Dogs are often seen as our loyal companions and best friends, and it’s no surprise that they can become emotionally attached to their owners. Unfortunately, this means that some dogs might experience feelings of sadness or loneliness when their owners are away. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various reasons why dogs may get sad when their owners leave, and what can be done to help them cope with the separation. We’ll discuss the impact of genetics and early socialization on the development of these emotions, and provide strategies for dog owners to keep their pets healthy and happy. By understanding why our furry friends may experience sadness when we leave, we can do our best to make our time together as enjoyable for them as it is for us.
How do you train a dog with separation anxiety?
Teaching your dog to be calm on their own is the first step in reducing their anxiety. When you first bring your dog home, resist the urge to keep your pup by your side constantly and instead, encourage independence from a young age.
The key is to increase the amount of time your dog spends away from you, whether you just got a puppy or they’ve suddenly started acting anxious. Make the change gradually so your dog won’t notice and won’t become upset.
Here’s how to do it:
Start small. Leave the room and close the door behind you. Wait 30 seconds, then go back in. Continue doing this until your dog doesn’t even respond.
Build up the time and distance you’re apart over a few weeks:
1 minute – you outside the door
2 minutes – you in a separate room
3 minutes – you upstairs, your dog downstairs
You walk around the block for five minutes while your dog stays at home.
Yikes. When you get home, you discover poop on the floor and scratch marks on the door. And your dog looks guilty. Telling them off seems like an obvious response.
However, unless you correct them right away, your dog is unlikely to associate the punishment with the “crime.” Your dog may not be feeling guilty at all; instead, dogs pick up on our annoyance and respond appropriately. Despite appearances, they have forgotten about the time they spent scratching the door.
Top tip: don’t reward anxious behaviour
We know it’s hard. You want to make them feel better. Your dog’s anxious behavior will gain attention if you lavish them with affection, which could exacerbate their anxiety.
Keep looking straight ahead, and refrain from paying your dog any attention until they are relaxed. Then shower them with affection as a reward.
What is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
Dogs with separation anxiety become terrified at the thought of being left at home alone. When you leave, your dog might become destructive, salivate, pace, bark incessantly, or exhibit housebreaking issues due to the overwhelming panic. When you return home, your pups greetings are often frantic. Both dogs and owners find this condition to be stressful, especially because routine obedience training does not end the cycle. It’s critical to rule out any potential medical causes of separation anxiety symptoms. For instance, a urinary tract infection, a medical condition that results in increased thirst and urination, gastrointestinal disease, or even pain that impairs the pet’s mobility, could all be the cause of house soiling. When symptoms first appear, consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues.
When a dog is overly attached to a person (or occasionally another animal), they may experience separation anxiety, also known as separation-related distress. There are a few inquiries that can assist you in figuring out whether your dog experiences separation anxiety.
When a pet dog is separated from its owner, this condition causes it to show distress and behavioral issues. It typically appears right away (or within 30 minutes) of an owner leaving. Due to the problem behaviors that both boredom and separation anxiety are accompanied by, such as destructive chewing and excessive barking, people frequently confuse the two. The distinction is that boredom can be avoided by increasing your dog’s routine’s physical activity and mental stimulation. These actions have little or no impact on separation anxiety.
Try adding an extra walk, playing fetch or tug-of-war, signing up for obedience lessons, or giving your dog a variety of safe dog toys if they show signs of separation anxiety. You ought to observe a significant change in your dog’s behavior if boredom is the cause of the acting out. If none of these solutions work, separation anxiety should be considered as a diagnosis.
The good news is that there are ways to calm your dog down if you find out he or she has separation anxiety. One of the most effective methods is called systematic desensitization. It entails gradually introducing your dog to being left alone at home. “””.
What should be done before departures?
Give your passengers a spirited play and exercise session before any extended departure. This gives your dog a period of attention while also helping to exhaust some of her energy. A training session can be an effective way to interact and “work” with your dog in the future. Your dog should be ignored for the final 15 to 30 minutes before departure. The best scenario would be to transport your dog to her rest and relaxation area while a radio, TV, or video is playing (as described above). Your dog will then be out of sight and hearing range as you get ready to leave. Now give your dog some fresh, stimulating toys to keep her occupied and diverted before and throughout your departure. Avoid as many of the departure cues as you can to prevent your dog’s anxiety from increasing before you leave. You might be able to carry out certain tasks out of the dog’s line of sight, such as brushing your teeth, changing into work clothes, or gathering your keys, purse, briefcase, or school books. Alternatively, you might think about dressing differently at work, making and packing your lunch the night before, or even leaving the car at a neighbor’s house so your dog won’t hear you leaving the driveway.
Saying goodbye will only serve to draw attention to the departure, so try to avoid doing so. Another option is to expose your dog to as many of these cues as you can while you stay at home so they stop being indicators of your departure (see below for more information).
FAQ
How do you keep your dog from being sad when you leave?
Don’t make a big deal out of coming and going; speak calmly to your dog whenever you leave or come back. Decide on a word or action that you will use each time you leave to assure your dog that you will return. Think about using an over-the-counter tranquilizer to make dogs less fearful.
Do dogs miss their owners when they are away?
It’s common for dogs to feel sad when a person they’ve developed a bond with is gone. Dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who is no longer a part of their daily lives, even though they may not fully comprehend the extent of human absence.
Do dogs get sad when you leave them alone?
Behavior changes If your pet’s behavior changes as a result of being left alone for an extended period of time, it may be time to take action. Increased sluggishness, depression, or loss of interest in once-loved pursuits are a few examples of altered behavior.
Do dogs think you are leaving forever?
Your dog will probably look at you like you’re leaving forever whether you’re just popping off to the bathroom or going out for the day. When this happens, their eyes widen, they start to whimper, and they seem to be thinking that they will always be alone.