Crate training: If your dog experiences separation anxiety, you can consider crate training your dog (if they aren't already). Crate training can help your puppy remain calm and feel secure even when you aren't home.
Crate training is also helpful for dogs with separation anxiety. As the crate can provide calm and protection, dogs that do not like being left alone may be trained to welcome the crate during moments of distress.
A crate is an invaluable tool for you and your dog – it can give them a safe, secure place to rest as well as peace of mind for you that they can't get up to mischief when you're not looking, and can be a great help with housetraining.
Crate training a dog with separation anxiety can take several months, so it's important you remain patient, calm, and collected throughout the process. Be persistent but don't push them too far, as otherwise, you could increase their fear of the crate (and being left alone!).
Leaving Your Dog Alone Is Not The Answer
A common myth surrounding separation anxiety is that by somehow ignoring your dog, or by forcing them to be alone for long periods of time, they simply will get used to it, and the disruptive behavior will stop. This couldn't be further from the truth.
Research suggests that eight out of 10 dogs find it hard to cope when left alone. Yet, half won't show any obvious signs and so it can be easy for owners to miss. The good news is that separation anxiety (SRB) is preventable and treatable.
Dogs who are crate trained feel comfortable and relaxed having a secure den-like space of their own. Some people feel that a dog would be sad in a crate, or think it's like prison. But the truth is that most dogs who are left out of the crate are far more anxious and stressed out.
Crate training takes time and patience, so don't give up. After the hard work is said and done, your puppy should stop crying during the day and whining at night, and actually enjoy the cozy comfort of his very own safe space.
“In my experience, the four most common breeds of dogs that exhibit signs of separation anxiety are typically Labrador Retrievers, Chihuahuas (both mixed breeds and standards), German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels”, says Dr.
Try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes, use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate.
A dog who suffers from separation anxiety may become quite anxious when you leave, a common time when he may be crated. He may whine, pant, and pace, but more importantly, he may become so distraught that he may defecate right where he is.
Puppies, adult dogs, and seniors can all benefit in one way or another from being properly crate trained. Crate training gives dogs a sense of security and safety and helps give owners greater peace of mind.
But in the beginning, leaving your dog by themselves in the crate can create negative associations. Your dog shouldn't see their crate as a place of isolation. So, stay nearby while they get used to their personal space.
How Long Should You Ignore A Puppy Crying In A Crate? You can ignore your dog's whining or crying behaviors in their crate for up to 10 – 15 minutes. After that amount of time, it's best to take a step back and work on other crate training methods, like familiarizing them with their crate or exercising them beforehand.
Most of the time we recommend that your pup be settled for 5 or more minutes before being let out of their crate. The most ideal scenario is that your pup cries for a bit, but settles in under 30 minutes and falls asleep.
Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet! This is when you can swap the pen for a bed-sized crate.
You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.
If you have a family emergency and need to leave your dog in a crate for 12 hours, he will be just fine. However, if you plan to do this as a general management every weekday as you are at work, this is too long! The same applies for car rides. In a car your dog is safest if he rides in a crate.
As den animals, dogs tend to enjoy enclosed spaces like crates. That means your best friend may naturally prefer the protective atmosphere the crate provides. That sense of security can also be good for dogs who get anxious, especially during a stressful event like a thunderstorm or the Fourth of July.
Being abandoned, surrendered to a shelter or given to a new guardian or family can trigger the development of separation anxiety. An abrupt change in schedule in terms of when or how long a dog is left alone can trigger the development of separation anxiety.
For some dogs, it can take 6-8 months, for others it's 12. When you leave the house for long periods of time, you should make sure your pup has access to their bed, some drinking water, and preferably, some toys.
However, allowing your dog to sleep in your bed may encourage a problem that's already there. For example, sleeping in bed with you can reduce anxiety in dogs, but can also exacerbate separation anxiety in the long term as your dog becomes used to having you as support every night.