The symptoms of separation anxiety may vary.

All pet owners want to know their happy empty spaces. We bring them with us during the holidays, we buy toys and rewards, walk, play and love them. Even if we want to spend a lot of time with them, sometimes, we have to leave them alone at home to make buyers, go to work or go out with friends. It may happen that when we return home to find less pleasant «surprises» (red furniture, destroyed shoes, urmed at home, etc.). The pandemic was an extremely difficult moment for everyone.

Many people worked from home and perhaps the only ones they enjoyed this change were the dogs who benefited from the presence of the owners much longer than before. But since things started entering the normal bean, people have resumed their program before the pandemic. They started going to work, going to the city or shopping. And this meant that they had to leave their patrols alone at home. Dogs can become anxious when they are young or when adults.

A special case are senior dogs that develop anxiety. Unfortunately, all psychic functions, memory, perception begin to deteriorate with age and can generate confusion. Some elderly dogs suffering from cognitive dysfunction syndrome may have serious anxiety problems.

Separation anxiety can affect all dog breeds and can be felt independently of age. This manifests itself by an intense emotional stress when the dog is left only at home or in some cases in anticipating the master’s departure. It is not possible to establish an exact cause of the appearance of this phenomenon, but instead there are more theories. One in them is that the premature radius can lead to this condition. Even an excessive dependence on the teacher, a slightly unstable emotional background, aging, bad management and the owner of the master are only other possible causes. Before being anxiously diagnosed in separation, a visit to the veterinarian and a series of analyzes is needed to eliminate a discomfort generated by a health problem.

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The symptoms of separation anxiety may vary. The most common are as follows:

• bark/ scream excessively
• urinated/ defecated at home,
• Destructive behavior (in particular the frame of the red door or the wall next to the door) or self -destructive (licking or an excessive scarf that can generate healthy problems or desperate attempts to get rid of the «detention» which can cause serious injuries)
• salivation, excessive jam or tremor
• refusal of food or water

Although it is difficult enough to manage and requires a long -term commitment of the master, anxiety can improve or even disappear. The first step is to completely change the way we start and enter the house. When we leave the house we have not embraced the dog, we do not greet and we do not show any gesture of affection that increases only the anxiety of the dog. In the same way, when we go home, we will eat the dog only when it is calm and we will ignore it if it is very agitated.

We can make «simulations» starting and entrance to the house. Dresses and prepared as if you are going to the city or shopping. Some dogs show the first signs of stress since the teacher starts to dress or prepare to get out on its own. Dogs will immediately recognize the clothes or footwear with which you get it for a walk and the one who comes out in the city or shopping. It is essential to go through the whole routine you have when you leave it yourself.

Take the keys, the bag, put the coat you usually take. Exit and enter the house several times a day, following the protocol so as not to be affectionate with the dog. In this way, we desensitizes the dog when leaving and arriving. After a while, it is possible to gradually increase the interval between the departure and get a few minutes and depend on the dog’s response, tens of minutes. You don’t have to hurry, you can increase time only after the dog no longer manifests anxiety. The final goal is to get used to the dog with your absence and no longer have inappropriate behaviors when you miss. The process can take months.

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Another method to help with separation anxiety is to teach the dog to stay in a crate or area in the house. While many people see a crate as something bad, it’s a totally different story for dogs. Dogs are naturally den animals, so they will enjoy staying in cozy spaces. A crate is similar to a den, a safe and enclosed space that is theirs alone. The crate can help provide a sense of safety and ease anxiety. It is very important that the crate is the right size for the dog. They should feel comfortable sitting, lying down, and turning around without any issues.

So, the crate should not be too small or too big.

The crate will be the dog’s favorite spot to relax. Depending on what the dog likes, we can place a bed or towels inside, although many dogs would rather sit on the floor of the crate. If we have a good dog bed, it’s best to use only absorbent materials. To encourage a dog to accept the crate, we will use positive reinforcement. We will reward the dog when it shows interest in the crate. At first, it may just sniff or look at it, then step partly inside, followed by fully entering.

Each time it steps closer, it should get treats. It is important to take our time with the introduction of the crate. This can take about 6 months. We can only move on to the next step when the dog is relaxed. At first, the crate’s door will always be open, allowing the dog to come and go. We can take it apart or use something to prevent it from shutting accidentally and scaring the dog.

Even though this might seem overwhelming, it requires much care and dedication from the owner. Short training sessions a few times a day are needed. Once the dog accepts the crate and feels relaxed, we can close the door for 10 minutes to gradually increase the time. At first, we will stay in the room while the dog is in the crate and then leave the room after some time. It’s not good to leave a dog in the crate for long periods.

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They need time to play, relieve themselves, eat, or drink. It’s crucial to watch the dog whenever we place it in the crate. To be safe, it’s a good idea to take off the collar or anything else that could get caught and harm the dog. After the dog can stay in the crate for 30 minutes without showing stress signs, we can think about leaving it there when we go out. During the day, when we are home, we should close the dog in the crate, so it doesn’t connect the crate with our absence. We can use the crate when we have visitors, when we need to do things, and the dog’s presence would be a bit difficult, or when we think we need a break.

Leaving a Kong type toy can keep it busy. Once the dog is used to the crate and no longer has anxious behavior, we can expand the area and move to a room, allowing us to leave the dog alone throughout the whole house. We will never use the crate for punishment.

Another method for handling separation anxiety is dressing the dog in jackets or snug-fitting shirts, as well as thunder shirts or similar clothing.

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The gentle and steady pressure on the dog’s body will help release calming oxytocin and endorphins. If needed, a scarf can also be used.

In specialized websites, there are diffusers or sprays with pheromones. Pheromones are artificial hormones that mimic those made by a mother to soothe her puppies. Having them in the space or near the dog using a collar can activate its sense of smell and may help ease anxiety.

It is crucial for the dog to get plenty of exercise, especially for its mind. A bored dog can face emotional issues easier than a tired one.

A tired dog is a happy dog. If your schedule is too full, making it hard to give attention to your pet, this could cause anxiety. Besides a daily walk of at least 1 hour, the dog must also socialize with other dogs. You can take it to swim or run together. Along with physical activities, it is vital to engage the dog’s mind. This can be done with puzzle toys or training games.

By teaching a new command each week, we strengthen our bond with our dog. Ideally, before leaving the dog alone at home, it should be walked, trained, and tired. This helps avoid future issues.

At times, anxiety can become severe and may require medication to enhance the dog’s quality of life. The treatment choice should only be made based on a vet’s advice and only if the vet recommends it for the dog.

Separation anxiety cannot be entirely stopped despite best efforts. Once it occurs, it requires a lot of work, time, and commitment. Working with a trained dog behaviorist is very important and has shown real success. With patience, dedication, and a positive mindset, you can achieve good outcomes and lessen the stress your dog experiences when alone.