My dog has separation anxiety - any tips?

Usually, the solution takes patience gradually overcoming the issue. If your dog has a crate or other safe place that it considers a den, practice by having the dog stay there with a comfort item with your scent, treat, and toy that the dog would not otherwise get for short periods (it may start as just a few minutes while you're in another room) without your presence. Then increase the time gradually and go outside the home. Do not make the leaving or the return a big deal. The dog should learn that when you're away good things happen - treats and toys appear. When you return, don't immediately go to the pet. After a few minutes, you can let the dog out, without making a big deal of it. Any toys and uneaten treats get picked up and put away for next time. You may also consider the use of a Thundershirt, which swaddles the dog, and pheromone calming products, which simulate a mother's scent.

To help deal with anxiety, you cango in and out of the house and pay no attention to your dog. Walk past him, wave and smile if he is quiet but if he is banging at the crate, ignore it and walk away. Come back and wait until he is quiet, and then ask him to wait in the crate while you open the door. He should not come bursting out.

Practice separation. Schedule separations after naps or feedings. Develop a “goodbye” ritual. Keep familiar surroundings when possible and make new surroundings familiar. Have a consistent primary caregiver. Leave without fanfare. Try not to give in

In my experience, dogs with separation anxiety can overcome with their caregivers' patience, time, and dedicated approach.

Watch for signs of when your pet begins to get stressed to help identify triggers: is it when you pick up your keys? Is it when you open the garage door? While these activities may not be able to be avoided, they're a great opportunity to reward your animal to begin to condition it that these activities are good, positive times.

In addition, leaving the radio or tv on for the dog can be helpful in lowering their stress level.

If there's a "safe place" where the pet feels comfortable typically, you can also try leaving one of your items there - clothing item, blanket, etc.

The new conditioning requires time and patience but is so worth it in the long run!

it takes a long, long time. much patience. much training. even with alot of help some dogs never fully "get over it". however with the owners working daily with the dog they can at least stop it from becoming worse. exercise is a must before you do any training. practice just using bathroom alone or them being kenneled next to you while you watch tv. you slowly increase time and distance. any time the dog is stressed, you have to go back two steps and reinforce. if the dog can only handle the kennel door shutting and immediately opening. do that. most people push the dog too fast too far. patience is everything. letting the dog have play dates and socializing with other dogs is important. this way they build a world outside of just ONE person. good luck!

Separation anxiety is a real thing. When I started dogsitting and heard about separation anxiety I was sure it was just a made of way of people saying they pay too much attention to their dog. But now that I've watched over 100 dogs, I've had a few that have had some separation anxiety. Here's some tips for things I've tried that have seemed to help. When the dog first shows signs of separation anxiety, try giving it a treat, or suggesting it get some water, petting it, and making it feel comfortable in your home. Another thing I love doing when dogs seem a little anxious, is taking them out for a walk to get them used to me, and the surroundings. They usually enjoy that, and it seems to get their minds of the fact that their owner is gone.