Do not leave your dog alone for more than 4 hours.
Nibbled furniture, rummaged through a trash can, scratched doors: If the dog was alone at home, dog owners often expect a wild scenario. The neighbors may even ring the bell and complain about the dog barking or howling. Learn how to deal with the dog's fear of separation and how to teach it to stay alone for a few hours from time to time.
The dog's fear of separation
Reasons for separation anxiety
Four-legged friends, which never learned to remain alone or made however in the past bad experiences with it, suffer frequently from separation fear. This particularly affects shelter dogs that have been abandoned. Fear of separation can also occur after situations in which the owner has been at home for a longer period of time, for example after a holiday or after a long illness.
Recognizing separation anxiety
Keepers need a lot of patience for training. Separation anxiety is considered a behavioral problem and occurs primarily in animals that have never undergone a so-called separation phase. If these dogs are left alone, the fear can express itself through destruction rage, destroyed thereby above all those objects, which carry the smell of the dog owner (read more in the counselor How can I proceed against the destructive rage of my dog?). In addition, these dogs tend to do business in the house. It can also happen that they vomit, salivate heavily or run hectically back and forth. Further side effects are howling, barking or whining.
Many a four-legged friend suffering from separation anxiety tends even to depressions. These particularly sensitive dogs resign after a certain period of time and retreat e.g. with a garment of their owner into their basket. When the owner is back home, he is usually followed by the dog at every turn. Body contact is extremely important for dogs with separation anxiety, they often sleep in bed and want to accompany their owner to the bathroom. Whether a dog should also sleep in a bed is discussed in the Guide Dog in Bedroom: Can a dog go to bed?
Owner in the obligation: To train to be alone
Dogs need employment. This is especially true when they are alone.
Leave the dog alone
The training should begin slowly with small measures. The dog should be accustomed to the situation step by step. As a first step you can, for example, leave the room for a few minutes. Increase this period gradually. It can be helpful to occupy the dog mentally as well as physically during your absence. Dogs often destroy objects out of pure boredom due to a lack of activity. A good option are chewing bones or toys filled with food. The dog is distracted for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Positive experiences with being alone
Next time, extend the time of your absence. Combine your return with a fun hour of play. By linking loneliness with positive expectations, you are sure to get a little closer to your goal of dog training. Keep this action - never come back without "joyful news"! In this way, the dog links leaving with positive expectations.
Stay consistent
If the puppy doesn't stop complaining despite this, you have to stay hard (even if your heart is bleeding). If you become soft, the dog will learn that he is successful with his moaning and you will come back as a result. Do not come back into the room until he is calm. Consistency is required here!
Avoid daily routine
It can also be helpful if you break your daily routine when leaving the house. The background: The dog should not shoot himself into a certain sequence of your actions. For example, put on your shoes first and then go into the bathroom again. The aim is that the dog does not associate your activities with staying alone. Attention: Do not exuberantly emphasize farewells and greetings. These should rather take place calmly.
Do not leave the dog alone for more than 4 hours!
In general, any breed of dog can be accustomed to being alone. With puppies, you can count on the success already after a few weeks, with older dogs the process can take more time. It should be noted that both younger and older dogs should not be left alone for too long, as they have to do their business more often. In principle, dogs should never be alone for more than four hours.
References:
My Dog Has Separation Anxiety - What Can I Do?
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