I’m a dog expert and here are the 5 ways to help your pet with separation anxiety

By William On Sep 9, 2023

A dog expert has revealed the signs a dog is suffering from separation anxiety – and the 5 simple ways you can prevent it.

London-based dog behaviorist Adam Fehmi explained that certain dogs “can become clingy and howl if you or their other caregivers leave them alone, even for a short time.”

He told FEMAIL five different ways to help a dog with separation anxiety – including playing classical music to create a ‘calm environment’ for the dog.

He revealed it can be a problem for ‘all races’, adding: ‘iIt’s less about the dog breed, but some temperaments are more likely to develop (separation anxiety)’.

‘WWith the right setup, routines and training, this can be prevented or overcome.”

London-based dog behaviourist Adam Fehmi has revealed the signs a dog is suffering from separation anxiety – and the 5 simple ways you can prevent it

Meanwhile, he also shared the common ways your dog shows he’s suffering from separation anxiety – and the ways you can help prevent it.

1. Exercise your dog before leaving him behind

He claimed that ‘training your dog effectively will help reduce some of your dog’s energy, energy that he might otherwise spend worrying about being abandoned.

‘A well-trained dog will also be more likely to relax in your absence than one who wants to go!’

2. Give your dog something to do!

The expert revealed: ‘Just like us humans, dogs can and will become bored if left alone with nothing to do.

“This boredom can promote and exacerbate the anxiety they may feel when they are not physically with you.”

3. Create acalpine environment where your dog can relax

The expert advised that the environment could have a big influence on how your dog responds to being alone, specifically mentioning ‘classical or soft music’ as a relaxation tool for your dog.

‘Music can also help drown out external sounds that might otherwise worry your dog. A nice, comfortable and inviting bed can also help your dog relax in your absence.”

4. Build a dog’s self-confidence – while you’re at home

The expert explained: ‘(If we) build their independence, they can feel comfortable, relaxed and content when they are away from us, rather than anxious, in our absence.

‘An easy way to set this up and practice it initially is to use a light barrier, such as a baby gate, so your dog can still see you but is physically distanced from you.’

5. Be calm when you return to your dog!

Adam explained, “We want our dogs to learn that our comings and goings throughout the day are normal and not something bad or something to be afraid of.

“By not making it a problem to leave them or return to them, we can help them understand this.”

Common symptoms of separation anxiety in your puppy

SEPARATION ANXIETY: WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?

Veterinarian Dr. Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS explained: ‘Separation anxiety is the feeling of panic when an animal is separated from an important ‘resource’ – usually a family member.

‘It was an evolutionary advantage to stay together in a pack or group, so the feeling of fear when you were alone was useful to the dog’s ancestor. The problem is that in modern life we need our dogs to be relaxed when left alone for short periods of time.’

This is often not the case, and signs of separation anxiety include crying and whining when left alone, or panicking when you leave the house.

In bad cases, your dog will pace back and forth and exhibit destructive behavior such as chewing.

Dr. Woodnutt revealed: ‘Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety can destroy furniture and even injure themselves.

‘It also often gets worse without the right behavioral intervention; a dog that starts howling when left alone may spiral into pure panic and try to escape within months.”

So how can you tell if your dog is suffering or not? Fehmi said more extreme signs may include “physical destruction, defecating or urinating, barking or howling, pacing, and shaking when left alone or separated from a particular family member or other pet in the home.”

He added that “in rarer cases, a dog can also cause physical harm to itself.”

But sometimes separation anxiety can manifest itself in tamer forms – if your dog is acting ‘like’ your ‘shadow’ when you are at home and do not want to leave them out of their sight’, you must be on your guard.

‘Your dog may also not want to rest in a room or area of the house that is away from you or other family members – he needs to be physically close to you or other family members at all times, or your dog sits near a door or in your absence until your return’.

Meanwhile, the dog behaviorist explained that there are a plethora of reasons behind separation anxiety, and that’s not the caseThe underlying causes can be complex.’

But he mentioned common factors such as ‘the loss of a family member or another pet they have lived with, or a change in routine.

‘For example, with the pandemic and people working from home more often, we have seen how dogs have become used to more company than before.

‘Dogs can also develop separation anxiety due to a change in context, for example when staying in a new environment such as a boarding house or family/friends’ home.

‘Another factor that can contribute to the development of this behavioral problem is a lack of effective exercise, which can cause a dog to have excess energy which then turns into ‘anxious energy’.’