How To Treat Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Mix Up Your Leaving Routine

If your dog has been diagnosed with separation anxiety, you may have noticed they exhibit anxious behaviors several minutes before you leave. This happens because there are very common human behaviors we tend to go through before leaving the house. Things like putting on coats or shoes, picking up a purse, or grabbing the car keys signals to our dogs a departure is imminent, so they can trigger an anxious dog to act stressed out while their owner is still home. To combat this, learn to mix up your leaving routine in a way that makes it difficult for your dog to predict you’re about to leave. Try loading your purse or suitcase in the car before breakfast, putting your coat on well before you intend to leave, or carrying your keys around in your pocket every once in a while at home. It might require a little extra planning on your part, but the effort will be worth it to keep your dog from building up anxious energy.