How to prevent your new puppy, or dog from being affected by Separation Anxiety?

How to prevent your new puppy, or dog from being affected by Separation Anxiety?

Welcome To Dogsey

Welcome to Dogsey.

Is this a question or are you about to inform us how to stop separation anxiety

Sep anx is an uncommon clinical condition which even many dogs are claimed to have don't actually have

the answer is most dogs wouldn't develop it anyway so in most instances their isn't a special prevention programme required outside of the usual way folk raise dogs. you get some breeds that you need to be more cautious of such as toys and staffies

With any puppy I would make sure that you have a nice, comfy, safe place for them to be left with lots of interesting safe things for them to do when they are left. Make sure lots of positive things happen in this place. Leave a radio playing and some clothing that smells of you. Some people use DAP sprays and collars. Leave them for regular short periods and don't make fuss about leaving. Put them in their special ace when you are at home as well for little rest periods and ignore any little bits of fussy but maybe calmly praise quiet settled behaviour. When you return don't immediately shower them with love and affection, be matter of fact, let them out for a wee and potter about doing things for a bit before paying them attention. I gradually build up the time they are left for and reduce the time if they are showing any signs of distress. Make sure you keep leaving them everyday where possible, I.e. don't leave them regularly and then, during holidays or weekends go days without leaving them at all.


There are probably lots of other things but I can't remember any at the moment.

I never even heard of these DAP spray things (nor was I familiar with the term SA applied to dogs) before joining Dogsey! Only applied to young children and meaning they get upset when separated from their mother.

Is this SA in dogs supposed to mean they are distressed just being away from YOU or ONE particular person - or just not liking being left alone? I mean they are already away from their 'mother' aren't they?

I've had one dog (a CKCS) who I'd describe as 'not liking to be left on her own for long periods'. And they generally recommend you don't get one if you are out at work all day.

Even with my Cavvy, as she aged and slept and dossed around more, I was able to leave her for longer periods and she just slept while I was gone.

*I suppose if you have a dog that barks and destroys your home while you are out it's pretty obvious they don't like being left but, if you have a dog that doesn't bark (my Cavvy didn't) unless you set up a camera to monitor them, I don't know how you know how they 'feel' about being left alone?

I had to get my Cavvy used to me going out to work part time after me having been home with her 24/7 for years. So I started with half hour a day and gradually increased it up to the 4hrs or so I would be gone. She was just fine.

I have had various dogs over the years and at present have two littermate brothers who are now two and half years old. I've had them since they were 8 weeks old.

They have both been treated exactly the same, both socialised really well etc etc. One suffers from SA and the other one doesn't. The one who suffers is far less laid back than the other and a far more sensitive dog too.

I feel this proves it is something in their make-up and not how they are treated.

What are his symptoms?

Ditto.....

Firstly, he is aware of my every move and only really relaxes when I'm sitting down, ironing etc. If I leave the room he follows me. His behaviour is not frantic just aware of where I'm going. I completely ignore him and only acknowledge him when he is quiet and calm.

As soon as he realises that I'm going out (I never have a routine) he will try and block my way to the door. I calmly walk past him and leave. At this point he will start crying very loudly which his brother just ignores. I have tried in the past shutting them in the kitchen but he would then get frantic and chew anything in site. We have smoked glass front doors so I am visible walking down to my car etc After trial and error he is happier if he can just sit and wait for me to come back (he ignores anyone else in the house). Apparently he will just sit by the door waiting for me to return. It is rare that he will move from the door while I'm out. I have researched at length about SA and have tried many methods. When he sees me coming up the drive he starts to screech, howl and before I get to the door he rushes off to collect something to give me (toy). As enter I don't make a fuss of him and walk into the kitchen or wherever I need to get to. The frantic hysterical behaviour carries on for a good 5 minutes (use to be longer) and only when he is quiet do I get down and say hello. The only time he doesn't make a fuss is if I leave him and his brother in the crates in my car if I have to pop in to a shop or something. On a daily basis he is happy to leave the house and leave me behind and go for a walk or go and play in the garden with his brother. They have always been treated exactly the same but he has always been a much more sensitive dog. Flash is much more laid back about everything and nothing really phases him, but if Rucksack hears raised voices or something he takes it to heart and slinks up to me for reassurance. His sensitiveness certainly got a lot worse after he was attacked by an off lead dog.