Dogs, by nature, are pack animals. They want to be with other
creatures, whether it's other dogs or their owners. Teaching
them to be independent and alone takes time and training. It's
best to start when they're very young, often their first night
in the house.
Basic Training
A puppy new to a home is discovering a whole new world all at once.
The people who cared for her are gone, as are any other dogs that
she lived with. The first step in teaching her independence is
crate training.
Even if you don't plan to use one long term, starting with a
crate will show your puppy that there are safe places where she can
relax. When you first put your puppy in a crate for the night,
she's going to whine and scream. Do not give in to the
temptation of responding to every cry. If you do, you'll be
creating a dog that cries every time she wants attention. The best
way to avoid this is to wait until your puppy is quiet before
approaching and giving affection. This doesn't mean you have to
let her cry.
Put the crate in the room where you are, and make sure your puppy
can see you. If possible, only use a crate when she needs to rest.
The crate is her safe place, not a prison.
The second part of eliminating separation anxiety is to teach your
puppy not to make messes in her crate. To do this you must make
sure that you never leave your puppy in her crate for longer than
she can control her bladder or bowels. For adult dogs, that's
no
more than 8 hours. Young puppies should be started at 3 hours, and
the time should be gradually expanded. Don't leave your puppy
alone too long, however. By making your dog 'hold it' for
an extended amount of time, you're creating the risk of future
separation anxiety and again turning the crate into a
punishment.
The chewing associated with separation anxiety can also be eased by
giving your puppy toys that she enjoys. Three is usually enough.
Each toy should have a different texture for chewing, and you
should make sure it's safe before leaving your dog alone with
the toys.
If all this training goes properly, your puppy will learn how to
chew appropriate items, accept time alone calmly, and hold her
bladder and bowels, all at the same time. Eventually, you can
eliminate the crate, although if possible you should leave it
accessible to give your dog a sense of security.
Leaving the House
Your dog needs to learn that
you intend to come home every time she sees you leave. The first
step is to always leave the house calmly when you exit and enter
just as calm when you return.
As much as you want to give extra affection when you leave, you
should resist the urge. Otherwise, your dog will associate that
affection with your leaving and will start experiencing anxiety.
The same is true when you return home. If you show too much
excitement, your dog will respond the same way. If left unchecked,
any visitor to your home will cause that reaction, resulting in
damage to your house and perhaps even injury to your guests.
Another important step in alleviating separation anxiety is to not
scold your puppy for naughty things she did while you were away. If
you do, she will begin to dread your return home.
When done properly, training to prevent separation anxiety will
instill in your dog the confidence needed to stay home alone. The
process also bonds your dog to you and you to your dog. By training
her properly, the love between you and your puppy will be strong,
and you won't have to worry about coming home to mayhem and
destruction.
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