Dogs sometimes find it hard to be separated from their owners or some objects they feel attached to .

I was on a long vacation when we first adopted our dog.  He spends every second that I’m home glued to my side, including sleeping times.  When it was time for me to go back to work, he gets distressed as I am preparing to leave.  He gets very restless. When I get home, I am always  surprised with the destruction he makes in my absence and doesn’t even appear guilty over it.  I thought he was probably bored but then realized later that he has a true case of separation anxiety.  He chews on  my favorite chairs and discarded clothes.  I know this normally happens before I come home because the chewed stuff is still warm.  He pees and poops inappropriately, continuously barks during the day, after a build up of whinning.  He shows these behaviors when left alone for even just for 30minutes.  What doesn’t please me is when he is too wild in greeting me to greet me and is so clingy when I arrive home, constantly following me and demanding for attention.

What happened within the next few weeks was absolutely remarkable. I made my arrival and departure low-key.  I made it as casual and upbeat as possible.  Since I don’t want to get a dog sitter or leave him with a friend, I tried to figure out what’s causing his anxiety and desensitize him to my ready to go cues.  I practiced doing the action over and over again until he is no longer anxious. When he got used to it, I put him on the absence session. I asked him to stay where he was and went out then came back after a minute or two. When he was not anxious, I lengthen my absence to 5 minutes and gradually increased the length of time I was gone.  This went on for weeks but it got easier.  With a little bit of training,  he learned to deal with it.  I tried to interact with him on my terms, not his. I pet him, treat him and play with him when I want, and not when he asks for it. When he whines, barks and jumps into my lap, I slowly turn away and call his attention when is he doing  something that is acceptable.  I made sure he gets plenty of exercise, including mental exercise.  I took him to swimming and long walks.  I bought him chew toys and some  interactive toys to occupy himself with while I quietly remain near by and ignore him.  I intermittently go back to him for brief periods of time to praise and reward him, of course.

“Some research has suggested that this process of no longer allowing your dog on your lap or your furniture, no longer allowing him to sleep in your room, no longer giving treats”for free”, and no longer allowing your dog to follow you throughout the house (using doors, baby gates, “stay” commands, etc.) may be vital for some separation anxiety cases.”  And it was!