Does Your Dog Suffer from Separation Anxiety? We Can Help!

Separation anxiety in dogs often manifests as distress when they are separated from their owners. Affected dogs may follow their owners from room to room, show destructive behaviours, vocalize excessively, or have accidents in the house. They often crave constant attention and can become anxious even when their owners are simply preparing to leave.

Where to Start?

While there’s no quick fix for separation anxiety, the good news is that there are several things you can try to help reduce its signs and severity.

We recommend starting with a veterinary consultation to confirm that your dog has separation anxiety and rule out any other medical causes for their behaviour.

From there, we’ve put together a list of strategies you can implement at home to help address your dog’s separation anxiety:

1. Establish a Routine

Dogs thrive on predictability. By creating a daily schedule for exercise, feeding, playtime, and bathroom breaks, you help your dog feel more secure—even when you’re not around.

2. Provide Environmental Enrichment

Engage your dog mentally and physically with toys, training, and interactive play while you’re home. Providing ample playtime and attention helps your dog burn off energy and encourages relaxation when it’s time to settle. Puzzle feeders and chew toys are great tools to keep your dog focused and engaged during downtime.

3. Train for Calmness

With separation anxiety, it’s important to reward your dog for settling down, relaxing, and showing independence. Attention-seeking and following behaviours should not be reinforced. Focus on training extended and relaxed down stays and having your dog go to a bed or mat on command. If your dog seeks attention, ignore them until they settle. Once they do, reward them with affection or treats. Over time, gradually increase the length of time they must stay calm before receiving a reward.

4. Create a Relaxation Area

Set up a comfortable space, like a bed or crate, where your dog can rest, nap, or play with toys. Train them to go to this area for downtime, gradually increasing the length of time they stay calmly before rewarding them. A crate or barricade can help keep them in the space, but only release them once they’re calm. Establish a routine for them to go to this area after play or training sessions. Calming cues like soft music, familiar scents, or a cozy bed can help promote relaxation.

What to Do Before Leaving:

Before you leave, give your dog a good exercise session to release excess energy. For the last 15-30 minutes before departure, keep interactions minimal and guide your dog to their rest area with distractions like toys or a radio. Avoid emotional goodbyes, as they can increase anxiety.

How to Prevent Damage When You Leave:

This can be a challenging question. The goal of treatment is to reduce your dog’s level of anxiety by training them to feel more comfortable in your absence. This process can take time. During initial retraining, it may be helpful to hire a dog sitter or use doggy daycare/boarding while you’re away at work or out. For vocalization, anti-anxiety drugs and pheromones may be useful for short-term relief, until the behavior is corrected.

Can Medication Help?

Medication can be helpful during the initial stages of training, but tranquilizers alone won’t reduce anxiety. They may only sedate your dog, preventing destructive behaviour. Medication can help manage anxiety, but retraining is essential to teach your dog how to cope with your absence. Pheromone therapy can also be effective for reducing anxiety both when you’re home and when you’re away. New medications for separation anxiety in dogs have recently been approved, so contact your veterinarian to discuss whether medication is right for your pet.

Ready to Help Your Dog Overcome Separation Anxiety?

If you’re ready to create a plan for managing your dog’s separation anxiety, our friendly team is here to support you. Call us at 4151 3550 to book an appointment and work together on improving your dog’s well-being.