Dogs Alone In The House, Make Them Happy

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone in the house.  This causes them stress and inappropriate behaviors, such as biting and destroying any object, causing severe damage to your home. But that’s not all: this behavior can even be harmful to their physical health. To avoid this, we give you some advice, to make sure that your return home is not an unpleasant experience.

What you need to know

Nowadays it is very common for dogs to be left alone at home for a long time,  due to the work of their owners and the modern lifestyle. If you have a dog, you will surely have noticed that when you get ready to go out, he looks at you sadly, because he would like to come with you. But it is not always possible; therefore, when you walk away, your dog misses you and this can cause unusual behavior. Yet there are some tricks to eliminate separation anxiety.

The first thing to know is basic: a tired animal does no harm. If your dog has burned a lot of energy before you go out, he will probably take advantage of it to sleep and rest when he is alone. Therefore, this is the first important thing:

Before leaving the house, let him do all the exercise possible, in relation to his age, race and size. Take him for a walk at least twice a day. You can plan a routine for your little friend.

The best thing would be to take two walks, quite demanding, to ensure that the dog consumes most of its energy during the walk. So, along the way, play with him, throw him his favorite toy and go at a brisk pace, or go for a run, so that when you get home you will notice that your friend is quite tired, and when you leave, maybe not. he will not even have the strength to accompany you to the door.

When a dog is satisfied with their physical activity and playing, they  are unlikely to suffer from separation anxiety.

Also, if your dog is still a very restless puppy , leave all his toys close at hand  so he can have fun while you are away, and avoid biting or breaking what he shouldn’t.

A tip: remember that dogs love new toys, so buy them one from time to time to keep their curiosity and attention alive.

Another option is to adopt unconventional methods such as:

• Try turning on the TV so that you don’t feel alone;
• Leave it in the yard if it is a safe and well-fenced place.
• Adopting a new playmate:  undoubtedly it is a good alternative, but before making such an important decision, consult your veterinarian to understand which animal could be more compatible with the character than the one you already own. Be careful though, because dogs are usually jealous and possessive, so you’ll have to divide your affection between both of them.

If these tips are not effective, it is best to consult a professional trainer.

What things to avoid?

When you leave the house, you must try to prevent the dog from becoming anxious because he notices that you are going out; you can therefore reassure him by changing your routine.

If you don’t have time to take your dog for a walk, it would be good to hire a dog companion, or ask for help from a relative, friend or neighbor.

If your dog stays in the yard, make sure he doesn’t get a chance to escape.