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Such a common issue I speak to dog owners every day. All we want is our dog to feel safe and live out a happy life with us, but if can unfortunately go wrong.
Don't treat yourself too harshly as many things we do as humans can be very confusing to our dogs even though it makes perfect sense to us. Miscommunication as well as being oblivious to our actions is generally the cause of many dog behaviour issues!
Dogs have a strong bond with humans. Signs of separation anxiety can indicate a good bond between dog and owner.
Younger dogs often experience boredom or fear, while older dogs may develop anxiety over time due to a lack of mental and physical exercise. It could also be due to not gradually being trained to cope being alone or introduced to various environments and situations effectively.
Here are some things to consider and think about for your situation -
Dogs have specific triggers, such as seeing you put on shoes or jacket, grabbing wallet or bag, or hearing keys jingle. It's important to observe these triggers and recognize your dog's initial anxious behavior.
Plan for these triggers and use them to your advantage. For example, if the trigger is the sound of jingling keys, you should create a positive association by frequently rattling keys without leaving. Reward your dog and continue with other activities. This helps disassociate the noise from departure.
Avoid leaving every time you rattle keys. Introduce objects to distract/occupy your dog while you are away. Simply throwing a bone in the yard as a distraction won't always be effective. Instead, introduce bones, toys, etc., in a calm and engaged environment. Associate these items with relaxation and positive experiences.
Gradually introduce these items, leave for short periods, and observe if the dog becomes anxious. Try and return before barking or whining occurs (even if it's just seconds), remove the item, reward your dog with affection and praise, and repeat. We are just looking for small repetitive wins initially.
Avoid letting the dog have these specific items all the time, using them selectively for positive associations when you leave.
Ensure your dog receives ample mental and physical exercise to alleviate boredom and anxiety. Regular exercise and stimulating activities can help reduce separation anxiety.
Regular exercise and mental stimulation can and should happen way more often than just 1 or 2 big walks per day. Add in plenty of short walks (even just 2 minutes around the back yard with good engagement), wrestling and engaging play sessions throughout your day where possible.
Creating Comfort -
Ensure your dog is comfortable in the area where they will be left alone. Spend plenty of calm and happy time with them there.
If they will be left in the backyard, spend more time there. If indoors, spend time with them inside. Always introduce them to this environment in a calm manner and only for short periods to start with. Gradually leave these dogs alone here longer and longer.
Remove items you don't want destroyed during the early training stages and introduce appropriate items in a calm environment.
Be vigilant about underlying health issues. If your dog suddenly changes and exhibits odd behavior or is really acting strange, consult a veterinarian.
To prevent or help a dog with anxiety and separation anxiety, you can't expect instant results. Please be patient and take the time to do good quality calm and repetitive train with them.
Do I recommend or think Anxiety Medications work and are a good thing? Well, my opinion is that good quality training, with consistent quality time and engagement with a dog can help over come a dogs anxiety.
Give you dog a pat for me!
Cheers, Scott
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