Separation Anxiety in Your Dog

Separation anxiety can show itself through symptoms like excessive salivation, barking, whining, destroying items in the home, scratching at walls, doors and floors, and attempting to escape from the crate, or room.

Dog separation anxiety can be unknowingly encouraged by dog owners. Owners make a big fuss when we leave or come home, this teaches the dog that its a big deal when we leave or come home, causing more stress every time we leave.  When you leave your home, place your puppy in their crate, cover with a sheet if this helps, and don't make a big deal about leaving.  When you return home, again don't make a big fuss about being home, get settled yourself and when the puppy is calm in the crate, that's when you would open the door, and take them outside to do their buisness.

Teaching your dog to be indepentant starts when they are a puppy.  You need to teach the boundaries, and reward good behavior.  Crate training is a very important habit to instill in your puppy.  The crate should be your dog’s safe haven, a place he feels secure and enjoys. It should be big enough for him to stand upright without his head touching the top, and he should be able to turn around and lay down easily.  Covering the crate with a sheet when you leave gives the feeling of a den and your dog may like the crate better this way.

When your puppy wines or cries, don't pick them up and cuddle, as this reinforces this bad habit.  You need to teach your puppy patience and calmness and reward their patience and calmness instead

Spend time training—not just classes once a week—often and consistently.  Being consistant is key.  Everyone in the family need to use the same training techniques in order to be successful.  You should be teaching your dog in small steps to be a respectful of humans and have confidence in himself.

Puppies, are a joy to have, although we need to be sure that your puppy doesn't run the house.