Back to School Blues

Kids and dogs are often the best of friends. It’s no wonder so many dogs get in a tizzy when their diminutive friends go back to school once summer ends. The distress can even lead to separation anxiety in certain dogs, a psychological disorder of hyper attachment that manifests as barking, crying, urination, defecation, and other destructive signs when the dog is left alone in the house.

Here are five simple steps we here at Savory Prime recommend for trying to prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Ignore the Dog

Do not pay attention to your dog when he follows you or your family around the house. Many attention-seeking behaviors, including separation anxiety, can simply be corrected by ignoring them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Play it Cool

Hide all departure cues from your dog so that he or she can’t begin to associate them with your departure or the departure of your kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Avoid the Meltdowns

Keep your dog from having a full-blown emotional response. This means that he should not be following you to the door when you go to leave. Instead put him in his crate with something really fun to do, well before you or your family are getting ready to leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Use the Dog Crate

Confine your dog in his crate for 10 to 15 minutes once a day when your family is home. Crate time should be fun, not punishment. This way, time in the crate will not be paired with your family’s departure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Make it Fun

Associate your family’s departure with something wonderful, like a rare treat that he only gets at that time of day. Also, always ask your pup to sit before you interact with him. This sets up a predictable, structured relationship between you and your pup and helps him to understand how to get attention from you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Comments. Leave new

  • This is very important to those who owns a good wonderful ???? Dog. I have one his name is BOBBEE. The Breed, German BOXER. He is my boy!

    Reply
  • paulette lemmon
    May 28, 2018 9:44 pm

    my dog is a rescue. His issues from his past has shown presently many behavior and emotional problems. He does not like other dogs or males to take my attention, never wants to be alone, Two county animal shelters had known him and he was labeled “unadoptable” and “runaway”. He found me in a park with 3 dogs he followed. I could not get near him but he followed the dogs I babysat across a busy innersection. I trapped and made many attempts to find who he belonged to until I had reached 2 different shelters in separate counties. I cant guess all but Im pretty sure he was used for breeding. He was not fixed nor had tags. I own him now and 3 1/2 yrs. later He has calmed quite a bit. If I leave him alone he must be caged, sound collar and he takes a long time to recover from his anxiety . Never leaves my side, doent like men and extremely timid. My friends had taken a long time before he likes them and just a few. Noone makes any sudden moves and he is disturbed when people are around when walking. Need all the tips I can get for wanting him to relax at home and prevent him from destroying front door and moldings as he chews and vomits until he can mk. an exit. Broken his teeth and bleeding gums and acid vomit everywhere as he will never stop trying whether he chews the cage or front exit door or side of wall by front door.
    I could use some advice. So far, my life stopped and I take him everywhere or I dont go. He has to be welcomed at friends homes or I dont visit or see them until they come to my home.

    Reply

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