13 Jul4 Quick Tips To Preventing Separation Anxiety In Puppies

1. Set up your dog's crate very close to your bed at night, it could even be on your nightstand. Move the crate 1 foot away from the bed, each night (or week, depending on your puppies comfort level) to gradually create safe separation. Your puppy may whine for a few minutes before they settle, but should not be biting at the crate, panting or barking for long periods, if they are, contact a trainer to help you.

2. 5x per day, allow your puppy to observe you putting your shoes on, packing a bag, picking up your keys (and anything else you do before you leave the house) and then just go back to what you were doing. Make it as unceremonious as possible. This dilutes the power that these signals can have as predictors of your departure down the line.

3. Avoid only giving food toys when you actually leave your puppy alone as this can backfire pretty easily and ruin engagement with toys when your puppy is alone! Instead, give them daily when your puppy is in their crate or “safe zone” (pen) while you are in the same room. Add in walking around in the room and going to a different room periodically. Mix it up!

4. Make sure you are crating or otherwise physically separating your puppy from you when you are home throughout the day. This is a form of separation, even though you are still home! Even once your puppy is house trained, continue doing this to allow them to maintain feeling comfortable with separation and not having access to you all day. Remember, your puppy may whine for a few minutes before they settle, but should not be biting at the crate, panting or barking for long periods, if they are, contact a trainer to help you.