Dog separation anxiety when one person leaves

How can I treat separation anxiety?

Tire out your dog with long walks and puzzle treats

Tiring out your dog physically and mentally is the best tool you have for treating separation anxiety, says Lindsay Hamrick, a certified professional dog trainer and HSUS director of shelter outreach and engagement.

Take your dog on a long walk—trying out new routes and allowing lots of sniffing—and then bring out puzzle toys, long-lasting treats (such as a stuffed, frozen Kong or a frisbee smeared with peanut butter) or other enrichment before you leave.

“Anything more interesting than the fact that you’re gone,” Goetz says.

Curing dog separation anxiety quickly

If it’s in the budget, doggy daycare “is fantastic for dogs with separation anxiety” but a dog walker, pet sitter or neighbor checking in midday can also help. (Although it might be tempting, adopting another pet isn’t necessarily a silver bullet and can make the situation more complicated, says Hamrick.) 

Establish a routine and keep it relaxed

“Leave at the same time, come home at the same time.

Eventually they develop a level of com

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