Separation anxiety has always been a sad reality for dog owners. As we all know, dogs are incredibly loyal, loving and affectionate pets which causes them to really miss us when we leave them! We all hate seeing our furry friends all upset as we close the front door and see their puppy eyes staring up at us.

Separation anxiety has sadly always been prominent in dogs but has become a particular issue following COVID. The combination of more first-time dog owners than ever before (26% of UK pet owners got a pet during the pandemic with dogs being the most popular (Petplan)), coupled with these puppies having a constant presence of their owners during lockdowns, provided a perfect storm of young pups becoming more reliant and expectant of their owners than ever before. These puppies were rarely (if ever) left alone in the house. Even those pre-COVID dogs began to get used to the ever-present, and constant love from their owners.

Fast-forward to the present day where we have largely returned to our pre-COVID lives of going to the office, going on holiday, and socialising with friends in the evenings, but our poor dogs sadly can’t always be involved. This change of suddenly being alone significantly increased the number of dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

Does your dog have separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety can be in many forms, but ultimately it is the discomfort of you leaving your dog. They may show this through barking or whining as you leave, or even subtle reactions like being in a grump when they see suitcases by the front door. In these cases, your dog is not as relaxed as they are when you are around.

How to relax your dog and reduce separation anxiety?

1. - One of the largest causes of separation anxiety is the sudden change in the longevity of your absence. To alleviate this, start with leaving your pup alone for short periods of time and gradually increase the duration. This will (re)build independence and your dog will learn to be comfortable when away from you.
2. - Build a routine of your dog being alone. Even when you are at home, incorporate a period each day where your dog has some alone time, so they get used to being by themselves.
3. - Make their area as comfortable as possible. Depending on your dog, try and create a space which they can really feel comfortable in. Ideally somewhere where they can feel secure, so they do not get scared of external noises or smells.
4. - Turn on the radio! This can make the room feel less empty, causing less stress at being left alone.
5. - Stimulate their attention! Puzzle toys and treat dispensers can keep your dog engaged and distracted from the sad event of you leaving them.

Can I give my dog anything to reduce separation anxiety?

Yes, there are products on the market which can reduce separation anxiety. A really effective natural ingredient to directly support is passionflower. Passionflower is a calming herb that quiets the entire nervous system, while also raising levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain. The benefit of this is that certain brain cell activity will lower, putting the dog’s body in a calm and relaxed state. An additional positive of these neurotransmitters in passionflower is that they can increase your dog’s mood and improve their temperament.

PAWD Calming is a functional liquid supplement for dogs which has been scientifically designed to reduce anxiety in dogs. With passionflower being a key ingredient in PAWD Calming, it could be an excellent natural solution to reduce separation anxiety in your dog. https://pawddrinks.com/products/calming