If you are a dog owner, you may have dealt with separation anxiety in your pet. This occurs when a dog has a negative reaction to its owner's absence. It may bark, howl, scratch desperately at the door and destroy things in the house. It may urinate or defecate inside, even if it is house trained, because of its fear and agitation. Fortunately, you can help most dogs get over their separation anxiety by following a series of steps.
Instructions
Use a word or phrase such as "Be back soon" every time you leave for a short while. This will act as a safety cue to let your dog know you are coming back. The Humane Society of the United States says that your dog will learn to associate the word with the fact that you will be returning. You can also use an action like turning on the radio or taking out a toy that you give the dog only during your absences. Don't make a big deal out of leaving. Simply tell the dog your word cue or do the safety cue action, and then leave.
Vary the length of time you are gone. This will teach the dog that you may reappear at any time and may even come right back in immediately. Your absences should last anywhere from a minute or two to up to several hours. Don't do this in a pattern that can be learned by the dog. The times should be completely random.
Give your dog something to do while you are gone. This will keep it occupied and help discourage destructive behavior. Hide treats around the house for the dog to find. The Humane Society recommends stuffing a hard rubber toy with treats or giving the dog a Nylabone or similar safe toy. You can also leave a security item like a T-shirt with your scent on it to help comfort the dog.
Ignore your dog when you first return from an absence. If you make a big fuss over the animal by petting it and showering it with attention, this will make it more anxious for your return. Treat coming back as no big deal. This will help your dog learn that absences are no big deal and that there is no big reward to look forward to at the end; it's just a part of the daily routine.
Give the dog attention at appropriate times. Brian Kilcommons of ABC News says that most dogs with separation anxiety have high attention needs. They must learn to get that attention on the owner's terms. Take the dog out for regular walks, take it to a class or teach it some sort of activity. Eventually it will learn that your departures and arrivals don't result in special attention but that it will get this during other appropriate times of your choice.