Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Your dog knows when you're about to leave.

Separation anxiety in dogs can be both flattering and heartbreaking, and the consequences of their destructive behavior can be costly. While there are medications that can help calm your dog when they become anxious and unruly, there are also a number of things that you can do to help ease the panic that comes with separation. Here are some of the most recommended tips for helping your dog adjust to the time they spend alone:

Remove Pre-Departure Cues from Your Routine

A pre-departure cue is the term given to the signals your dog recognizes as an indication you are about to leave. This can be anything from putting on your shoes or make-up to turning off the TV. When your dog sees you performing these cues, the sheer desire for you to stay can be enough to trigger the onset of separation anxiety.

Breaking the pattern of pre-departure cues, however, can help break the association your dog makes between your actions and your subsequent departure. An example of how to do this is to put on your shoes as if you were going to leave, and then stay. You can do the same with turning off the TV and lights, but remaining on the couch for a period of time afterwards. This can show your dog that these actions do not always mean that you are leaving, and can help to reduce the anxiety they feel when they see you perform them.

Begin a Series of Short-Term Absences

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often become distressed anytime their humans are out of sight, and it is not uncommon for barking, howling, or even destructive behavior to ensue after only a few minutes of being alone. Even going to the bathroom can trigger separation anxiety in dogs, simply because their human is someplace where dogs cannot reach them. When it is time to go to work, the thought of leaving your dog alone for hours can be as disturbing for you as it is to them.

Beginning a series of short-term absences, however, can help your dog adjust to time spent alone, simply by teaching them that you will come back after each absence. It may be best to start with an absence lasting only a few minutes, and gradually increasing the length of each absence over time. A good way to start is to walk outside and close the door behind you, and return only a minute or so later. From there you can work up to leaving for longer periods of time, which can allow your dog to slowly become adjusted to the increasing lengths of your absences. The trick is to return before your dog becomes upset, which is why only very short absences in the beginning work best.

Walking or running with your dog can really help with his/her anxiety levels.

Increase Your Physical Activity with Your Dog

Dogs love being around their humans, and love playing and interacting with them even more. The health benefits of allowing your dog to be physically active are well-known, and it may have the added benefit of reducing their level of stress, which can in turn make them calmer when it comes time to leave them alone. A tired dog also has less energy to expend while you are gone.

Taking your dog for a walk before work can be beneficial for both you and your dog, but if time does not allow this, a short time of playing fetch or tug-of-war can create enough physical activity to calm any anxiousness they may feel at your impending departure. Giving them a chew toy or two before you leave can also help to keep them calm, as the activity of chewing the toy can keep them occupied for a time after you are gone. Ensuring your dog has something to do when they are alone may be one of the most effective methods for relieving separation anxiety in dogs.

The stress and confusion that dogs experience when their owners leave them alone can often trigger the onset of separation anxiety. However, changing your behavior can be instrumental in changing theirs. This can include removing pre-departure cues from your routine, as well as initiating a series of short-term absences to provide assurance to your dog that you will return after each one. Keeping your dog physically active and ensuring that they have something to keep them busy while you are gone can also relieve separation anxiety in dogs, as physical activity both reduces stress and expends excess energy. Separation anxiety is hard on both dogs and their humans, but with a little effort on your part, both you and your dog can adjust to the time spent apart.

Separation anxiety in dogs is not all that different than the anxiousness they may feel at sudden loud noises, such as with thunderstorms and fireworks. The same howling, barking, and destructive behavior can be the result of both situations, so it is not surprising that separation anxiety can be treated in many of the same ways as anxiousness instilled by sudden and very loud noises. This is where the Thundershirt comes in. If you were wondering if the calming effects that the Thundershirt has on your dog during storms or celebrations could work for separation anxiety as well, the answer for that is: absolutely.

The Thundershirt was developed as an anti-anxiety wrap for dogs, and it works by applying gentle and consistent pressure to their torso. As stated in the numerous television commercials for the product, this gentle pressure acts like a constant hug, and the hug itself is what makes your dog feel safe and secure. The experts attribute this feeling of safety to the gentle pressure the Thundershirt places on the nervous system. The results have been astoundingly positive, with rave reviews coming from actual vets and dog experts, not to mention actual dog owners. In fact, over 80% of dogs using the Thundershirt show immediate improvement in the symptoms related to anxiety, with barking, pacing, and overall agitation significantly reduced, if not stopped altogether.

Using the Thundershirt to calm separation anxiety in dogs has been surprisingly effective. The same feeling of security that the Thundershirt can provide during storms and celebrations can make your dog feel safe and calm when they are alone, which can prevent the destructive behavior that becomes their outlet for their distress. Although the Thundershirt is not an absolute cure for separation anxiety, it can significantly reduce the nervous anxiousness of being alone, which in turn can make other efforts to make your dog comfortable in your absence more effective as well.

Some benefits of the Thundershirt include that it is non-medical, non-invasive, completely safe, and it requires no special training to use. The construction includes Velcro straps to make it easy to put on—even if your dog is already agitated, and the lightweight fabric prevents your dog from becoming overheated, meaning that it can be worn for extended periods of time. Simply wrap your dog in a Thundershirt, and you are done. Easy to use, drug-free, and highly effective, the Thundershirt may be the ideal solution to calming any type of anxiety in your dog, separation or otherwise.

Separation anxiety in dogs can be very similar to the anxiety that they may feel during thunderstorms or loud celebrations and fireworks. This has made the Thundershirt a highly effective tool to calm the symptoms of separation anxiety, as the gentle pressure on the torso really does provide the safety and security of a hug. Over 80% of the dogs that use the Thundershirt show improvement almost immediately, and improvement in the symptoms can make other efforts at calming your dog more effective. The simple construction makes it easy to put on and take off, and the lightweight fabric can allow your dog to wear it for extended periods of time without overheating. While there is no absolute cure for separation anxiety in dogs, The Thundershirt provides a safe and drug-free way to help your dog adjust to the time they spend alone.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a real concern for many dog owners, as the destructiveness of their dogs when they are left alone cannot only be costly, but it can be dangerous, as dogs can injure themselves as they destroy your home. A countless number of books, magazines, and videos offer a wide array of advice, tips, and strategies for easing the anxiety and changing the destructive behavior, but trudging through the mass to find the true words of wisdom can be daunting. To cut the list down to size, here are some of the most helpful resources for truly making a difference in your dog:

In Books

Don’t Leave Me! by Nicole Wilde. This book is highly recommended because it provides real practical advice in a very user-friendly format. The book actually begins with a few simple exercises to determine if the separation anxiety is rooted in the specific fear of separation or in the broader fear of being left alone, as this distinction is critical for determining the best course of action to take. The guidelines presented are also presented as just that: guidelines, which means they take into consideration that every case of separation anxiety may be different, and therefore one answer does not fill all dogs. Being both very informative and very readable makes it a valuable resource for anyone dealing with separation anxiety in dogs.

In Magazines

Modern Dog Magazine is one of the best resources for helpful tips and advice for any area of dog ownership, and this is primarily because they focus on the aspect that is stated in the subtitle that appears on every magazine cover: The Lifestyle Magazine For Modern Dogs and Their Companions. The experts who offer advice in the area of separation anxiety in dogs, for example, provide honest and informative insight, and make it relevant to dogs living in the modern world. Modern Dog Magazine is one of the most enlightening dog-centric publications available today.

In Video

Sessions with Cesar provides straightforward and immensely helpful individual lessons to address situations such as dog anxiety. These sessions act as a kind of mentorship for dog owners, with in-depth attention given to the causes, the treatments, and the changes that dog owners can make to address and ease the anxiety their dogs feel when left alone. Cesar Milan, the renowned Dog Whisperer, personally offers these lessons through recorded videos, although one important note to make is that these sessions are not free. They are instead offered as courses that require an enrollment fee, with both 3-month and 12-month plans available. For free videos on dealing with separation anxiety, The Doggie Dish offers a short, but helpful video created by a 28-year veteran in veterinary care, with the written transcript available for added convenience.

Separation anxiety with your favorite canine friend can be a difficult issue to address, although there are a huge number of resources available to make the process of dealing with the anxiety easier. Books, magazines, and videos can provide a world of helpful tips, advice, and recommendations, although the best of the bunch take a more individual approach to the issue, and the anxiety can affect every dog differently. Being easy to understand and relevant to your own anxiety situation is the key to finding the best resources for separation anxiety in dogs, and the best resources inevitably lead to the best results.