Some of our furry friends drive into anxiety every time they get separated from their trusty owners. Read on to learn some of the best ways you can help them deal with it.

As dog owners, we can all recall the numerous times our furry friends were right beside us when we were going through some kind of emotional turmoil. They also form strong bonds with us, to the point
that sometimes getting separated from us leads them to go berserk, break objects, and show distressing behavior.
If your furry friend is showing these signs, it’s highly likely that he/she has separation anxiety and needs your help and support. Here’s are some foolproof suggestions on helping a dog with separation anxiety:

1. Exercise Them Before You Leave

 When your dogs are tired and have less energy, they tend to be less anxious and jumpy. The only way to make sure they are not hyper at the time of your leaving is to exercise them a little more than usual. Make sure to end the session 15 to 20 minutes before you leave. By this point, they would be too tired to
act destructively.

2. Desensitize Your Dog by Changing the Cues

Your dog starts to get anxious when you pick up your keys and wear your coat and shoes. Your dog associates these signs with you leaving, and you need to change that. Pick your keys as often as possible, and your dog will stop getting alarmed by it. Wear your coat and sit on the couch for at least 20 minutes or so. Not only will your dog become desensitized to these signs, but will also begin to
disassociate them with your leaving.

3. Don’t Underestimate the Toys

There are various dog separation anxiety toys that will help you tackle your dog’s separation anxiety. Invest in toys stuffed with treats. Every time you leave the house, give them the treat-filled toy, and when you get back home, take the toy back. This way, your dog will start associating you leaving away, with treat time.

4. Don’t Make A Big Deal Out of Your Coming and Going

Normalize coming and going by disregarding greetings. When you get home, don’t say anything to the pup for at least a few minutes. When you are leaving, try to do so without any hints. When heading out, don’t say goodbye to anyone, and prepare your coat few hours prior. Downplay it as much as you can, and your dog won’t have a chance to get anxious as it won’t notice the signs.

Whatever methods you choose, always stay calm and kind. Remember, all those times, a warm cuddles by your dog at the end of a bad day made you forget all the wrongs in the world?

In case of separation anxiety, your furry friends just need a little help from you, so all you need to do is educate yourself on how to break a dog’s separation anxiety, and tackle it together.