy into constructive exercise sessions and playtime, you dog will redirect it into their anxiety, elevating the effect of it on their mind. The result is a highly stressed dog that’s on the verge of developing other mental health problems.
Give your pup daily exercise to wear them out and enjoy some playtime with them every day to keep them mentally fit and stress free.
Establish a Routine
Puppies simply flourish with predictability in their lives. Keeping a regular schedule makes your puppy feel safe and confident, and they experience less anxiety when you’re gone. Keep a consistent feeding schedule and feed them in the morning and evening.
Your puppy learns to expect what’s coming next from your interactions and behavior, bringing more stability to their life. Keeping a regular schedule lets the puppy blow of steam during exercise sessions, and they never go hungry.
Make sure your puppy has a regular sleep routine. Puppies need to sleep a lot, so ensure your pet has a quiet and comfortable place to sleep.
Use Tech Savvy Solutions
In the 21st century, we live in a high-tech world. Why not leverage these times and you’re your pup some cool gadgets to keep them busy and drive away separation anxiety. We’ve already discussed the benefits of fitting a camera and intercom system in your home.
However, there’s plenty of other amazing toys and accessories you can get your dog to keep the boredom and anxiety away. Try balls that jump around, light up, and play music. Give them puzzle toys with treats inside and watch them spend hours trying to get them out.
Buy an automatic pet treat dispenser. This device links to your smartphone, just like the intercom system. You press a button on the app when you’re away from home, and it automatically dispenses a treat for your pup.
Adding a bit of technology to the mix gives you peace of mind knowing your puppy is entertained and stress free.
Alternative Strategies
Puppies, like people, are unique personalities. They each experience anxiety differently. So, dogs have a very hard time with it, and others don’t experience much anxiety at all. If your pup is still anxious after trying the tips in this post, it’s time to look at other avenues to help them.
If your dog gets super anxious, consider giving them some CBD-based treats to calm them down. Cannabidiol attaches to receptors on the animal’s endocannabinoid system. It creates a calming sensation in the dog that drops their anxiety level.
CBD is safe to use, and it won’t make your dog feel “high” like cannabis. It’s a great tool to add to your arsenal of anti-anxiety strategies. Speak to your vet about it and ask them if they have any product suggestions. If your pup still feels extensive anxiety, even after using CBD, the vet might recommend a pharmacological solution to calm your pet.
Access Puppy Training On-Demand
Dealing with separation anxiety in puppies is difficult, and it can feel like shouting in the wind at times. Trainers typically offer weekly sessions at specific times of the day. Training your pooch out of their anxiety is possible, but it requires several sessions, and your schedule might not be able to accommodate it.
However, online training platforms give you on-demand access to effective anxiety training programs. You can train your dog using your cellphone and a few treats, from any location. There’s no need to leave the house for training sessions when you have everything ready to go right from the comfort of your home.