How to ease your dogs’ separation anxiety
With the end of lockdown insight and non-essential businesses preparing to trade once more, excitement is palpable at the thought of being able to resume our regular lives.
Due to restaurants allowing friends and families to socialise, and offices expected to welcome staff back, there is every chance that pet owners will be spending less time in the house and leaving pooches home alone.
Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, shares his top tips for preventing and treating separation anxiety in dogs.
We need to get our dogs used to being home alone again. Start by allowing time apart inside the home. Leave your dog in another room of the house. Then, slowly acclimate your dog to you leaving the house. Make sure not to make a fuss over them when you return.
Use treat toys to distract your dog while you can’t be together so that they don’t have the time to miss you. Give your dog a funfilled activity to keep them occupied and entertained.
Your dog needs to understand that although you love them to pieces, they can’t have your attention 100% of the time. We know it’s tough but try to ignore your pup on certain occasions.
Dogs are good at learning our exit routines. When you grab your coat or keys, our pups soon realise that means you’re leaving them.
To bring that anxiety down, get your dog used to these leaving cues but don’t leave the house. You could put on your shoes and sit down for a couple of hours in front of the TV. Soon enough, your dog won’t feel that anxiety whenever they see or hear a particularly triggering cue.