Ever wondered why your furry friend chewed off the laces of your shoe while you were gone? Does your pooch get anxious when you prepare to leave the house? Do they seem super excited and joyous when you return home? All these questions have the same answer to it and that is separation anxiety. Yes, your pooch suffers from separation anxiety but there is nothing to worry about as it can be controlled and your pooch can be calmed down.

Majority of the dog parents have to deal with this on a daily basis and they complain of their furry friend’s disruptive or sometimes even destructive behaviour. Though this may appear as bad behaviour of pooches who have not been trained effectively but this is often exhibited by our furry companions when in distress. The list of distress behaviour shown by fluffs includes drooling, barking, chewing things which are not meant for him to play with and several other such behaviours. A set of these behaviours displayed by your pooch at moments when you leave his company confirms separation anxiety. 

What Is Separation Anxiety?

This disruptive behaviour is acknowledged mostly at times when the pooches favourite person goes away from them. This happens as pooches get stressed when they are kept away from the person they are fond of or super attached to. This stressful behaviour is an indication that your furry companion is going through a serious condition known as separation anxiety. They tend to attract attention by doing such disruptive activities, but this usually makes dog parents confused and frustrated.

For every dog parent out there it is really important to understand that there are many ways to treat your pooch suffering from separation anxiety so that he does not notice your absence.

Before stating the ways by which you can calm your pooch down, let us understand what are the root causes of this behaviour:

●      Leaving your pooch all alone for the very first time or leaving them all alone when he is actually used to staying in the company of multiple humans.

●       Shifting houses.

●      Transported from a shelter organisation to a household.

●      Change in the schedule according to which family used to function.

●      Sudden demise of a loved hooman.

Proof That Your Pooch has Separation Anxiety

Furry friends who experience stress of staying away from their hooman often experience separation anxiety, so they might end up showing their distress in any of below listed forms:

·       They bark and howl when you leave home, the barking can also be turned into whining.

·       They might hurt themselves even when indoors.

·       Biting and chewing of the corners of your study table or your favourite cushion, digging holes in the lawn, scratching your mattress, doors, couches, tables etc.

·       Drooling their saliva all over your bed sheet and floor, this drooling is more excessive than the usual one.

·       Trying to run away from the house.

·       Panting more vigorously. 

It can be hard at times to figure out whether your dog truly has separation anxiety or not but observing him at times when you have to leave the house can be the best option for you to test your theory. Always look for a combination of such symptoms and how often does your pooch display them.

Ways To Keep Your Dog Away From Feeling Separation Anxiety

There are numerous ways to keep your pooch busy and far away from feeling separation anxiety. One of the most easy and effective methods to achieve this is by surprising your furry companion with loads of surprises which are basically dog toys. In the world of dog training this method of treating your furry friends from separation anxiety is called counterconditioning.

This treatment involves usage of materialistic things that your fluff loves, the procedure for this is to replace your absence with fluff's favourite toy and later in your presence those toys need to be hidden away. By this they get an idea of how things they fear (like you leaving them) might not actually be that bad a scenario.

So with passing time the pooch understands that separation from his hooman can also lead to an exciting day. To develop this feeling of relief in them you can actually stuff tasty treats in toys for your furry friends, this will engage them in eating the treat for approximately 30-40 minutes straight. It is important for you to hide the toy as soon as you reach back home, so that your pooch receives it only when he is all alone.        

7 Best Toys To Keep Your Fluffs Separation Anxiety Away

Toys are wonderful gears to help your pooch stay away not only from separation anxiety but also from boredom. Dogs are selfless animals and they tend to devote their lives fully to humans, all this comes naturally to them so it is frequently observed that they get sad or stressful when left alone. It is important for us to understand that they develop a habit of playing all by themselves even if you are present in their vicinity so that when you leave for work or some other chores they don’t mind your absence and stay safe, secure and happy. 

The best dog toys to treat your pooches separation anxiety are those which keep their senses busy and don’t rely on you for communication. It is utmost important to observe the safety of your dog while they play with the new toy as no dog toy is completely dog proof. This way you can let your pooch play with it.

Here is an assorted list of 7 best dog toys for your pooch:

1.     KONG CLASSIC DOG TOY

This is the most famous and high demand puzzle toy which keeps your pooches cravings and mind in control when you are not around. This toy is supposed to be filled with treats that your pooch loves so that when you are gone he spends his time discovering tasty surprises stuffed in it.  This engages him to enjoy some solo playful activity.

This way some dog parents successfully feed their pooches healthy meals too. You can also keep it in the fridge if it contains a treat that melts at room temperature, you can also simply wash it in a dishwasher so this way it is quite manageable. Dog parents stuff it with treats like peanut butter, kibble and other frozen treats. Kongs also helps your pooch with teething as it remains intact even after a day of heavy chewing. It is bouncy so your pooch can play with it as a fetch toy.

2.     A CHEW TOY- WEST PAW ZOGOFLEX TOPPL

The toy has ridges inside of it where the treat can be hidden so whenever your furry friend tries to chew it their teeth get sink into the ridges making them taste the treat stuffed in it. This way the pooches get completely caught up with the toy for a longer period of time letting them forget your absence.

3.     OUTWARD HOUND HIDE-A-SQUIRREL PLUSH PUZZLE TOY

This is a puzzle toy and comes with squishy squirrels soft toys which are fitted inside a trunk like soft toy, both fitting each other like a puzzle. Every time your pooch tries to take out the squirrel they get a chance to take a bite of their favourite treat stuffed inside the soft trunk toy.

There is plenty of space inside the soft trunk for you to fill with treats. This way your furry friend gets to use his brains and also eat his favourite meal. This is an overall interesting toy for all the distressed pooches.

4.     PUZZLE GAMES- NINA OTTOSSON TORNADO PUZZLE

This toy is so fun to play with that your dog will completely forget about you. It has layers topped over each other which rotates. Underneath the rotating layers are multiple vacant slots where you can hide treats for your pooches. This puzzle game challenges pooches to play with their full attention so this gradually relieves them from separation anxiety. 

5.     ANXIETY RELIEF HEARTBEAT TOY

These toys are quirky in the manner that they make pooches believe that they are in a constant company of another pooch. This simulation is perceived as such because of the battery supported heart like pulses being generated by the soft toy.

Sometimes these soft toys also come with inbuilt heating pads which gives your pooches the warmth similar to that felt in real life dogs. The stuffed toy comes with great benefits and distractions such that it engages your puppy's attention for a longer period of time and also liberates them of separation anxiety. 

6.     YOUR OLD T-SHIRT OR SOCKS

This is a quick DIY, dogs are highly aware of different body odours so they seem to cling onto your clothes kept in the laundry bag or even take out shoes from your shoe-rack when you are not around, all of this is done as a result of separation anxiety. So taking inspiration from this, many dog parents make a ball or some sort of a soft toy out of their old clothes and socks which still has their odour in it. This way your dog develops a familiarity with the soft toy and remains calm and happy even in your absence.

7.     PET QWERKS TALKING BABBLE BALL

This toy is smart enough to fool your furry friend for some good amount of time. These talking balls come with a feature which enables you to record 20 distinct sounds which will keep your dog interested in it for a longer period of time.

The ball is activated the moment it gets touched by your pooch and automatically shuts off when not in use, this way you don’t waste away the batteries. These babble balls don’t let your furry companions feel alone.

Endnotes:

Taking care of your pooch who is troubled with separation anxiety can be stressful for both you and your pooch. Taking good care of a pooch is not easy as they are child-like and behave in the same way as a human baby does. It is your responsibility to relieve him of distress and care for him even in your absence.

Relieving your pooch of separation anxiety requires a lot of observation as to how your furry companion reacts in situations when left alone. Try to be patient with the entire process as nothing comes easy. Work with your pooch, understand his behaviour and learn from your observations.

It is also important that you spend enough time with your pooch doing exercises, walks and other playful activities. Keep in mind that you introduce your furry friend to new people and pooches on a daily basis so that he adjusts to new schedules and environment easily. Keeping your furry companion happy and calm while leaving from home will reduce the frequency of his destructive behaviour and will lower his nervousness too.