10 ways to help your dog overcome the fear of being alone

Being social animals, dogs HATE being left alone. There are always exceptions to the rule, but for the most part a dog wants to be with his pack, whether it’s you, your family, another dog, a cat, or even a bird. There is a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability when left alone. Feeling abandoned, some will panic. By relieving himself all over the house, a dog assures himself that this territory is his. His path of destruction is simply a way to reduce boredom and separation anxiety.

Dogs whimper, bark, and howl intuitively, hoping you’ll hear them and come back to them. When they are separated in nature, this is how they meet. They have no concept of work, shopping or school. For your dog, every time you leave home, you’ve gone hunting without them and you may never come back.

A locked door for your dog is the equivalent of dropping a rock at the entrance to his den. NEVER put your dog in a room with the door closed. Use a half gate (it’s less defining) or a baby gate, so they can smell, see, hear and feel that they are not totally cut off from their comfort zone and environment.

There are a number of steps you can take to help your dog feel less anxious while you’re away. First and foremost, dog proof the area, just like you would a child. Remove anything you can chew or choke on, remove all chemicals, pull up wires, unplug anything electrical you have access to. They get into anything, when they are bored or feel anxious. Most dogs sleep pretty much the entire time you’re away, when they’re in a protected restricted area or cage. That’s why they are so full of energy when you walk through the door! Give them a comfortable bed, some safe and sturdy toys or chew items, a couple of treats, and enough water to wet their whistle.

10 suggestions to help your dog feel less anxious when you leave the house are:

1. BOX/WIRE: A box is not as cavernous as an empty room or the entire house. Most dogs are quite comfortable and, surprisingly for some, extremely safe in their crate. Inherently, for them it is a protected and safe lair.

2. DOOR: Some dogs don’t mind being restrained, as long as they can see what’s going on in the rest of the house. If that’s the case, a high-quality dog ​​or baby gate is a great solution to the problem. Your dog won’t be able to run around the house on a search and destroy mission, but he won’t feel rejected. It’s also a great way to keep the dog from being underfoot, but feeling included, when he has a house full of guests. Make sure your dog learns to respect the door before leaving it for any length of time.

3. COMPANION – Another dog would be great, but it doesn’t have to be a dog. Many enjoy the company of any animal, be it a cat, a rabbit or a bird. Interestingly, while living under the same roof, dogs often bond with these unnatural “pack members.”

4. ENTERTAINMENT – Find safe, quality, and durable toys or chew items to help keep you busy. Rotate them, so your dog expects something “new”.

5. NOISE – White noise works wonders. A radio in another room, turned down, playing soft music, a talk show, or even the weather channel, gives your dog a sense of calm and human companionship. It also helps filter out distracting outside noises.

6. OBEDIENCE TRAINING – Find a local trainer who uses non-punishment, positive reinforcement training methods. Spend quality time every day working on obedience skills with your dog to build his self-confidence. They appreciate your undivided focus on them, and you get a well-behaved dog. It is a win-win situation.

7. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE! – Take your dog out, BEFORE putting them out for the day. A brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes, or a strenuous game of “FETCH” before leaving will help calm them down. A tired dog is a good dog!

8. HELLO AND GOODBYE – Keep greetings and goodbyes discreet. Don’t make your entrance and exit melodramatic. Your dog feeds on your behavior and emotions. If they whimper, whine, or bark when you leave, come back, make a firm correction, then ignore them and walk out the door.

9. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE – Almost all of us are creatures of clothes. We do not realize it, but unconsciously we follow a prescribed routine before leaving home. Dogs are very attuned to it. Change your routine daily, so your dog doesn’t get anxious, sensing your departure. Get your keys BEFORE you brush your teeth. He puts on your shoes, then grabs a magazine and acts like you’re reading it or treat yourself to a cup of coffee and sit down. Then get up and walk out the door. No goodbyes! When they see that you’re not following your usual departure ritual, they’ll let their guard down and be less anxious.

10. DOG WALK / DOG DAYCARE: If your dog must be left alone for 8 or more hours per day, consider using a dog walking service and/or enrolling him in doggy day care at least twice a week. Your dog will not only appreciate the social interaction with humans and the dogs’ playmates; breaks up the monotony of their day and gives them something to look forward to.

Work on building your dog’s self-confidence and break his anxiety about being left alone with short separation exercises. Start with 5-10 minutes; then slowly lengthen the time. It requires a fervent commitment on his part, but reassure his dog, he will return to them.

CONCLUSION: Ultimately, almost all dogs adapt to human routines. However, there are some who will never adjust to being left behind. To keep them, your house, and your belongings safe, definitely work on wire crate/kennel training. Your dog will gradually adapt.