Letting your dog sleep on your bed creates separation anxiety!

Nope, it doesn’t.

There’s zero evidence.

BUT…

if your dog is hyper-attached to you, being around you 24/7 isn’t helping them to develop the coping skills for being home alone, eventually.

HOLD YOUR HORSES…

do not go crazy now and banish your anxious dog from your bedroom tonight. Everything has to be done gradually and gently.

If you need help, we are here xx 

Should you get a second go to help your dog overcome separation anxiety?

Well…firstly, you can never have enough dogs, obviously….in my opinion.

But on a more serious note; it depends, of course, but usually it actually won’t help and here are a couple of things to consider:

• Your dog’s anxiety comes from being separated from you, the human, not just from being home alone. So while another dog might make your dog less lonely, it’s not likely to cure your dog’s anxiety when you’re away.

• Also your current dog’s anxiety when you are not around may rub off on your second dog and then you have a double-trouble kind of situation. 

So, I’m definitely all for getting a second, third, fourth dog, but do it for the right reasons, prepare yourself accordingly and enjoy your furry family. 

Why is my dog ok alone in the car, but not at home??

The most likely explanation might just be that you were much more careful about leaving your puppy alone in the car, than about leaving them at home. 

You’ve probably started with quickly getting petrol, while your pup waited for you in the car. With you in view, just a few moments, all felt safe for your little friend. Then a quick dash into a shop here and there, leaving it a little longer every time.

So they’ve gradually got used to being in the car on their own. And there have never been any scary absences.

It’s a predictable and therefore a safe routine for them. 

And here’s the great news; if your dog got used to being alone in the car via using the method of gradual exposure, the same method we are using to get them to be ok with being home alone, they can also learn just that 💪❤️🐕

Separation Anxiety Training Tips: To Crate Or Not To Crate.....that is the question

The internet and world of social media is still full of advice to simply pop your dog in a crate to prevent him or her feeling anxious when home alone. 

But fact is: a lot of dogs who struggle with separation related behaviours are prone to being easily overwhelmed by extra stressors. And for a lot of dogs, a crate does cause extra stress. 

Firstly, ask yourself, does my dog actually like being in a crate. And REALLY have a good think about it. Plenty of dogs have learned to ‘shut down’ when in the crate AKA they’ve learned that there’s no way out, and this can often look like they are ok when in fact they are certainly not.

So if in doubt, don’t use the crate.

Also, it’s been my experience that most dogs, even if they have been positively conditioned to enjoy being in a crate, prefer to have more of a choice when it comes to where to settle during alone time training (or at any other times). Especially when it comes to longer duration absences. 

So instead, you can leave the crate in place, with its door open, so your dog can choose to rest inside the crate or somewhere else within your home.

If you’ve been considering using a crate because you feel worried about your dog’s, or your home’s, safety during alone time training - you may have a puppy or teenager on your hand - then I would recommend creating a safe space via sectioning off an area or a room with a baby gate.

If you need help with your dog’s separation issues, get in touch.

Alex & Wolfgang