How To Cure Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety in One Weekend
Balance the amount of exercise
Before leaving your dogs alone, try extending the exercise periods for your dogs. The point is to tire him out. Play fetch, run around, or let him play with other friendly dogs. Do not just go for a short walk. After the exercise, when you are home, leave your dog on his own for a while. If he is tired, he will be calmer and go to sleep. Then, balance the amount of exercise with the time you leave him alone. I use a very simple formula: 15 minutes every 2 hours alone. But remember, you have to make him run good and hard. Or at least, tire your dog out.
Praise your dog
During a short walks or extended exercise period, you can pet, touch, and praise your dog as much as you like. Especially when you are obedience training your dog. This exercise, if done routinely, not only will your dogs be calmer while being left alone, it will also make your dog become more obedient in the house or park.
Be the pack leader
Show your dog consistently that you are the pack leader. Not him. You must be the one that decide when attention is coming up. You decide when enough is enough. Do this daily. Ignore your dog when he requests your attention. No eye contact, arms folded, no touches or strokes. As soon as you want to give him attention, pet him and play with him. Doing this, your dog will see you as a leader and he will be much more obedient.
Leave but don’t really leave
In almost all cases, your dogs’ separation anxiety is caused by you leaving the house. Act as if you were leaving the house. Do this several times a day. Go through all the same routine before you go. Grab your car keys, jacket and close the door. Wait until your dog is crying or barking, then come in. With so many false starts your dog will not able to recognize when you are really leaving.
Don’t over-greet your dog
And whenever you return home do not over-greet him. He will be too exited. If you have big dogs sometimes it can cause a problem. In fact, try not to pet or greet your dog for the first 3-5 minutes. He will see your leaving and arrival are not a big deal. If your dog jumps on you, ignore him. Pause with your arms folded or on the side and do not make any eye contact. He will be calm then you can praise him as much as you want.
Most dogs respond well to above methods. Eventually, you can adjust the amount of attention you give. Find the perfect balance between leaving him alone and playing with him. You will have a relationship that you and your dog enjoy.