You may be tempted to dive straight into walking out of the door when you embark on your separation anxiety training, but this is likely to be doomed from the start.
It’s fantastic that you have now made the commitment to help your dog be home alone, however before you even get up off your chair, there are a few things you need to work out to set your dog up for success.
Your home.
Where are you planning on leaving your dog, and where would your dog prefer to be? Forget about the times they destroyed or soiled your flooring, you are not going to let them get in that panic state again, so the more comfortable spots are better for your dog. The best place is where they normally chill out during the day. This is where they feel most relaxed and safe.
Viewing your dog.
Dogs are great at communication, but it’s mostly with their body language. Once they are barking, they are panicking and this is not our goal to allow them in this state. In order to have successful separation training, you have to be watching your dog at all times. Setting up some pet cameras is essential so you can watch your dog. You need to be able to see their faces and bodies so you can read their communication, and you may need a few depending on the area of your home they will have access to.
Time to ditch the crate?
Some separation dogs still do great at nighttime in a confined area, but it rarely translates to daytime. If you are scared, then being trapped in a tiny enclosure will only exasperate the anxiety levels. It’s the same for your dog. Being able to move around will actually help them. You may not want them to have the whole home, so close bedroom doors, or use stairgates to keep them to one or two rooms if appropriate.
Are they ready to settle?
Making sure they are ready to snooze is key, and there are several factors to consider here:
- Have they had a chance to toilet before you plan to start training or go out? You can’t rest if your legs are crossed!
- Have they had a chance to stretch their legs and use their noses? Meeting their needs is important and one aspect is their exercise and brain enrichment. If they are buzzing and restless to do something, they are not in a good state to settle for any period of time. Running increases the adrenaline, so sniffy walks and puzzles are much better, as is trick training. Using the brain tires them out more so ensure you incorporate these into their daily routine.
- Are they hungry? If it’s just before their dinner time, then they are going to be hangry, it’s hard to sleep with a rumbling tummy! We don’t use food for separation anxiety training, but having had a meal a few hours earlier, or a little snack, will keep their stomachs happy and help them relax.
- External distractions? Some dogs can really be bothered by noises outside, so playing low music, tv, or white/brown/grey noises can cancel out some of the worst offenders. If it’s movement, then using the stick-on frosting to the lower part of the windows can make it less interesting. Some dogs do better with a view out, some dogs cannot cope at all, it’s very individual to your dog.
General Anxiety.
Separation anxiety is not a black/white feeling, it can affect each dog to a different level, and some dogs also struggle in other areas of their lives such as busy environments/households, or other dogs and people. The world outside can be overwhelming too. If they are reactive the please work with a qualified accredited behaviourist (ABTC/APBC) for help with this.
Calming supplements such as the PAWD DRINKS Calming can be given to your dog as a natural product to help take the edges of their anxiety, and for milder cases, can really show a difference. Even if your dog’s separation anxiety is a severe phobia, then it may be worth still adding in this complementary therapy as you want to do all you can to set your dog up to succeed.
Now plan your training!
Ignore the advice to just go out of view and wait for your dog’s meltdown, as often even just shutting the door behind you is too long for them to cope with. Your plan may be starting with just approaching the front door, and could take weeks before you can actually go out. The foundation is so important if you ever want to achieve your goals of leaving your dog at home.
Looking at the whole picture and not just one aspect in isolation will help your dog succeed. By taking in their full lifestyle, diet, rest, exercise, mental stimulation and your home environment will prepare you for your training.
If you are unsure about what to do or where to start, or how long you should be going out for, then get in touch for ways to work with me.
Jo, Pippin Pets Dog Training
Certified Separation Anxiety Behaviour Consultant
FAQ 1: Does my dog suffer from Separation Anxiety?
FAQ 2: Did I cause my dog's Separation Anxiety?
FAQ 3: Is my dog behaving out of spite?