How to Best Support a Dog With Separation Anxiety

While a lot of good comes with owning a dog, there is also a fair amount of challenge. Dogs take a lot of time and patience and love to train, but the results of training your pup are well worth the effort. A well-behaved dog you can take out in public with confidence or have around guests at the house is a joy.

When it comes to raising a dog, one thing that some pet parents have to deal with is the issue of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety can be hard to overcome for both the dogs and the dog’s parents, but the good news is that you can help your dog deal with separation anxiety, so it doesn’t negatively impact their lives.

If you have been wondering how you can help support your dog that struggles with separation anxiety, here is everything you need to know.

What Exactly Is Separation Anxiety?

For anyone who has owned pets for a long time, separation anxiety is nothing new. Many pets deal with this condition; however, it may seem alarming for the new owner. Separation anxiety itself, when it comes to dogs, is something that has no definitive cause. There can be a lot of different reasons why a pet may develop separation anxiety, and it is more commonly found in pets that have been abandoned and rescued; however, it is something that any pet can deal with regardless of being rescued or not.

What Does Separation Anxiety Look Like?

Separation anxiety can present uniquely from dog to dog. However, it often presents as a destructive behavior that only occurs when the owner is absent. This could be chewing furniture or clothing like shoes. If the behavior is not normal when the pet parent is present, then there’s a chance that your dog is struggling with separation anxiety.

Some of the most common signs of separation anxiety are:

Chewing or destructive behavior
Urinating indoors
Not eating or drinking while the pet parent is gone

Being anxious when their owner is absent
Inappropriate barking or whining

While this may be discouraging, rest assured that this isn’t a reflection of your quality of training or love as a pet parent. Some animals need a little extra care and training, and separation anxiety is something you can help your pet overcome. Here are some best ways to help your pet deal with separation anxiety.

Vigorous Exercise

Exercising for your doggo is vitally essential, and it’s also something that looks different from one pet family to another. Exercise schedules are dependent on capacity, space, and natural rhythms. The person with a fenced-in backyard will have a different exercise rhythm with their pet than the college student who lives in an apartment.

Whatever exercise looks like, getting your pet some vigours exercise before leaving, whether it’s for the work day or to go out with friends for dinner, can help curb separation anxiety. When your dog is naturally tired, it will have an easier time relaxing and resting while you are gone.

This could be a simple walk around the block for some pets. Any exercise right before separating from your pet can help them deal with anxiety better than having pent-up energy to use while you are away!

Dog CBD

Dog CBD is an all-natural, over-the-counter solution for helping your dog naturally mellow out without any adverse or unwanted side effects. CBD itself is an entirely natural compound found in cannabis Sativa, and it is popularly used for its natural calming effects. Even though CBD comes from the cannabis family, this compound has no mind-altering or addictive qualities.

Dog CBD is veterinarian approved and seen as a healthy medication that can help your pet find the peace and calm they need while you are gone. While dog CBD should never be used as a substitute for training and proper exercise, it can be a huge benefit when used as a powerful supplement for rest.

Connect one-on-one with a Psychiatrist

Use Your Time Off Work

One of the best ways you can help your dog deal with separation anxiety is to use your free time to train them. This means you may have to take your time off work to gradually get them used to separation. This might feel cruel because chances are you’ll want to spend your time off work with your furry friend, but training them with slight, controlled separations can help prepare them for the long work day when you are away.

Conclusion

There are many ways you can help your pet overcome this common problem that faces many pet owners and their faithful companions. The good news is that even if your dog has terrible separation anxiety, it can be overcome, and you can improve!