Great, you did not even get the key in the door and your neighbor comes huffing and puffing across your snow covered yard, like a runaway snow plow. She just had to tell you that, once again your dogs have been driving everyone in the neighborhood crazy by howling and barking while you were away.

Finally, she leaves and you make it into the apartment. You manage to drop your things on the couch and the phone is ringing. Where did you put it? Oh well, you will just call them back, whoever it was.

You need to calm down Sunny and Mittzy, who have turned into spinning, jumping whirlwinds of energy, the minute you opened the door. Barking, snorting, pushing each other to get out of the others way. Where do they get that energy?  "Who wants to go out?"  You did not need to ask them twice, they were already racing towards the back door.

They skid to a halt just inside the door... both have that look in their eyes. Sunny turns his head in your direction. You can see by his expression "Hey, are you nuts! That cold white stuff is still here!" Mittzy is looking out at the piles of white stuff too, her attitude looks so disappointed. But you stuff them in their coats and push them out the door, onto the patio. Out comes the snow shovel and you dig and scrape a path over to the frozen straw laid out under the porch and fluff it up to shake off some of the snow that had gathered.. "Sure glad I bought some of those bales of straw. It is going to be a long wet winter for sure." You congratulate yourself for having grabbed them again this year. Finally the porch is snow free again and the straw is rid of snow. Mittzy grudgingly did her business and Sunny did his part by marking where she had gone.. they were waiting at the door impatiently while you put up the shovel ready for next time.

Finally, now you can relax, you grab a coke from the fridge and head for the living room. Darn, the phone is ringing. You struggle to get out of your coat, gloves and scarf and reach into the bags on your couch that you dumped when you first came in. Ah, you remembered where you put your phone. With one hand on the phone and one hand reaching for the remote... "Hello?"

Your dogs had followed you into your living room, "Sure, that would be fine.  I will call you and let you know. Bye."  Just as you flopped on the couch, tossing the phone back into the back, and reached again for the remote, you realize, "OH NO, not again!" you had almost stumbled over another pair of chewed on shoes. Is this scenario familiar? Your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. In nature, dogs are almost never away from their pack. It is our job to help make this unnatural situation less stressful!

Here are tips to help ease separation anxiety:

No touch, no talk, no eye contact.
Don't make a big deal when you leave for the day or when you return. This way, you are communicating to your dog that the time apart is no big deal. It's just business as usual! Depending on the severity of the dog anxiety, you may need to practice the rule for five minutes, or up to an hour, before you leave and when you get back.
Say goodbye to your dog long before you leave.

Having trouble practicing "no touch, no talk, no eye contact"? Take a moment to share affection and tell your dog that you will miss him way before you actually leave. Keep in mind that this display is for you, not your dog! Your dog won't have his feelings hurt if you didn't say goodbye (oh, and treats are not necessary either).

Stay calm and assertive!

When you are ready to go to work, leave those guilty, nervous, and concerned feelings behind. Instead, let your dog know that everything is going to be okay by projecting the confident energy of a pack leader. A calm and assertive leader can ease separation anxiety in dogs.

Start out small by leaving your dog alone for just five minutes.
Leave your dog alone for five minutes, then extend the time to twenty minutes, then an hour. Continue to increase the time you spend away until you can leave for a full eight hours without any more dog problems! ¹

You may have tried these methods and they might have worked for you. Do you have other suggestions we should try?  Have you used the Anxiety coats?   Have they worked on your anxious pet?

Source:
¹ Cesarsway.com