It’s hard to come home to find your fur animal in distress. Fortunately, there are several steps that you can take to help your dog deal with separation anxiety. The ultimate goal of the owner should be to help their dog feel more comfortable and at least be able to tolerate being left alone. 

How to Help Your Dog Deal With Separation Anxiety

Proper Exercise

Although exercise can’t cure separation anxiety, it can help prevent it from happening in the first place. One of the most important factors that you should consider is ensuring that your puppy gets enough physical exercise. This will help keep them happy and healthy. Having a content dog will help you feel more comfortable when you leave. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that they should additionally get enough mental exercise. This can be done through games and training sessions.

Medication and Supplements

Some veterinarians also recommend natural supplements and medication for treating separation anxiety. Although these can be very helpful, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian first. Some of the medicines that are commonly used for treating anxiety include alprazolam and amitriptyline. These are safe for most pets, but you should be extra cautious if giving them to young dogs.

Natural products such as CBD can help ease the anxiety in your dog. They can also help during training sessions. However, be sure to consult a veterinarian before giving your dog these products, especially if he is already on medication.

Counter-Conditioning

Developing a physically and mentally healthy new puppy is also important to ensure that it can handle new experiences, such as being alone. This will help them develop positive associations with people and the world around them.

One of the most important factors that you can consider when it comes to training your puppy is to teach him that separation has rewards. For instance, you can start by leaving him for a short amount of time. Gradually, you can lengthen the amount of time that you’re away from him. If he’s already conditioned to going into stress mode when you leave, try giving him a treat that he really enjoys and only bringing out for the important rewards.