How to Comfort Your Puppy When You Leave for Work

Not all puppies do well with their master leaving for work. Some puppies suffer from problems such as separation anxiety, which can become a severe issue if it is not taken care of as soon as possible. Separation anxiety occurs in many puppies that were previously abandoned or were taken away from the mother too soon. However, with patience and a little understanding, you can help relieve your puppy from the stress of your going off to work.

Things You'll Need

  • Folded blanket or dog bed
  • Treats
  • Chew toys
  • Article of clothing
  • Television or radio
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a safe area for your puppy. Place a folded blanket or dog bed in a quiet area. Show your puppy the bed. Give the puppy treats and praise in this area. When you praise and provide treats to the puppy where the bed is, it shows the puppy that the area is a place of happiness and comfort.

    • 2

      Ignore the puppy's bad behavior when you get home from work. As soon as you come home, your puppy will do anything to get your attention. Ignore the puppy when it jumps on you or barks to show it that you do not respond to bad behavior. Wait until the puppy calms down completely before showing it any attention. Eventually, the puppy will understand that it does not need to misbehave to get your attention when you return home from work.

    • 3

      Train your puppy to understand when you are leaving for work. For example, as you leave for work everyday, say ̶0;goodbye̶1; in a loud, clear voice. This word signals to the dog that you are leaving for the day. Use this word only when you leave for work. The puppy eventually understands that ̶0;goodbye̶1; means you will be gone for a while.

    • 4

      Distract the puppy with plenty of chew toys. Having chew toys around discourages chewing on furniture or other items. Place an article of your clothing on the dog bed. Keeping an article of your clothing near your puppy is a comfort. Turn the radio or television on when you leave. This provides a little background noise.