Did you know that dogs express stress in various ways? Panting, excessive barking, and pacing are all signs your dog is stressed. But perhaps the most common way that stress manifests in dogs is through separation anxiety. If your dog has a really hard time parting with you for the day, chances are it’s because they’re experiencing anxiety about spending the day by themselves! While daycare won’t cure separation anxiety, there are so many other ways to help your dog feel better.
This week we are so excited to have Vetted PetCare, share some pawesome tips on how to prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety!
Here are 5 Tips and Tricks to prevent separation anxiety in dogs.
- Avoid an over-enthusiastic greeting when entering your home.
Greeting your dog with an excited and high pitched tone only encourages a hyperactive state. - Take your pup for a walk before you go.
A lot of anxiety is tied to an under-stimulated body. Take your dog for a walk before you leave the house to get rid of any unused stored energy. - Avoid a goodbye right before you leave the house.
Try saying goodbye long before you walk out the door to eliminate possible stress - Start small
Try leaving the house for 10-15 minutes at a time, and gradually increase the time away from your home. - Puzzle toys
Hide snacks in a puzzle toy in your home to occupy your pup’s mind while you’re away.
If you’re worried your dog has separation anxiety, be sure to contact us. We can help through our training programs or your pup can spend the day at Fitdog, among friends!