Shake up the morning routine. Dogs are smart creatures. If separation anxiety is the root of unwanted behaviors, there are some things you can do to help reduce the anxiety.

Reducing or stopping separation anxiety takes lots of patience, work, and commitment by the owner. The family dog may have gotten used to his best friend being around during the day, and the change in routine could cause newfound distress in a pet that was fine being home alone prior to the pandemic. While there is not a single definitive reason, many things can be looked at as possible triggers for separation anxiety, including:Įnvironmental changes such as the death of an owner or another pet coming into the household, a move to a new home, or the addition of a baby.Ī change in routine due to a job change that takes the owner away for longer periods of time, more crate time, etc.įor example, a pet owner has been working from home for the last year due to COVID-19 and now goes back to the office full time. When you're not home:ĭo the neighbors complain about hearing barking, howling, or constant whining?ĭoes the dog damage furniture, doors, curtains, blinds, kennels, or other items? Does my dog have it?įollowing are a few behaviors that may help you decide whether your dog is suffering from separation-related distress. The anxiety and stress of being alone usually set in immediately after the owner leaves, so regardless of whether you are gone for just a short period or all day, the dog still has the same reaction. Separation anxiety can be stressful for both dogs and owners since it can be a tough condition to overcome. The distress a dog feels when left alone can be so overwhelming that he can become destructive, break out of his kennel, pace, bark constantly, salivate, and may even relieve himself in the home when he is otherwise housebroken. Separation anxiety is a disorder that causes a dog to panic at the idea of being left home alone. However, this is not the case for all pet owners with dogs that suffer from this condition. I say mild because he is not destructive when I leave him home alone, and his behavior doesn’t warrant any concern. I think it is safe to say that Stewie suffers from a mild case of separation anxiety. If he loses sight of me, he will run around the house looking in every room until he finds me. He has to be in the same room with me at all times.

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