Managing Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety Naturally

OK, if you’ve read our report on identifying whether your dog suffers from separation anxiety, then the next question you’ll have is, “What can I do about it?”

If your pet is one of the 30% who suffers from anxiety or fear, then read on, because this report lists a few ways you can manage this problem – without having to resort to the doggie equivalent of Xanax or other prescription drugs that have a bunch of side-effects (e.g. Alprazolam, Amitriptyline, Buspirone, Clomipramine, Dexmedetomidine, Diazepam, Fluoxetine, Lorazepam, or Paroxetine).

But before I get into the things you can do, let me address one thing you should not do: get another dog.

People often assume their dog is lonely, and that a second dog will help provide company and keep him occupied – but loneliness is not the issue here. Your dog is having or causing problems because he gets anxious when his guardian is absent, so another dog isn’t going to solve that one – and it may even double your troubles if the new dog suffers from separation anxiety too.

Anti-Anxiety Vests

This is a vest you can put on your dog (or cat) that will apply a gentle pressure to their torso – it’s a bit like swaddling an infant and giving it a hug at the same time.

If you’ve ever watched the hugely touching movie “Temple Grandin”, you may recall she built herself a device that did the same – it applied gentle pressure to her body to help her deal with her autism.

Over three quarters of pets show reduced signs of anxiety and fear when wearing one of these because it is proven to reduce their heart rate and lower stress hormone levels.

These vests come in different sizes, for both dogs and cats, and are great not just for separation anxiety, but for any situation where your pet may be fearful, such as thunder and lightning storms, fireworks, car rides, or visits to the vet.

CBD Oil

Just like Cannabidiol (CBD) can help relieve anxiety and stress in humans, it is also safe and effective for dogs too.

Remember, CBD is not the component of marijuana that makes you high – that’s THC.

CBD oil (or CBD-infused dog treats) can activate the CB2 receptors, which, according to some studies, can optimize overall health.

However, you would be better looking for a CBD oil that is specifically designed for dogs. Not only may the formulation be different, but you may want to check out the flavours that will be better suited for your furry friends, such as bacon or beef.

You may also need to fine tune the dosage for your specific dog.

Chew Toys

These are a great way to keep your dog occupied at any time, of course, but they can also help provide a distraction when they’re left by themselves. If you’re lucky, it will prevent them from chewing on your furniture, etc. too. 🙂

It’s the repetitive chewing action that can relax you dog and allows him to release any frustration.

There are many types of chew toy available, but as most dog owners will have found out the hard way, a lot of them don’t last five minutes before they get shredded.

The one that has practically become the gold standard is the Classic KONG – it’s made of puncture-resistant rubber, it’s durable, it’s an odd shape so it bounces unevenly, and it’s hollow so you can fill it with dog treats (which can be frozen to ensure your dog takes longer to extract them all).

Be sure to get the right one for your dog – they come in different sizes for different dogs.

In terms of using them, it’s best to keep one solely for when you are out of the house. So, only give your dog the chew toy as you’re leaving the house, and make sure you retrieve it as soon as you return home.

Daily Exercise

While not practical for everybody in every situation, if you can exercise your dog about half an hour before you leave home, it will leave him feeling tired and less likely to be destructive in your absence.

This exercise should be a walk at least, but if you go running / jogging, even better. Alternatively, if and only if your dog is trained to do this, you can go for a cycle ride with your dog too, but do make sure you are 100% positive he will be able to deal with this and that you have an appropriate leash.

Independence Training

Separation anxiety is often caused by a dog becoming too attached to and dependent on its guardian (aka pack leader).

So, one way to help overcome this is to help them develop more independent behaviours, which can including doing things at a distance from you (if they usually sit or lie right next to you), and then progressing to doing things while out of sight of you.

One example would be a type of “puzzle toy”, where the dog has to work out how to release treats that are hidden inside it.

Leave Entertainment Turned On

Many dog owners find that simply leaving something playing on the television or radio can calm a dog down.

The key here is to ensure it sounds like humans are talking, which means setting the volume to something similar to what they would hear in your house normally.

Another option to consider is playing music that has been composed especially to help calm anxious dogs down – yes, this does exist!

No Punishment

Assuming that your dog is actually suffering from separation anxiety, then the one thing you must never do is punish him, no matter what havoc he might have wreaked in your absence.

Remember, your dog is stressed out and probably fearful, so punishing him for what is essentially a mental health problem is only going to make matters worse.

When your child is frightened (e.g. by thunder), do you comfort him, or do you punish him?

I hope it’s the former – so why would you treat your dog any differently?

Practise Leaving

Wild animals typically excel at pattern recognition – they have to if they want to survive – and even though dogs have been domesticated for millennia, they still have this crucial survival technique.

This means they will very quickly become familiar with your routine as you prepare to leave, which means they will start to get worked up even before you set foot out of your front door.

There are a couple of ways to desensitize them to this routine:

1. Perform parts of your “leaving routine” independently. This might include, for example, brushing your teeth (which you dog can perceive as part of you getting ready to leave him by himself) at other times of the day, while he watches.
2. Randomize your routine. For example, don’t go straight to work after eating breakfast, but watch something on TV first. Or take your briefcase out to your car before you have your morning cup of coffee.

The idea here is to make it harder for your dog to recognize individual components of your leaving routine, thus reducing the anxiety build-up.

You will obviously need to use this strategy in conjunction with other techniques, because once you’re gone, he’s still going to be alone without his guardian.

Remote Communication Devices

You can now buy a device that allows you to communicate with your dog remotely, via the Internet and your smartphone.

These devices typically have a built-in camera, so you can see what he’s up to, a microphone and speaker, so he can hear your voice (which of course can be very soothing), and it can even dispense treats on your command.

Some may even have a screen so he can see you.

You only need to check in with your doggie a few times a day (e.g. on coffee or lunch breaks) while you’re away to help keep him calm.

Stay Calm

This may be hard, but it’s important to downplay your leaving, so don’t make a big song and dance when it comes to saying goodbye.

In fact, it needs to be quite the opposite – it should be very matter-of-fact.

Remember, dogs can sense our moods, so the more energy you put out when you leave, the more energy he will have.

On your return home, you should try to be equally calm about seeing him again.

The idea with this strategy is to let your dog know that it’s normal for you to be out of the house without him.

Conclusion

You may, of course, have to try several of these strategies in combination with each other to establish what works best for your dog and your situation.

If all else fails, you could consider having somebody (preferably a family member or friend) dog-sit for you. If there is nobody available, then professional dog-sitting services do exist, as do “doggie daycare” places too.

And finally, I have been fortunate these past ten years or more to be able to work from home and do all of my shopping on the Internet, so there has never been occasion to have to leave the dogs by themselves.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Anxiety Vests
2. Calming Music For Dogs
3. CBD Oil
4. Dog Camera
5. Kong Chew Toys