The Separation Anxiety Dog - How to Protect Your Dog From Home When You Leave Home

If you've got a dog that suffers from dog separation anxiety then you are probably afraid to leave your dog alone. After all, dogs with dog separation anxiety experience a sense of panic whenever their owners leave and are likely to "act out" in this anxious and panic-stricken state. Therefore, if you have a dog with dog separation anxiety, he may chew, mutilate, urinate or defecate on your furniture when he is left alone. In addition, he may seem extremely anxious and frenzied when you arrive home. With this in mind, you can protect your separation anxiety prone dog from harm when you leave home. The key to this is to engage him in a behavior modification program and to take a preventive approach to protecting your home and your pet when you go out. In this article, we'll discuss 5 ways that you can protect your pet and your home when you leave your dog home alone. Here's how:

1. Confine him. Some people think that confining a dog is inhumane; however, it is the safer thing to do. After all, dogs with separation anxiety are prone to feeling anxious and engage in all sorts of frenzied and dangerous activities. Therefore, they are safer confined. With this in mind, many people use a crate or confine their dog with a dog or bay gate. Both methods prevent him from wandering around. In my opinion, a crate is a favorite choice because it keeps your dog in one place and can even help him feel safe and secure in your absence. After all, a dog's natural instinct is to retire in his den and a crate is similar to a den. Regardless of which method you choose, a gate or crate will protect your furniture and household items and keep your dog from harm.

2. Remove dangerous objects. Dogs with separation anxiety typically experience panic when their owners leave home. In fact, many of them resort to a panicked state and they are likely to become destructive and even to put things in their mouths. Just like infants, dogs can't differentiate between good and bad things and sometimes innocent items like string, thread, floss, coins, clips, etc. can end up lodged in their digestive tract and cause them harm, so make sure that you remove these items before you leave home.

3. Remove your dog's tags. This is especially important if your dog is prone to excessive rocking, swaying or moving around in a frenzied state when you leave him alone. By removing his tags, you can ensure that they don't get caught in his crate or gate, which can cause him harm.

4. Protect electrical cords. Many dogs with separation anxiety will chew on objects (especially dangerous electrical cords) when their owners leave. To protect your dog, buy electrical cord protectors from the hardware store. These clever devices are plastic strips that conceal dangerous wires. Another option is "smart power strips." These can sense if your dog bites into them and will immediately shut off power to protect your dog. Another option is to spray furniture and other items with bitter apple, which will prevent him from chewing on them as most dogs dislike the taste immensely.

5. Provide safe alternatives. Many dogs with dog separation anxiety often roam the house looking for their absent human companions. Therefore, you should close toilet seats, remove chemical cleaning products, shut doors and place bitter apple on items you don't want your dog to chew on. Instead, provide your dog with safe alternatives like a special bone or toy that is only available when you leave.

In conclusion, dog separation anxiety can be difficult and frustrating. However, if you take the necessary precautions to protect your dog from harm, you can ensure that he'll be safe in your absence and you'll feel better about leaving him alone.