Dog is called man’s best friend not only because it’s one of the most beloved pets in the world but also because it exhibits certain emotions akin to a human being. Did you know that dogs also feel shame, grief, joy, sorrow, and shame just like we do? We may not easily detect those emotions because they are not expressed the way we express them, but your canine buddy surely gets emotional, too.
What’s the term used for someone who finds it hard to adjust when someone he has been close to leaves him? It’s called 'separation anxiety.' And what do you know, your four-legged pooch also experiences that. In fact, he may find it harder to cope with it compared to his owner.
If every time you return home from work you see proof that your dog missed you a lot (ex: he keeps on chewing your slip-ons whenever you’re not home), your pet pooch could be suffering from separation anxiety.
Here are ways on how to help him ease it:
1. Have a walk with him before leaving your home – One of your goals is for your dog to be in a resting mode while you’re out. This can be achieved by taking your dog for a brisk walk as a way of starting your day. Just like us (or any living creature for that matter), after expending energy, dogs will rest, which can make him not realize the fact that you’re leaving.
2. Don’t make a big deal about your departure – For your canine friend not to even notice it, don’t go through a lot of rituals as you say goodbye. In fact, don’t even say goodbye. Don’t even touch or look at him. By doing this, you’re telling him that ‘parting is such sweet sorrow.’
3. Don’t say goodbye right before leaving – If you really can’t step out of your house without bidding your pet adieu, you can do that long before you leave. Give him a nice pat or even a quick hug 30 mins to 1 hour before leaving.
4. Maintain your calm-assertive demeanor – Even when you’re leaving, you have to project that confident energy of a pack leader. Don’t let any emotions like guilt or unease overcome you, because your dog will certainly know about them. If you’re calm and assertive and have that confident bearing, your dog will feel that everything will still be fine even though you’re leaving.
5. Practice makes perfect – You can do a little practice with him to get him used to that moment of separation. For example, try leaving your dog for, say, 5 minutes using the techniques mentioned above. The next time you do it, extend it to about 10 minutes, and so on. Continue doing this until he gets used to you being away without feeling anxious.
I also used to hate leaving my dog every time I left home for school when I was still in college, especially because I knew he’d be wandering around while I was away, and he’d be gone and nowhere to be found every time I got home (wish I had Garmin tracking collars Australia back then). But I realized that my dog and I would just continue feeling miserable if I didn’t start doing something about it. If you follow these tips here, you’ll be doing both you and your dog a huge favor by eliminating that dreaded separation anxiety.
Related articles:
Walking a Dog (dogbreedinfo.com)
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