If you’ve recently purchased a new puppy that whines and barks when you leave, and engages in destructive behavior, he could have puppy separation anxiety. This condition is a very common one, especially in puppies who have been rescued from shelters or those who have been purchased from pet stores. However, if left untreated, this condition could worsen and cause real trouble for both you and your puppy.

Puppy Separation Anxiety Defined:

Quite simply, separation anxiety is just that – your dog’s anxiety when you leave him. A dog is a pack animal, and very social. He feels as if he should be with you (his pack) at all times, and that’s just what he’d do if you let him. When you leave, he can’t understand why you’re not there and why he can’t be with you. This worry and anxiety manifests in different behaviors – from self mutilation to barking, whining, chewing, or destruction.

How to Treat Separation Anxiety:

Puppies can be treated for separation anxiety more easily than full-grown dogs. One of the first things your puppy needs is a comfortable place where he feels safe. A bed (or even a folded blanket) works perfectly. This should be the place where your puppy receives plenty of affection, praise, and treats, so he comes to equate the spot with comfort. A crate for a puppy will do well too, but you can’t leave the puppy in his crate too long.

Now that he has a comfortable spot, move on to the behavior modification. When you come home, your puppy probably goes completely crazy. He might jump up on you, whine, lick you, and all kinds of other things. It’s important that you ignore this behavior. Don’t talk to him or comfort him; simply stay calm until he calms down. Once he calms down, feel free to give him the love and affection. This teaches him to accept your return calmly.

Another way to help your puppy overcome separation anxiety is to go through the routine you usually go through before you leave. Go outside, stay for five minutes, and then come back in. Do this several times throughout the day so that your puppy gradually gets accustomed to you leaving and coming back. You can then periodically increase the time you stay gone so that his fears are assuaged more and more when you leave.

If you think that your pet has separation anxiety, you’re probably very worried. What is this condition? What are the symptoms, and how in the world do you treat it? Pet separation anxiety is a very common condition in domestic animals, especially dogs and cats. While there are very mild cases of it, it can become more serious if left untreated. Below, we’ll discuss exactly what pet separation anxiety is and what the symptoms are.

Put in a very basic way, separation anxiety is your pet missing you. Many pets are social animals and bond with their owners right away. If pets spend a lot of time with their owners, the bond is even deeper. When you leave your pet, he wants to be with you and doesn’t know when you’ll come back. Animals who have been abandoned in the past often feel separation anxiety with new owners.

Below are some signs that your pet might be experiencing separation anxiety:

- Your pet exhibits signs of distress when you leave. This might include barking, whining, mewing, crying, etc. The pet might try to escape the confines of the house in order to get to you.

- Your pet engages in destructive behavior while you’re gone. This might include tearing up things around the house, using the bathroom inside, etc.

- Your pet is self-mutilating. For dogs, this usually comes in the form of chewing or licking their paws until they’re bloody. Cats might do the same thing while other animals exhibit different self-mutilating behaviors. Birds might pick their own feathers out, etc.

- When you come home, your pet is very hyper; jumping on you, demanding attention, making noise, etc.

These are all some behaviors that your pet can exhibit if he’s suffering from separation anxiety. Luckily, there are many forms of treatment that you can discuss with your veterinarian. Behavior modification therapy is the most common treatment, slowly helping your pet become accustomed to being away from you. For pets who don’t respond to behavior modificaiton, vets may prescribe medications to help soothe the anxiety. It’s best to discuss your options with your vet and make an educated decision from there.

If you think your dog is exhibiting signs of separation anxiety, you’re probably very worried and upset. While some cases of separation anxiety are very mild, others can become extremely serious. Below, we’ll discuss separation anxiety, dogs, and what to do in order to help your dog overcome the condition.

What is Separation Anxiety?

This condition is often present in dogs who have had something traumatic happen to them, or in dogs who have been purchased from animal shelters or pet stores. Quite simply, the dogs are afraid to be away from their owners, and when they are, they feel very anxious. Most dogs experiencing this condition display symptoms like destroying things in the house, barking and whining to get to their owners, chewing or licking, self-mutilation and more. It’s a very sad condition, but there are some things the owners can do to help their dogs become more well adjusted.

How to Treat Separation Anxiety

The most common and best method for treating separation anxiety is helping the dog become accustomed to the periods when you’re not with him. You can do this by starting small and doing your ‘getting ready to leave’ routine. This is probably when your dog first begins to exhibit nervous behavior. Get your keys ready, put your shoes on, etc. Approach the door, stand there for a moment, and then take everything back off and sit down. Continue doing this at different periods during the day until your dog realizes there’s nothing to fear.

Eventually, you can work up to the point where you’re actually going outside for a few minutes at a time, and then coming back in. Your dog will gradually realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of. This continuous working will eventually ready your dog for the times when you actually leave. Speak to your vet about the different things you can do in order to really help your dog get over separation anxiety. If the condition is bad enough, he may prescribe medication for your dog. Staying patient and loving is the key to success.

Is your dogs separation anxiety driving you crazy? In many cases, owners who are living through their dog’s separation anxiety can become annoyed, impatient, and even angry at the situation. However, understanding more about it can really help you to realize what’s going on, and can inspire you to keep looking for something that will work to alleviate the problem.

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is simply a complex term to describe the fact that your dog is missing you. However, there is a point when this feeling can be dangerous; when your dog starts exhibiting destructive behavior, or self-mutilating behavior. Separation anxiety is more prominent in dogs who have been purchased from pet stores, as well as those who have been rescued from shelters or who have had some sort of trauma in their lives. What you might originally consider ‘bad’ behavior could be that separation anxiety manifesting itself in different ways.

Where Does it Come From?

A dog’s separation anxiety can come from several things – from a trauma he or she has experienced, or from something as simple as being around you every day for a long time and then a sudden change. Owners who go back to work after being home, or those that take on a new schedule often find that their dogs are experiencing some anxiety.

What Can You Do About It?

Behavior modification therapy is the most popular and effective treatment. This involves showing your dog that it’s okay for you to leave, and that you’ll be back. Usually, owners start a gradual process of behavior modification – from being extremely calm when leaving and coming back home to leaving for short periods and returning. One important thing you can do is make your dog’s bed a comfort spot by saving all the treats, praise, and affection for when your dog is in his bed. This shows him that the bed is a safe haven and while you’re gone he will rely on those safe feelings the bed bring about.

By learning about dog separation anxiety and the best methods to treat it, you can help your dog overcome the condition.

If your dog acts very anxious when you leave, whines and barks as soon as you’re out the door, tears things up when you’re gone, and will not leave you alone when you return home, he might have separation anxiety. This is a common condition in dogs that is treatable, but can cause mild to disturbing behavior in your four-legged friend. Below, we’ll discuss exactly what dog separation anxiety is and how you can handle it.

This anxiety is found more often in dogs who are rescues, those who have lived in pet stores or shelters, and dogs who have been abused. Other reasons your dog might exhibit this behavior include:

- Some kind of traumatic experience. If your dog was badly injured or scared, it can create separation anxiety.
- Changes, such as moving to a new house, a death in the family, or addition in the family. Another change that can easily cause separation anxiety is spending less time with your dog. If you had cause to spend a lot of time with him, and suddenly you’re not around as much, he could display separation anxiety.

Basically, your dog wants to be around you all the time. You’re his pack, and he feels safe and secure when you’re there. When you leave, he doesn’t understand why you’re leaving, how long you will be gone, or why he can’t be with you. Some behaviors dogs will exhibit that are attributed to this condition include tearing things up, barking, whining, self-mutilation like licking, chewing, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and more.

Dog separation anxiety is a serious condition in dogs and should be treated with patience and love.