Can you help anxiety?
Separation anxiety can affect many dogs and can cause anxiety for the owner trying to leave the house. There are several things that we can do as responsible pet owners to encourage dogs’ self-reliance, thus keeping anxiety in check.
The owners should ignore the dog upon arrive until he/she is relaxed. This means no interaction and not acknowledging the dog. Owners are encouraging bad behavior by responding to a pet’s attempts for attention through barking, whining, jumping up and pawing.
It is important when leaving not to make it a big issue. Owners should ignore the dog for 30 minutes prior to leaving the house to prevent inadvertent reinforcement of anxious behavior. A treat distraction may be offered 5-10 minutes prior to leaving.
Punishment should never be used in response to bad behavior. Verbal or physical punishment will actually increase the pet’s anxiety level.
Exercise on a regular basis such as walks or play will help reduce anxiety. A tired dog is a good dog and they will be less focused on the owner leaving the house.