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Last Updated on June 24, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
SEPARATION ANXIETY IN DOGS
So you have a dog with separation anxiety and you’ve built your bond and spend loads of time with your pup. BUT now you got a new boyfriend or girlfriend or you are never home or got a new job or covid is over and have to go back to work or maybe you just want to leave the house for a few hours every now and again?
Now your furbaby is like WTF? This is a behavioral problem you’ve created….I have seen it take on many different forms from aggression to destruction. You can prevent this if you take preventative steps when they are a puppy and if your furbaby is already an adult then the below steps might help as well.
SEPARATION ANXIETY IN DOGS TREATMENT
There are many different ways to address separation anxiety in dogs. I personally have found that crating not only helps but prevents destruction. Also, if you start crate training at an early age then your furbaby will consider their crate their safe place.
I have had friends as well as myself that did not crate their dogs and when left alone for prolonged separation, it resulted in digging a hole through the carpet of the bedroom door they were behind. Yelping and barking in panic as well as whimpering trying to get to the same room as you just because they couldn’t see you.
Or even worse, is the case of two separate dogs that weren’t crated and one tore through drywall, tile and insulation breaking its teeth and cutting itself up badly and the other ate through electrical and burned down the house.1Sargisson R. J. (2014). Canine separation anxiety: strategies for treatment and management. Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 5, 143–151. https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S60424
Crate training is good for dog anxiety as it is an invaluable tool in my household and we start from the moment all pets come home. Sometimes there are different schools of thought from leaving the crate in the same room as you to leaving the crate in a different room entirely and I have done both with success but there is always a crate downstairs near the kitchen.
There are regular crates like these
That are super durable but in the beginning you want to make sure the crate is not too large as sometimes puppies will go potty in one corner and then have space to lay away from their potty and that will create another behavioral problem you don’t need.
If you your dog has very bad dog anxiety you are not going to want a crate with bars that they can try and paw through or chew on or fit their muzzle through. This could result in injury not only to the crate but also to your pet.
High anxiety dog crates are ones with little holes or slats where they cant try and escape from or hurt themselves. Such as this crate.
If you are looking for a durable travel crate, that is collapsible or maybe you just want to secure your pup at home in something heavy duty, then this high anxiety dog crate is an option as well
Now this high anxiety dog crate by Dakota is a plastic crate with smaller air holes to allow ventilation and drainage holes making it easier to clean but there are no bars or slates the wire across the front gate closure is very small, little squares
Amazon.com: DAKOTA 283 G3 Framed Door Kennel – X-Large – Pink : Pet Supplies
When you are at home you can lock your furbaby in the crate and be in another room to see how they react. You want them to get used to the idea of being in the crate if you haven’t already done so since they were a puppy. You don’t want to reinforce negative behavior though by constantly going in the room and telling them no if they are barking.
The crate will ensure that destruction is minimized if not removed entirely while in the crate. Sometimes it is also helpful to leave the tv on as this drowns out any other outside noises that might create situations of barking.
There are also calming treats on the market (I take very similar ones before I go to bed with almost the same ingredients) such as these Finn Calming Aid ones that are my personal favorite of the bunch because they are made with organic herbs such as organic chamomile, organic passion flower and organic honey. They also contain valerian root (not organic), L-Tryptophan and Melatonin.
Or you could try these Hemp calming chews made with organic hemp and organic hemp oil with other ingredients like valerian root and L-tryptophan as well
Lastly, you could also opt for these Quiet Moments calming treats with have a lot of the same ingredients as the other two listed above only these are not organic.
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR ANXIETY IN DOGS
Another option for separation axiety in dogs if you have to leave them at home (more for your piece of mind) is
and this thing is great as it detects motion, has night vision and 360 degree views plus pan and tilt functionality and two-way audio so you can check in and speak to your furbaby. I have Wyze and it’s got a monthly fee but if you pay yearly, it is a little cheaper.
If you feel like your furbaby needs to see you as you are talking to them then
is the luxury device every posh pooch with dog anxiety needs. These are 2-way video screens, meaning there is already a screen for your pet to see you on when you are not home.
There is also paw call button if your pet wants to call, you can also have it dispense treats, it has brain games, DOGTV, aromatherapy and 1080p video streaming and the best part is there is no monthly fee.
MORE SOLUTIONS FOR ANXIETY IN DOGS
What other solutions do I have for separation anxiety in dogs? Well, you could get a job working at home with your furbaby (more common now) or you could work for Amazon as I have heard their offices let you bring your furaby to work where there are over 10,000 dogs are there with their pet parents.2Meet the dogs of Amazon (aboutamazon.com)
Unfortunately, these are not always realistic options for everyone. And if you live in an apartment where noise and destruction are of concern then you can’t afford not to have a working solution to the separation anxiety.
I had a friend whose dog would destroy only their items in the apartment whenever they left for work. My solution for them was a doggy daycare. Doggy daycare is a great idea when it comes to separation anxiety in dogs as it keeps your furry friend’s mind and body busy.
Keep in mind there are several styles of daycare and this one picked up and dropped him off every morning and evening, as well as took him for hikes and when he was wasn’t going for hikes with other dogs there would be a bunch of different play areas with and without water pools and splash pads and all with live camera feeds so you could check in to see the pups while at work and there were also televisions as well. Now keep in mind that this cost roughly $800-$1000 a month but it was full service.
So, if you have the means and are working and not home very much then socialization, exercise and play are great for keeping your furbaby healthy, happy and active. In fact, the average cost of doggy daycare is $240-$550.3Cost of Dog Daycare – Pets and Pet Care – CostHelper
Check out our other articles for more information on things like this;
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