How to cure separation anxiety in dogs
You come home from work and are greeted with a little bundle of energy pawing you, barking at you and are shocked at the storm of wreck he has caused to your living room! Your favourite shoes all nicely chewed up, scratches on your new sofa and the stench of urine. If this is a familiar scenario then your dog is suffering from separation anxiety.
Dogs are used to living in packs and when they are left all alone they exhibit behaviors like scratching at the doors or windows, whining and howling, chewing and urinating and defecation.
Here are a few tips to ease dogs suffering from separation anxiety:
- Take your dog out for a walk before you leave: Physical stimulation is always good for both dog and his master, so start your day by taking your four legged buddy for a jog or walk. Then reward him with food and water when you get back. The key is to get him to a quiet and resting mode before you take off to work.
- Start by leaving him alone for 5 minutes: You can start of by leaving him alone for 5 minutes. Keep him busy with new toys and games while you go about doing your work at home. Then gradually increase his time alone to 10 minutes and then slowly to an hour and before you know it he would be quite comfortable with you away even for a few hours! It all needs a little time and patience to cultivate this habit in your pet.
- No eye contact: When you leave for office or when you are back home try not to make it a big deal of it. Do not have eye contact with him before you leave and avoid him for a bit when you are back and then after a while go ahead and pet him. It is difficult to follow this in the beginning but on the long run it will make your pet independent and stronger emotionally. You can also leave with him your recently used tee shirt or shoes, something that reminds him of your smell. It will make him feel comfortable.
- Establish a cue: You can say goodbye to your pet long before you actually leave. This works well for the master as it will ease your feelings of guilt and anxiety when you leave your pet at home. Also use action or reassure him with words that you will be back soon.
If you are still not able to ease the anxiety symptoms in your pet you can contact your vet for professional help. Happy parenting!
Article by Harshitha
