Five Steps to Preventing Dog Separation Anxiety
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COMMENTS (3)
I've done all 5 of your recommendations for a year now and we still have the same problem....any other suggestions? 
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by Elisandra Olea on 08/26/2012 11:24pm
My 6year old yorkie has major separation anxiety and yes I am the culprit because I have always spoiler him but its getting him to just stay without barking. I now have to put up a baby gate and leave him two spoons of yogurt put him over the gate and make a run for it. If I don't do this everytime I leave him he will chase me to the door bark uncontrollably and nip at my feet I need serious help.
I have a 2 year old Pomeranian that also had these same symptoms. It started off when we left him home alone he would bark and weep constantly, and when left alone he became destructive, Sometimes even got the shakes. We tried several things to solve his separation anxiety. I bought one of those thunder jackets to try a fix this. I found it had no real affect on him, so i decided to look for tips an info and i came across this very helpful website. i recommend giving it a look. I solved most of the problems when applying these methods i found it had good quality information that really helped me and my family.
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Back to School BluesKids and dogs are often the best of friends. It's no wonder so many dogs get in a tizzy when their diminutive friends go back to school once summer ends. The distress can even lead to separation anxiety in certain dogs, a psychological disorder of hyper attachment that manifests as barking, crying, urination, defecation, and other destructive signs when the dog is left alone in the house.
Here are five simple steps veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta recommends for trying to prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety. 1. Ignore the DogDo not pay attention to your dog when he follows you or your family around the house. Many attention seeking behaviors, including separation anxiety, can simply be corrected by ignoring them. 2. Play it CoolHide all departure cues from your dog so that he or she can’t begin to associate them with your departure or the departure of your kids. 3. Avoid the MeltdownsKeep your dog from having a full-blown emotional response. This means that he should not be following you to the door when you go to leave. Instead put him in his crate with something really fun to do, well before you or your family are getting ready to leave. 4. Use the Dog CrateConfine your dog in his crate for 10 to 15 minutes once a day when your family is home. Crate time should be fun, not punishment. This way, time in the crate will not be paired with your family's departure. 5. Make it FunAssociate your family's departure with something wonderful, like a rare treat that he only gets at that time of day. Also, always ask your pup to sit before you interact with him. This sets up a predictable, structured relationship between you and your pup and helps him to understand how to get attention from you.
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