how to stop dog anxiety when left alone

Many dog owners are concerned that their pets will cause trouble if left alone. Their dogs may pee or defecate on the carpet, dig a hole, try to escape, bark incessantly, or howl. These issues can be signs of discomfort, but more commonly, they suggest that the dog has to be taught proper etiquette around the house. There is no proof that a dog isn't house trained or doesn't recognize which toys are his to chew when these issues occur in tandem with other distress behaviors, such as drooling and expressing concern as his pet owners prepare to leave the house. It's more likely that the dog is suffering from separation anxiety. When dogs experience distress upon parting with their owners, the persons to whom they have developed strong attachments, they experience separation anxiety. To escape, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may resort to extreme measures, including self-inflicted injuries and property destruction.

When their owners are ready to depart, some dogs with separation anxiety start to act out. Others appear worried or melancholy just before their guardians leave or while their guardians are absent. Many kids will strive to keep their parents from leaving. A dog suffering from separation anxiety will begin barking and exhibiting other distress behaviors within a few minutes after being left alone. The dog acts as though it's been years since he last saw the parent upon the guardian's return.

The purpose of therapy for dogs suffering from separation anxiety is to alleviate the dog's underlying state of worry. Many dogs become destructive or disruptive when their owners leave them alone. Pets belonging to these people could urinate or defecate on the carpet, dig holes to escape, bark nonstop, or make a lot of noise. Most of the time, these problems indicate that your dog needs to be taught house manners, but they can also be indicators of anxiousness. Co-occurring distress behaviors, such as drooling and anxiety as their owners are ready to leave the house, may not always indicate that a dog is not housebroken or does not know which toys are his or hers to chew.

On the contrary, these behaviors are classic signs of separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs with separation anxiety get upset when left alone for long periods. When a dog has separation anxiety, it may try to escape by any means necessary, including destroying furniture or hurting itself, particularly in the vicinity of exits like windows and doors.

 

When their owners are ready to leave, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may experience difficulty. The absence or departure of parents can cause anxiety or sadness in particular youngsters. Many children will do whatever they can to prevent their parents from leaving. When left alone, a dog suffering from separation anxiety may often begin barking and showing other signs of discomfort within minutes. When the guardian finally returns home, the dog acts like it has been years since he last saw him.

 

Educating your dog to enjoy or at least tolerate alone time is an effective remedy if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. To do this, the dog's anxiety-inducing triggers—in this example, being left alone—are gradually exposed to him in controlled settings.

Many dogs become destructive or disruptive when their owners leave them alone. Pets belonging to these people could urinate or defecate on the carpet, dig holes to escape, bark nonstop, or make a lot of noise. Most of the time, these problems indicate that your dog needs to be taught house manners, but they can also be indicators of anxiousness. Co-occurring distress behaviors, such as drooling and anxiety as their owners are ready to leave the house, may not always indicate that a dog is not housebroken or does not know which toys are his or hers to chew. On the contrary, these behaviors are classic signs of separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs with separation anxiety get upset when left alone for long periods. When a dog has separation anxiety, it may try to escape by any means necessary, including destroying furniture or hurting itself, particularly in the vicinity of exits like windows and doors.

 

When their owners are ready to leave, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may experience difficulty. The absence or departure of parents can cause anxiety or sadness in confident youngsters. Many children will do whatever they can to prevent their parents from leaving. When left alone, a dog suffering from separation anxiety may often begin barking and showing other signs of discomfort within minutes. When the guardian finally returns home, the dog acts like it has been years since he last saw him.

 

Educating your dog to enjoy or at least tolerate alone time is an effective remedy if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. To do this, the dog's anxiety-inducing triggers—in this example, being left alone—are gradually exposed to him in controlled settings.

Relief from Mild to Severe Separation Anxiety

Mild cases of separation anxiety may be treated with simple desensitization and counterconditioning protocols, whereas moderate to severe cases require more involved treatments. Because of this, it is important to gradually introduce a dog to being alone over many weeks, starting with frequent, short separations that do not cause distress and then gradually increasing the time between each separation.

Desensitization and counterconditioning are both complex procedures that must be handled with care. It is crucial to keep the dog calm during the process, or the procedure will fail. Because therapy must adapt to the pet's reactions and because these behaviors might be hard to read and grasp, desensitization and counterconditioning require the direction of a competent and experienced professional. When creating a desensitization and counterconditioning plan, working with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB) might be helpful. If you're having trouble locating a behaviorist, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) may be able to help you out. You should verify that any potential therapist you work with has expertise and training in fear therapy through desensitization and counterconditioning, even if this information isn't required for CPDT certification.

To get things started, let us say: Pre-Blastoff Warnings.

Some dogs, as mentioned before, suffer from separation anxiety as their humans prepare to leave. A dog may start to pace, pant, and whine if it observes its owner putting on makeup, then shoes, then a coat, and finally picking up a handbag or car keys. (If your dog shows no signs of anxiety as you prepare to leave, you may skip this.) A dog's anxiety levels will skyrocket if its owner isn't satisfied during the pre-departure rituals, making it impossible to stay apart for more than a few seconds. As you pack up to go, your dog may become so upset that he forgets you'll be back.

 

If your dog suffers from "pre-departure anxiety," you might try reassuring him by showing him that putting on your coat or reaching for your keys does not mean you are leaving. Your dog can learn to correlate these occurrences with pleasant outcomes by daily exposure to these signals in various sequences. You can always put on your boots and coat, watch some TV, and pretend you're going somewhere if you're just not in the mood to leave home. Instead of sitting at the counter, you may retrieve your keys and have some downtime at the dining room table. Your dog will have less separation anxiety since he won't have to anticipate your departure every time he sees these indicators. Remember that your dog has spent years learning the significance of your departure cues, so they will need to experience the phony cues regularly, every day, for weeks to grasp that they no longer predict your protracted absences. Proceed to Step 2 when your dog no longer exhibits fearful behavior when he sees you about to leave.

 

The Second Phase: Leaving Timing and Progression

If your dog is less anxious before you go, you may skip pre-departure therapy and ease into more extended trips. A dog's separation anxiety can be mitigated if you leave for a shorter time. Start by accustoming your dog to wait quietly at an inside door, such as the bathroom. If you have to use the toilet and can't bring yourself to leave the house, training your dog to sit or lie down and remain will offer you peace of mind. You might also consult with an expert dog trainer. Please read our post, Where to Look for Professional Behavior Help, if you need assistance identifying a CPDT in your area. Gradually increase the time you spend waiting on the other side of the door, out of your dog's sight. During the stay, you and your dog can work on getting him used to the signs that indicate when it's time to leave. Try telling your dog to "stay" for a change. You may put on your coat, get your wallet, and use the facilities while your dog stays behind. Many dogs become destructive or disruptive when their owners leave them alone. Pets belonging to these people could urinate or defecate on the carpet, dig holes to escape, bark nonstop, or make a lot of noise. Most of the time, these problems indicate that your dog needs to be taught house manners, but they can also be indicators of anxiousness. Co-occurring distress behaviors, such as drooling and anxiety as their owners are ready to leave the house, may not always indicate that a dog is not housebroken or does not know which toys are his or hers to chew.

On the contrary, these behaviors are classic signs of separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs with separation anxiety get upset when left alone for long periods. When a dog has separation anxiety, it may try to escape by any means necessary, including destroying furniture or hurting itself, particularly in the vicinity of exits like windows and doors.

 

When their owners are ready to leave, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may experience difficulty. The absence or departure of parents can cause anxiety or sadness in youngsters. Many children will do whatever they can to prevent their parents from leaving. When left alone, a dog suffering from separation anxiety may often begin barking and showing other signs of discomfort within minutes. When the guardian finally returns home, the dog acts like it has been years since he last saw him.

 

Educating your dog to enjoy or at least tolerate alone time is an effective remedy if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. To do this, the dog's anxiety-inducing triggers—in this example, being left alone—are gradually exposed to him in controlled settings.

Many dogs become destructive or disruptive when their owners leave them alone. Pets belonging to these people could urinate or defecate on the carpet, dig holes to escape, bark nonstop, or make a lot of noise. Most of the time, these problems indicate that your dog needs to be taught house manners, but they can also be indicators of anxiousness. Co-occurring distress behaviors, such as drooling and anxiety as their owners are ready to leave the house, may not always indicate that a dog is not housebroken or does not know which toys are his or hers to chew. On the contrary, these behaviors are classic signs of separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs with separation anxiety get upset when left alone for long periods. When a dog has separation anxiety, it may try to escape by any means necessary, including destroying furniture or hurting itself, particularly in the vicinity of exits like windows and doors.

 

When their owners are ready to leave, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may experience difficulty. The absence or departure of parents can cause anxiety or sadness in confident youngsters. Many children will do whatever they can to prevent their parents from leaving. When left alone, a dog suffering from separation anxiety may often begin barking and showing other signs of discomfort within minutes. When the guardian finally returns home, the dog acts like it has been years since he last saw him.

 

Educating your dog to enjoy or at least tolerate alone time is an effective remedy if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. To do this, the dog's anxiety-inducing triggers—in this example, being left alone—are gradually exposed to him in controlled settings.

 

We'll begin by saying, "Signals Before Takeoff."

It was mentioned that some dogs get separation anxiety when their humans are ready to leave. A dog may start to pace, pant, and whine if it observes its owner putting on makeup, then shoes, then a coat, and finally grabbing a pocketbook or car keys. (If your dog shows no signs of anxiety as you prepare to leave, you may skip this.) If a dog senses that its owner is unhappy during the routines they share before leaving, the dog will become highly anxious, and the owner will be unable to leave for more than a few seconds. When your dog sees you getting ready to go (by putting on a coat and grabbing keys, for example), he may become so upset that he forgets you'll be back.

 

If your dog suffers from "pre-departure anxiety," you may find it helpful to educate him that just because he sees you grab your keys or your coat does not mean you are leaving. Your dog can learn to correlate these occurrences with good outcomes by regularly repeating these signals in various sequences. Put on your boots and coat and watch some TV if you don't feel like leaving the house. Alternatively, you may collect your keys and unwind at the dining room table. This will reduce your dog's worry since he won't always know that you're going when he sees these indicators. But remember that your dog has spent years learning the meaning of your departure cues, so they will need to experience the fake cues repeatedly every day for weeks to grasp that they no longer foretell your protracted absences. When your dog no longer acts anxious when he sees you about to leave, move on to Step 2.

 

Stage Two: The Leaving Process and Related Timeframes

If your dog is less anxious before you leave, you may probably skip the initial pre-departure therapy and start with very brief departures. To reduce your dog's distress from being left alone, you should leave for shorter periods. Initially, your dog should be taught to wait in a safe, out-of-sight area next to an indoor entrance. Your peace of mind will be significantly enhanced if your dog is trained to sit, lie down, and remain whenever you need to use the toilet but cannot take them in with you. Additionally, you may want to consult with an expert in dog training. Read our article, "Where to Look for Professional Behavior Help," for tips on finding a certified cheerful behavior support technician in your area. Gradually increase your time waiting behind closed doors, out of your dog's sight. During the stay, your dog might become used to the signals that indicate it's time to leave. Instruct your dog to "stay" and see what happens. While Fido is patient, you may change into a warmer coat, get your wallet, and use the restroom. Helping him learn to appreciate or at least accept his alone time. To do this, we must create an environment where the dog may encounter the very thing that causes him distress — in this case, being left alone — without feeling any apprehension or panic.

Dog owners frequently voice concerns that their pets cause unnecessary disruption or damage when left alone. Their pets may pee or defecate on the carpet, dig holes, try to escape, cry or growl incessantly. These issues are frequently signs that a dog needs to learn appropriate behavior in the home, but they can also be signs of anxiety. The fact that a dog isn't house trained or doesn't recognize which toys are his to chew isn't evidenced when the problem is accompanied by other distress behaviors, such as drooling and expressing concern as his pet owners prepare to leave the house. Instead, these behaviors point to separation anxiety in the dog. When dogs experience distress when being separated from their owners, they suffer from separation anxiety. To escape, dogs suffering from separation anxiety may resort to extreme measures, including self-inflicted injuries and property destruction.

 

Their owners' departure might trigger anxiety in certain dogs with separation issues. Some kids appear worried or sad when their caretakers aren't around or when they leave. Some of the kids even try to stop their parents from leaving. A dog with separation anxiety will typically start barking and exhibiting other distress symptoms shortly after its owner departs, frequently within minutes. The dog acts as though it has been years since he last saw his guardian when he came home.

 

Treating a dog with separation anxiety is to help the dog become comfortable being left alone, if not enjoying it. To do this, we must create an environment where the dog may encounter the very thing that causes him distress — in this case, being left alone — without feeling any apprehension or panic.

Therapy for Children with Moderate to Severe Separation Anxiety

Those who suffer from moderate to severe separation anxiety should undergo a more involved desensitization and counterconditioning regimen. As such, it is essential to acclimatize a dog to being alone over several weeks of daily sessions, beginning with many brief separations that do not generate anxiety and then progressively extending the time of the separations.

Both desensitization and counterconditioning have many moving parts and can be challenging to implement. When working with a dog, it's essential to keep the animal calm and confident throughout the process. Desensitization and counterconditioning require the leadership of a qualified and experienced expert since therapy must evolve and modify according to the pet's reactions and because these behaviors can be challenging to read and comprehend. Consult a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist for assistance in developing and implementing a desensitization and counterconditioning program (Dip ACVB). If a behaviorist is out of your price range, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) may be able to help. Since knowledge of fear treatment via desensitization and counterconditioning is not a prerequisite for CPDT certification, it is crucial to determine whether your potential therapist has training and experience in this area.

In the first place: Signals Before Liftoff

Some dogs, as indicated above, are worried when they see their owners packing up to depart. For instance, if a dog sees its owner putting on cosmetics, shoes, and a coat and finally picking up a bag or vehicle keys, the dog may begin to pace, pant and howl. (You may skip this step if your dog doesn't show any fear when you're getting ready to leave him.) If a dog's human gets irritated before they leave, the dog will get extremely anxious, and the human will not be able to leave for more than a few seconds. Your dog may become so distressed at the sight of your leaving preparations (such as putting on a coat and grabbing keys) that he loses all sense of reason and forgets that you will return.

 

The pre-departure phobia can be alleviated by teaching your dog that it's not always goodbye when you grab your keys or put on your coat. Please do this by repeatedly exposing your dog to the daily cues in various sequences without taking them anywhere. Get dressed but stay in front of the TV instead of going outside. Alternatively, you might get your keys and relax in the dining room. Because these indications won't constantly mean that you're leaving, your dog won't react with as much worry when he sees them. However, remember that your dog has spent years learning the meaning of your departure cues. They will need to encounter the phony cues frequently every day for weeks to understand that they no longer forecast your extended absences. When your dog no longer shows anxiety when he sees you packing up to depart, go to Step 2.

Step Two: Spaced-Out Absences

You may forgo the pre-departure therapy above and start with extremely short departures if your dog is less worried before you leave. One golden guideline is to minimize the length of time your dog will be alone. Start by teaching your dog to stay out of sight near a closed door in your house, such as the restroom. Your dog can be trained to sit or lie down and stay while you use the facilities behind closed doors. (You can also seek help from a professional dog trainer. To find a CPDT in your region, see our helpful article, Where to Turn for Expert Behavior Help. Start by waiting for shorter and shorter periods behind the closed door before letting your dog in. The stay is an excellent opportunity to work on acclimating your dog to departure cues. Say you want your dog to stay. Now, grab your coat and bag and head inside the restroom while your dog stays put.