Episode 10: So Your Dog Has “Separation Anxiety”

With the Covid-19 pandemic and people spending more time at home, we have started to condition our dog to not know how to be without us. This can lead to high levels of separation anxiety and isolation anxiety in our dogs which can be very stressful for not only them, but for us as well. So what can we do to help fight this? In episode 10 of The Everyday Trainer Podcast, Meg goes into a few things we can do for the dogs that struggle with these types of anxiety. The main thing is to set boundaries with your dog. You can do this by putting them on a crate schedule. This will teach your dog how to be alone in a safe, comfortable environment. Another method you could use in addition to or instead of the crate is to teach your dog place. Place is designating a spot for your dog to go and sit until you release them from that spot. However, this requires your dog to have good impulse control so using place as a transition after the crate may be recommended. It’s crucial to foster independence for our dogs so while training, it’s a great tip to reward them with freedom. Teaching your dog how to be calm with and without you is so important for the health and confidence of your dog.