Q: What can I do to help my puppy deal with her separation anxiety? A: Separation anxiety is normal in puppies.
They are just not made to be alone.
Q: Does this mean I can not leave my puppy on her own? A: Yes and No.
It depends on the age of your pup.
A simple rule of thumb is this: The younger a pup the less aloneness can she tolerate.
Q: But I can not be around her all day long, how shall I do that? A: The only way is training her to tolerate short periods of separation.
Like you leave the room for a minute or so when she is sleeping or playing.
Then you return to her.
If she tolerates this a few times, increase the length of time.
Q: And then what do I do? A: It is very important that you do not make a fuss of her when you come back and you do not make a fuss before you leave.
That way she learns that it is normal to be on her own for a short period of time.
Q: But why can't I just leave her for an hour or two without her crying her head off? Surely that's not too much to expect? A: If you do that you will create a dog with severe separation anxiety.
Here is why: Dogs are pack animals.
They are born to live in very close social contact with each other.
Just like any baby the young canine depends on her mother for security, warmth and nourishment.
If a baby is left on her own this is the end of her young life.
In nature pups stay with their mothers and family until they are fully grown.
They learn to tolerate her absence because they are with their litter sisters and brothers.
They develop the sense of security as they mature.
But in the early stages of their lives they live in a den where they feel safe and secure.
When outside the den an adult member of the family protects them from predators.
In our times pups are being separated from their families far too early and this is why we need to take mother's place for quite a while.
Your pup bonds with you like you were his mother.
But the price you pay for this is the fact that in the early days you must not and can not leave her for more than a few minutes at a time, which you slowly grow into half an hour, an hour and maybe two hours or so.
At the end of this process, when your dog is an adult, she will have learned to tolerate five hours on her own without massive fear.
Q: So what can I do if I have already left her for too long and she is now anxious? A: As I said, being anxious when left alone is normal.
So don't worry, just go back to stage one and build up her confidence in life and you by slowly increasing the time she needs to be alone.
My favourite trick is this: Whenever I have to leave my dog, I give him a big hard dog cracker to chew on.
That way he is busy and my leaving is not such a terrible thing after all.
When I have a young dog, I prepare the room by rearranging furniture and things so he can' get at them, I then give him his cracker and leave quietly.
When I return I greet him quietly.
If he is over the moon because I am back I just let him show his happiness, pet him a little and go about my business.
That way he learns that it is okay when mummy leaves him for a while.