Being social animals, dogs HATE being left alone. There are always exceptions to the rule, but for the most part a dog wants to be with his pack, whether it’s you, your family, another dog, a cat, or even a bird. There is a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability when left alone. Feeling abandoned, some will panic. By eliminating all over the house, a dog assures itself that this territory is its own. Destroying him is simply a way to reduce boredom and separation anxiety.
Dogs whine, bark and howl intuitively, hoping that you will hear them and return to them. When separated in the wild, this is how they meet. They have no concept of work, shopping or school. For your dog, every time you leave the house, you’ve gone hunting without them and you may never return.
A locked door to your dog is the equivalent of dropping a rock at the entrance to your den. NEVER put your dog in a room with the door closed. Use a half gate (it’s less defining) or a baby gate, so they can smell, see, hear and feel that they’re not totally cut off from their comfort zone and surroundings.
There are a number of steps you can take to help your dog feel less anxious while you’re gone. First and foremost, dog-proof the area, just like you would with a child. Remove anything you can chew or choke on, remove all chemicals, pull up cords, unplug anything electrical you have access to. They get into anything, when they are bored or anxious. Most dogs sleep pretty much the entire time you’re not around, when they’re in a protected restricted area or crate. That’s why they are so full of energy when you walk through the door! Give them a comfortable bed, some sturdy and safe toys or chew items, a couple of treats, and enough water to wet their whistle.
10 tips to help your dog feel less anxious when you leave the house are:
1. BOX/WIRE: A box is not as cavernous as an empty room or the entire house. Most dogs are quite comfortable and, surprisingly to some, feel extremely safe in their crate. Inherently, for them it is a protected and safe den.
2. DOOR: Some dogs don’t mind being restrained as long as they can see what’s going on in the rest of the house. If that’s the case, a high-quality dog or baby gate is a great solution to the problem. Your dog won’t be able to run around the house for a search and destroy mission, but he won’t feel rejected. It’s also a great way to keep the dog from getting underfoot, but still feel included, when he has a house full of guests. Make sure your dog learns to respect the door before leaving him for an extended period.
3. COMPANION – Another dog would be great, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a dog. Many enjoy the company of any animal, be it a cat, rabbit, or bird. Interestingly, while living under the same roof, dogs often bond with these unnatural “pack members.”
4. ENTERTAINMENT – Find safe, quality, durable toys or chew items to help keep him busy. Rotate them, so that your dog expects something “new”.
5. NOISE – White noise works wonders. A radio, in another room, on low volume, soft music, a talk show, or even the weather channel, gives your dog a sense of calm and human companionship. It also helps filter out distracting outside noises.
6. OBEDIENCE TRAINING: Find a local trainer who uses non-punishment, positive reinforcement training methods. Spend quality time each day working on obedience skills with your dog to build his self-confidence. They appreciate your undivided focus on them, and you get a well-behaved dog. It is a win-win situation.
7. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE! – Take your dog out, BEFORE you put them out for the day. A brisk 20 to 30 minute walk, or an exhausting game of “FIND” before you put them down, will help calm them down. A tired dog is a good dog!
8. HELLO AND GOODBYE – Keep greetings and goodbyes low-key. Don’t make your entrance and exit melodramatic. Your dog feeds on your behavior and emotions. If they whine, whine, or bark when you leave, come back, make a firm correction, then ignore them and walk out the door.
9. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE – Almost all of us are clothes creatures. We don’t realize it, but we unconsciously follow a patterned routine, before leaving home. The dogs are very attuned to it. Change up your routine daily, so your dog doesn’t get anxious, sensing your departure. Get your keys BEFORE you brush your teeth. He puts on his shoes, then picks up a magazine and acts like you’re reading it or treats yourself to a cup of coffee and sits down. Then get up and walk out the door. No goodbyes! When they see that you’re not following your usual departure ritual, they’ll drop their guard and be less anxious.
10. DOG WALKING / DOG DAYCARE – If your dog must be left alone for 8 or more hours per day, consider using a dog walking service and/or enrolling your dog in dog daycare at least twice a week. Your dog will not only appreciate the social interaction with humans and the dogs’ playmates; it breaks up the monotony of their day and gives them something to look forward to.
Work on building your dog’s self-confidence and break his anxiety about being left alone with short separation exercises. Start with 5-10 minutes; then slowly lengthen the time. It requires a fervent commitment on his part, but reassure his dog, he will return to them.
CONCLUSION: Ultimately, almost all dogs adapt to human routines. However, there are some who will never adjust to being left behind. To keep them, your house, and your belongings safe, definitely work on wire crate/kennel training. Your dog will gradually adapt.