Separation Anxiety: Helping Your Puppy Cope

Separation anxiety in dogs and puppies is an exaggerated fear of being separated from their pack, which are the humans that they live with. This causes a great deal of stress and it happens each time you and your family leave the house. There are some things that you can do to help your puppy cope with his fears. Let’s take a look at puppy anxiety.

Signs of Puppy Anxiety

• Barking, growling and whining.
• Chewing on and/or destroying things such as shoes, slippers and furniture.
• Eliminating or defecating in the house.
• Scratching feverishly at the door when you close it behind you.
• Vomiting.

Crate Training for Anxiety

A great way to help your puppy cope with separation anxiety is to crate train him. This gives him a place to go where he will feel safe and secure. The crate becomes his den and he will learn to be happy there while his pack is away.

Tips

• Introduce your puppy to the crate.
• Be sure it is large enough for him to turn around when he is fully grown. That way he can keep his den for his entire life.
• Place the crate in a place where your puppy can enter and exit it comfortably.
• Leave the door open and allow your puppy to explore his safe den.

If you follow these tips, your puppy will soon feel safe and secure in his crate and will retreat to it when he’s feeling vulnerable.

Crate training is an effective way to alleviate anxiety

Your Puppy and His Crate

Don’t lock your puppy in his crate for long periods of time when you first introduce him to it. It’s better to introduce the crate when you are going to be home for a few days. Follow these tips for a positive crate experience:

• Put the puppy into the crate and close the door for two to three minutes while you remain in the room.
• Open the crate and let the puppy out.
• If he was well behaved, give him a nutritional treat, such as a piece of cheese or apple. If he whined, cried or barked while he was contained, give him nothing.
• Gradually increase the amount of time that you leave the puppy in his crate while you are in the room. Reward him when his behavior is calm.
• Begin putting your puppy into the crate and leaving the room for short periods of time, starting with a minute or two.
• Come back into the room, and then leave again for a couple of minutes.
• Gradually increase the time that you spend out of the room.
• If your puppy remains calm, always reward him, speak gently, pat him and give him a treat. If he cries, barks, howls or whines, he gets nothing.
• Do not let your puppy out of the crate until he calms down.
• Never go directly to the crate when you get home from work or from being out.
• If your puppy remains calm, release him, pat him, praise him and give him a treat.
• At this point your puppy will need to go outside to the bathroom. He will not eliminate or defecate in his crate, as that is his den.
• If possible, have someone visit your puppy during the day and take him out for a bathroom break and a walk. Ask them to spend a bit of time playing with him to burn off pent-up energy.
• Teach the person who will be doing this to place your puppy back in the crate and leave immediately, without fuss. If they fuss, it will make your puppy’s anxiety level escalate.
• Stay on schedule when possible. This allows your puppy to know when to expect your arrival.
• Take your puppy out for a morning walk before leaving for work.
• Put an indestructible toy or two in puppy’s crate. Fill a Kong with peanut butter. This will help your puppy pass the time while you’re gone.
• Leave the house without fuss. Give puppy a pat and leave immediately after using a phrase such as, “See you later.” If you use the same phrase every time, your puppy will soon learn its meaning.
• Be sure your house is puppy proof in case he escapes his crate. Yes, this is possible.
• Be persistent. Don’t give up. If your puppy escapes his crate, find a way to secure it. You may have to buy a lock, a clamp or even tie his crate shut.

Excessive barking, whining and howling are signs of an anxious puppy

Points to Remember

• Some puppies can only be left alone for a few minutes before they panic.
• Your puppy knows that you have left him alone. He doesn’t know when, or if you’ll return.
• Be positive. Recognize your puppy’s fears and always reassure him when you are planning to remain at home.
• Teach your puppy to lie down, sit and stay on command. Obedience is often the key that will help him overcome his separation anxiety.
• When you leave the house for long periods of time, leave the radio or TV playing. Always leave it on the same station. Your puppy will adopt the announcer into his pack and will remain calm when he is alone.
• Your puppy knows when you are going to leave by your body language. Desensitize him by putting your shoes on and taking them off several times; by picking your keys up and laying them down several times and heading for the door and changing your route several times. Your puppy will soon learn to ignore these things and will be calmer when you leave.
• If you try all of these things and nothing works, take your puppy to a professional trainer that specializes in puppy behavior. It won’t take long for him to pin-point the problem.
• As a last resort, ask your veterinarian to prescribe a medication for your puppy that will ease his separation anxiety.

Once you have helped your puppy overcome his separation anxiety, he will be less stressed—carefree and enthusiastic about life in his pack. You and he will form a firm bond that will create a wonderful long-lasting relationship.

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