Where Did You Go? : Back to "Normal" Covid 19 Pet Separation Anxiety Tips
No doubt, our pets have enjoyed spending more time with us at home during this pandemic. But eventually things will go back to "normal" or they may already have for you and your pet. No matter how much we love our pets, leaving the house and them home alone is a part of life as a pet owner. For some pets, this can cause anxiety and stress, resulting in mild to severe separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety can be hard on you as the pet owner too. If you have concern over your dog’s behaviors that may include urinating or defecating, excessive barking and howling, trying to escape or being destructive while you are away, try these vet recommended tips to help with your pet's separation anxiety.
- Try to keep your pet's schedule the same as when you are gone all day. Or ease back into your pre covid 19 schedule if you know you will be returning to work soon. Take walks at the same time of day, keep the meal schedule the same, if your pet spends time in their crate each day start to re introduce that again.
- If you're working from home, don't be tempted to give your dog far more attention than you would in a normal day. Otherwise, it will be harder for your pet to get used to being alone once you've returned to work.
- Try to give your dog time alone during the day. This could be in a crate or in a different room to you. This will remind it of how to cope with its own company. You can also leave dogs with a chew toy to help calm them down.
- If possible, try standing outside your front door without your dog for a few minutes, or even go into the garden without him. The lack of your constant presence will help your dog to maintain its confidence when it's alone.
- Start Small-Leave the dog alone for five minutes, then extend the time to 20 minutes, then to one hour. Continue to increase your time away until you’re able to leave for a full eight hours without problems occurring. Use treats and praise as positive reinforcement when your dog responds well.
- Take a walk or exercise. The physical stimulation will help tire the dog out and you will leave him in a quiet, resting mode. If you can’t take a walk, playing together or working on training before you leave will help mentally exhaust your dog before you depart.
- Don’t make it a big deal. Don’t pet your dog, talk to him or make eye contact when you leave — or even when you first return home. This helps him learn time apart is just business as usual.
- Stay calm. The dog can sense your concerned and guilty feelings as you’re getting ready to leave. When you’re calm and confident and project the energy that everything will be okay, the dog’s anxiousness will decrease.
If Your Dog is Still Suffering?
Some dogs respond well to crate training because they learn their crate is a safe place to go. But for others, it can cause added stress and anxiety. Owners can observe the dog when he’s left in the crate while you are home. If he is panting heavily, trying to escape or persistently barking/howling, you may consider confining your dog to one room behind a baby gate instead. Leaving toys that will keep them busy and distracted, or clothes you’ve recently worn as a scent cue can help your dog too.
Treatment for separation anxiety can be a gradual process. As you work with your pet through the separation anxiety, it’s important to remember you should not scold or punish your dog. Anxious behaviors are a distress response, and not a result of disobedience. If you punish him, he may become more upset and the problem could worsen.