Separation anxiety in a dog home alone?

If you think your dog has separation anxiety you need to know if that’s what’s really happening or only a guess. At-home videos will be essential. Shoot one with your dog crated and another with him loose inside: Did he freak-out faster in his crate? When free to roam his home, was he pacing and checking the door and windows? Where was he more agitated? Did his panic begin to wane? We can tailor treatment to his needs.

You can slowly teach your dog to abandon his escalating heebie jeebies as you get gussied up for work. Desensitization to predeparture cues means frequent handling of your keys, shoes and jacket, brushing your teeth or whatever triggers your pupster’s anxiety. Independence training can also make a difference. Give your fine pup a loaded food toy and tether a few feet from your chair. When he’s relaxed, following lots of repetition, increase the distance until he’s calm, then anchor him such that he can see only a little of you, and then finally move him around a corner. Another method, graduated absences, will have you outside for progressively longer durations.