Dogs get anxious in much the same way as we do – they experience separation anxiety whenever left by their owner.
Would you want to be left locked in one room of your house all day long, not knowing when anyone was coming home, with no access to toilet facilities?
Why would you assume that your dog would be any happier to find itself in a similar situation?
If you assume that your dog will be happy to stay on it’s own while you are at work you are likely to end up with a very unhappy animal – which in turn will make you unhappy.
Now, I am not suggesting for one moment that your dog should be taken everywhere with you. Of course you have to work and you have to go to places where your dog will not be welcome.
The trick is in setting the situation up so your dog is not bored or distressed.
The first step to take is getting your dog into a routine. If you have time in the mornings take your dog for a run and then require him to stay in his bed for a period of time. Do not constantly socialise with the dog as you will be setting up an expectation!
If a morning run is not practical, once again require your dog to stay in his bed for a period before rewarding him with a walk.
The idea is to establish in your dog’s mind the fact that there are times during the day when he will be ignored but he will also associate these times with his daily run, either before or after.
Dogs are intelligent, they soon make associations. Remember Pavlov and the bell?
Some owners find that dogs suffering from separation anxiety benefit from having a radio left on. I know it sounds strange, but if it stops your dog howling and disturbing your neighbours it is surely worth a try.
Be sure your dog has adequate fresh water and that the room in which he is confined has adequate fresh air. It may be better if the dog, when left, can not see too much of the day to day goings on in the outside world as these may disturb him and cause him to bark and fret.
By paying attention to your dogs needs you will find that your dog will be relaxed during the periods he is left alone and will almost certainly sleep if he is not in state of anxiety. The time you spend together walking will go a long way to building a bond of trust between you. Your dog will come to trust the fact that you do always come back!
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Very nice post. Another thing you might try is crate training. Separation anxiety can stem from a change in schedule and if you know ahead of time then can help. First try leaving your dog for 20 to 30 minutes while go on an errand. Gradually leaving him/her in their crate longer until you have reached an eight hour shift.