How to Stop Separation Anxiety in Dogs

September 02, 2023

Can separation anxiety in dogs be cured?

Do dogs naturally get over separation anxiety?

What is the main cause of separation anxiety in dogs?

Great queries we cover in this guide that will show how to stop separation anxiety in dogs, if you leave your dog often due to work or obligations and would like to ease their stress or anxiety while gone, this guide will prove helpful to your dog that will be less stressed as you are away and dealing with the day.

Does your dog get nervous or anxious as you get ready to leave?

Do they act erratic and energetic when you finally return home?

Did they chew shoes, claw the door, and gnaw off a table chunk?

If any of these take place, you can bet your dog struggles with stress or anxiety when left alone which mostly occurs in dogs that are highly attached to their owner.

Some breeds are likelier to be emotionally dependent and if this sounds like yours, there are thankfully things you can do to help calm them and their nerves/stress that we will cover down in this guide below.

How to stop separation anxiety is a top search among dog owners who are unable to be with their dog all times of the day as from work to taking kids to school or practice, being home all day to companion them is just not always an option but thankfully, ending separation anxiety in dogs can be easily done but what exactly is separation anxiety, and what signs of separation anxiety should you look out for?

What is Separation Anxiety?

This takes place when a dog that is highly attached to its owner is left alone, the dog will often get very stressed upon your leaving, and may cry and whine for a while or cause damage to items and furniture; not a pleasant sight to say the least once you arrive home from your long day out at work or the office.

Separation anxiety is a serious issue as one in five dogs deal with the condition and its symptoms when left alone but causes of anxiety in dogs can vary and be brought on if the dog is:

Left alone when used to being around people.
Being left at home alone for the very first time.
Transitioning from a shelter to their new home.
Dealing with sudden changes in family schedules.
No longer around a person who has passed away.

Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Signs of anxiety in dogs range from barks and whines to messes in the home and damage to furniture, here are some of the most common signs of a dog with anxiety:

Pacing in an erratic pattern.
Lots of drool, saliva, and panting.
Trying to leave or escape the home.
Excessive barking, whining, or howling.
Indoor accidents despite being trained.
Scratching/digging holes/chewing stuff.

Such actions or displays of anxiety will likely not occur while you are home but may while you are away.

Yes, a normal dog that does struggle with anxiety may exhibit such behaviors once in a while but dogs with chronic separation anxiety are likelier to show such behaviors when left home with no one around.

I had this issue with my dog for years but after using a simple brain training exercise for dogs, she was able to cope with my absence and stopped tearing up my furniture as she has ever since I adopted her.

How to Treat Mild Separation Anxiety in Dogs

To start, you should speak to a vet to rule out health or medical issues as the cause of their actions and behavioral patterns as some issues and medicines, as well as improper housebreaking, can cause dogs to have accidents in the home that may not be a result of separation anxiety, so you want to rule this out.

Treating stress and anxiety in dogs is not quite as hard as you may think as it can be simply achieved by:

Giving your dog a natural, off-the-shelf calming supplement.
Leaving out clothes you recently wore so they can smell your scent.
Leaving and coming home with no interaction, which means you want to ignore your dog for the first few minutes you are home.
Giving your dog a treat when you leave the home (I used to give mine a peanut-butter-filled toy that would keep her busy for hours, I would take it once I got home and give it back when I left).

Doing these things will help cure dog anxiety symptoms and make it easier for your dog to handle alone time, and playing soft music in the home is a great way to give them peace throughout the day, playing music is also a great remedy for those who have been wondering how to stop a dog from howling when left alone as tunes playing in the home (compared to total silence) helps them to not feel quite so alone.

If you tried all these tips but were still left with a dog that needs to be by your side at all times then I highly suggest you try a brain training 4 dogs session as the results it brought my Labrador were great.

For months she would cry, whine, and tear up pricey furniture I collected over the years but with no one to watch her during the day while I work my life away, my options were limited as even the supplements I gave her were not enough to relax her while I was gone.

Nothing seemed to work, and I began to lose hope in finding a way to treat her separation anxiety until I found this life-saving, online training for dogs that truly worked wonders for my little Sophie. If nothing seems to help and all options have been tried, Brain Training 4 Dogs is a solution I wholeheartedly back.

Treating separation anxiety comes down to getting your dog used to your absence which is most often done little by little over time.

You may see they get anxious/nervous as you put on shoes, if so, grab the keys, put on shoes, and sit on the couch to watch some T.V., doing this daily helps them get used to you doing these things without leaving right away, making you leaving easier on your dog.

The tips above helped stop separation anxiety for my dog and I am sure they will for you too, thank you for stopping by and be sure to try the methods above to get your dog the peace and calmness they need to be settled throughout the day (your home, furniture, and peace of mind will soon be glad you did).