We like our dogs, we mean well, and yet most of us get it wrong when it comes to leaving our dog home alone and coping with separation anxiety in dogs. And while we definitely don’t want to cause our dog any more uneasiness, all our care and concern only seems to make their symptoms worse.

Here’s 3 of the things many of us do each time we leave our dogs:

Make a Big Fuss Of Our Dogs Before Leaving

A lot of us don’t want to be leaving our dogs home alone at the very best of times and we feel worse if we all know they’re going to be worried while we are out, so we try compensating for it by giving them a massive fuss before we leave, stroking and petting them and telling them don’t worry as we shalln’t be gone long.

That’s our first mistake, as all the fuss adds to their stress because they sense that something is up. Imagine your 5 year old kid giving you a big hug, telling you they adore you and that you are not to stress about them while they’re gone, and then disappearing. If you don’t know where they have gone or when they are going to be back, it’s sure to send your stress levels sky high.

Create Rituals To Help Them Cope

You know the type of thing. We take them for a decent walk (because we have been told if they are tired they will worry less), we get out their best toys (as we hope they will distract them) and then give them masses of attention before we leave.

That’s out 2nd mistake as they will soon associate these rituals with you going out, and they become trigger that start to add to their anxiousness before you even leave. They know what’s coming. Some people just need to pick up their automobile keys or get a coat from the cupboard to get their dogs whining or pacing the floor.

We Get Worried Ourselves Before We Leave

We know they don’t it when we’re gone, we know they’re going to be pining, we’re feeling guilty, we’re hoping the dogs barking and whining doesn’t upset the next door we aren’t sure what kind of mess we’ll come back to this time and the more we think about it the more our own tension levels rise.

This is our third mistake as dogs are very sensitive and will pick up on our anxiety, so if we start worrying before we even leave, they will know about it and will have more reason to be concerned themselves.

Look at it this way, if a dog can pick up on the signs that their owner is going to have an epileptic fit, 40 minutes before it happens, they’ll definately pick up on your feelings of stress!

Finding Dog Separation Anxiety Solutions

The most important key to leaving your dog home alone, is not to make a fuss and treat going out in a very low key way, like it is not a big deal. This is not likely to stop separation anxiety in dogs altogether, and there are other things you will need to do, but its a great start.

Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs the Dog Anxiety website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with their dog’s anxiousness. Get a free help sheet ondog separation anxiety symptoms, when you visit the site.