It can be hard for owners to understand how difficult it can be for dogs to learn and adapt to being left alone at home, especially new puppies.
While some dogs seem to take naturally to being on their own, others may suffer from separation anxiety—classified as becoming anxious or upset when separated from their owner or caregiver. This can manifest in several ways: whining or barking excessively, destroying items around the house while left alone, eating everything in sight (including shoes, plants, decor, or furniture!), urinating and defecating on the carpet and more.
So as a new puppy parent, how can you help your puppy to adjust and prevent or curb these behaviors?
How to Tell if Your New Puppy or Older Dog has Separation Anxiety
Some of the signs of separation anxiety include:
- Excessive barking
- Whining or pacing when you leave them alone
- Destruction of toys
- If they have accidents in the house while you’re gone–even though they’ve been house-trained
How You Can Help Your Puppy Not to Develop Separation Anxiety
- Take your puppy for a walk before you leave so they are tired.
- Play with your puppy before you leave and as soon as you get home.
This will help your puppy develop the skills he or she needs to be comfortable being left alone, which will prevent separation anxiety from developing later on in life!
Try a Form of Mental Stimulation
Exercise, as mentioned before, and mental stimulation are key to keeping your dog occupied and help prevent separation anxiety. Mental stimulation is important because it helps prevent boredom when your pup is left alone. One of our favorite things to do is to leave pups with puzzle toys, interactive games such as hide-and-seek with treats, or food puzzles where the dog has to work hard for their treats/reward.
Training Your Puppy to be okay with Being Alone
The first step is to start with short periods of time away from your puppy. Try leaving the room for a few minutes, then returning. Do not make a big fuss when you return; don’t let your puppy follow you around the house when trying this method out. This will teach your pup that it isn’t the end of the world when you leave and that you will always come back.
Another thing you can do is to crate train your pup. Crate training gives your puppy a safe place to go, where they know they can be comfortable and play with some of their toys. Crate training is especially useful if you plan on working outside of the home during your initial training weeks and months. For more information on crate training, check out this article.
Separation anxiety is a common problem in dogs, but it’s not one that should be ignored. If you notice that your puppy is exhibiting signs of separation anxiety, then it’s time to start implementing the above tips, and if all else fails, contact your vet to see if there is something else they would recommend.
