Separation anxiety in puppies

15% of dogs suffer from separation anxiety when family members leave the house, but this percentage increases significantly in the case of puppies. And although to a lesser extent and despite their reputation for being independent, cats can also suffer from this anxiety at times.

Today we give you a series of tips so that little by little you can reduce this discomfort in your pets when they are left alone at home.

First of all, when a puppy arrives into our homes it is essential to work on separation . We often tend to pamper puppies too much (they are so cute that we think it is inevitable), but we must work on their independence from day one.

Start taking short outings , rewarding your pet if when you return it is calm and relaxed.

Don't say goodbye . This is a common mistake among many dog and cat owners that only increases their nervousness and anxiety.

When you arrive, greet your pet, but without effusiveness . If the puppy is very excited, it is best to ignore him until he calms down, reinforcing this positive attitude when it occurs. Likewise, it is totally inadvisable for you to scold him for something he has done in your absence, since he is not able to associate the action with the moment in which you are scolding him.

Leave your puppy with one of his favorite toys when you leave home. This will keep you entertained, safe and comfortable. When you return, remove it. In this way, he will associate your outings with having his favorite object and we will reduce the anxiety he feels when separating from you.

Puppies are very smart and soon associate our routines with the fact that we leave the house. We put on our coat, we put on our shoes, we grab the keys. Therefore, we recommend doing these routines several times a day, but without leaving home. In this way, our little friend will stop associating certain behaviors with the fact that he is going to be left alone. Also go on short outings that last a few minutes.

Tire it out: a dog that has gone outside to run and play or a cat that we have been playing with for a long time is less likely to suffer when you leave your home.

If, despite putting all these attitudes into practice, the anxiety is too strong, we recommend that you consult with your veterinarian so that he or she can offer you other solutions.