You’re your puppy’s favorite person—both their family and their best friend wrapped up in one! While this strong bond is amazing, it sometimes means that your puppy misses you intensely when you’re not around. Separation anxiety affects not just the poor pup but also the people who love them (and your neighbors). You may experience feelings of guilt about leaving your puppy at home or shame if they’re loud or destructive.
Signs of separation anxiety include incessant vocalizing (barking, howling or whining), destructiveness and house-soiling. Puppies with separation anxiety can sometimes have such severe distress that they injure themselves, such as breaking teeth or cutting their gums when chewing through crates, windows or even doors to escape.
The first step of handling separation anxiety is to get your veterinarian involved. With mild to moderate separation anxiety, your veterinarian will go over tips for busting your puppy’s loneliness and may prescribe anti-anxiety medications. In the meantime, consider trying out these tips:
- Consider getting a video camera so you can record your puppy’s behavior. This will help your VCA care team see the behaviors your puppy is displaying.
- Play with your puppy before leaving home, but make sure you take a break from playing for at least a half hour before you go. It can be hard on your puppy if you’re actively engaging with them as you leave.
- Give your pet extra delicious and distracting treats and toys when you leave, such as a durable toy smeared with peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol!).
- Look into a dog walker or doggy daycare to give your pup some company when you’re gone for longer periods, such as the workday.
- If your puppy’s anxiety is triggered by specific noises, consider leaving on radios or the television as a distraction.
- If you notice your pup’s anxiety ramps up when you’re doing typical leaving-the-house rituals, such as grabbing keys or putting on your shoes, try to break the association between these triggers and your leaving. Put your shoes on and stay home. Pick up your keys and set them down in other places. Clip them to your pants loops and keep them on for several hours.
- Although it is exciting for both of you when you get home from being away, making a huge display of reunification can escalate separation anxiety. When you get home, be sure to let your puppy out to relieve themselves right away, and try to keep the emotional level cool and calm.
If your puppy’s anxiety is severe or treatments aren’t working, you may need to consult with a veterinary behaviorist. Formal treatment options can include desensitization, counterconditioning and medications. Your VCA care team can help you explore this option for your pet.
Explore more tips and tricks for managing separation anxiety in dogs.
