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Separation Anxiety

4 Tips When Returning to Work

If it's time to go back to work, don’t abandon your dog!

Thanks to COVID-19 there is a good chance your dog has been with you 24/7 and has been getting 17 walks a day. Your pal has become accustomed to your constant company and attention. A sudden change could be very upsetting to them.

Why is my dog all of a sudden tearing apart the house?

What happens when a dog is upset? DESTRUCTION! I don’t want you to come home to chewed up couch, a scratched door, or a potty on the floor!

The good news is with just a little preparation everyone should adjust nicely to the change of pace.

TIP #1: Get a Kong

Kongs are a fantastic tool to keep your dog occupied and able to chew if they are stressed. A Kong is a much safer option than bones or toys where they might choke on small pieces while unattended.

Fill that Kong with peanut butter, canned dog food, or some other treat that they don't normally get. Pop it in the freezer.

TIP #2 Use the Crate

Crate your dog, give them the Kong, and go do something right outside of the house. This way, you can hear if they are screaming or pitching a fit.

I did some gardening. I could hear the dogs cry a little bit, but then they were fine, relaxing in the crate and focusing on the treat inside the Kong. I left them for about 45 minutes.

Once the time was up, I returned to inside and let them out of the crates. We went for a nice long walk together.

The next time you crate, follow the same protocol, and leave the house for an hour or two. Read their body language when you return. Take them for a walk.

Tip #3: Exercise

This is great for all dogs, but essential for those who do not use crates. You've GOT to make sure you are depleting some of that excess energy before you walk out the door, particularly the first few times.

Play fetch or take them for a walk. Once you are done, don't do a big wind-up kissy goodbye. Just hand them the Kong, and walk out the door.

TIP #4: Baby Steps:

Non-craters, don't leave for 45 minutes the first time! Continue to use the kong, and start at 5-10 minutes. Enough time where they notice you have left, but so much time they go into anxiety overdrive.

It's usually at about 15-20 minutes where an anxious dog begins to express emotion into chewing and scratching.

Slowly extend your time until they realize they are ok home alone.

There are no “bad” dogs, just mofos with problems. Problems generally have solutions, and I’ve encountered them all. Check out some more free solutions for separation anxietyin this post and in this other post.There is also a load of great stuff in my Basic Training Course.

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Filed Under: Destruction, Safety, Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety – Part 1 of 3

Hey Mofo Friends!

Why is my dog tearing up the house when I go out?

Two words: Separation anxiety. Boy, do I have a few things to say on this topic. So much, in fact, that this is the first of a three-part blog series devoted to exploring what it happens and what can be done about it.

No one magic pill or food puzzle is going to fix separation anxiety in your dog. It’s your job to find what works for your dog, but I’m here (as always!) to help, and today I’ll share my top suggestions.

Make sure you are calm and your dog is exhausted before you leave! This the first thing I recommend to clients with this issue, and today I’ll offer my top recommendations and tips on how to get there.

  1. Physical Exercise!
    Exercise is super important. A tired dog is a good dog! This is not just an old saying it is the absolute truth. More exercise is always my first go-to when discussing separation anxiety with my clients.

    Playing fetch, tug, swimming, or running around the backyard are excellent forms of exercise, but nothing compares to walking to your dog, so…

  2. Walk your damn dog!
    Walking will solve a ton of behavior issues! Yes, of course, let your dog have some time to smell the flowers, but the majority of your walk should be the formal walk right by your side. In a perfect world, they are walking next to you and periodically looking at you for direction. This walk shows leadership. It also becomes a mental and physical exercise.

    The formal walk provides mental stimulation, a need often not met for our dogs. Dogs may be mofos, but they are really smart, and using their brain helps to tire them out (I’ll talk more about mental stimulation in Part 3 of this series).

  3. Keep leaving time calm!
    It’s important to pay attention to the amount of stimulation you give your dog just before you leave. Don't get them super amped up and then leave them to deal with the excited energy on their own. That’s just plain uncool. Your dog can’t turn on the treadmill and take themselves for a run. It’s on you to make time to help them burn it off.

  4. Make TIME!
    For a lot of pet-parents, mornings are tough. Make a priority of waking up early to spend that quality time walking your dog! You’ve made a commitment to care for your dog – showing up for them is not optional.

  5. Crate Train!
    I am a big believer in the crate. It keeps both your dog and your furniture safe.

    • Make the crate as positive as possible.
    • Feed them in the crate.
    • Leave tasty treats and a frozen Kong filled with canned dog food.
    • Leave on relaxing music to drown out outside noise (for example, in these situations I play a lot of Johnny Cash, zero Wu-Tang.)

    6. RECAP

    • Use physical exercise, mental stimulation, and the power of the crate to your advantage.
    • Make time to walk your dog and wear them out BEFORE you leave for the day.
    • When you do leave, resist that urge to give your dog the extra “kiss out the door” attention – in fact, an “Irish goodbye” would be better for them.

    Everything is awesome. Now go walk your mofo 🙂
    ~Lisa

    For more how to crate train, how to teach and use commands, and everything you need to live your best pet-parent life, check out my online courses.


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Filed Under: Destruction, Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety – Part 2 of 3

Hey Mofo Friends!

“Should I be using supplements or essential oils to calm my dog?”

In the first part of this series about separation anxiety, we focused on adding exercise and mental stimulation, as well as crate use, music, and changing YOUR behavior at the door to help your dog adjust to being alone.

Today in Part 2, we’ll be diving into another viable source of help that many pet-parents don’t know to consider: supplements and oils.

(Obvious disclaimer here – Some of these will work for you and some of them will not. The most important take-away from this post is to take time to find the perfect combination for your dog.)

  1. Bach Flower Remedies
    These tops my list because they work for me and for 2 of my dogs, and I personally love them. These liquid drops remedies are derived from flower essences and delivered via bottle and dropper. Each of these homeopathic remedies were created by a British physician in the early 1900’s, and their formulas haven’t changed in over 80 years – so the fact they are still around and widely used has inspired confidence in clients who were unfamiliar with homeopathy. (It doesn’t hurt that they’re relatively inexpensive either.)

    The classic animal remedy is called Bach Rescue Remedy Pet, and this chart goes into specific detail, allowing you to choose custom remedies to address your dog’s specific issues. It is usually crystal clear within the first few days whether these are going to work for your dog. Bach Remedies are also excellent for humans and they have a fun little quiz to take when life throws you curve-balls.

    Additional homeopathic products available on the market or from your vet include Comfort Calm, Happy Traveler, & Homeopet.

  2. Essential Oils
    These have become pretty mainstream as far as non-traditional medicine goes (you’ve probably heard of lavender oil’s use as a stress-reducer or citrus oil’s use for mental sharpness). For my dogs, Lavender and a blend called Gentle Baby are among the favorites.

    YO! LISTEN UP!!
    If you have cats or other small animals in the house make sure you do a quick google search on the oil you are using – some oils are TOXIC to animals. I have had plenty of clients use drug store oils that don’t work for their dogs – or even worse, have gotten dogs sick. My best advice for choosing essential oils is to avoid bargain or generic brands and to know where your oils are coming from! I ONLY use Young Living brand essential oils – It is a company I trust 100%. (You need to be signed up with this company to purchase but send me an email and I will hook you up.)

  3. CBD
    This brings us to CBD oil. CBD products are getting a ton of attention in the news, and rightfully so. I understand some people think it’s sketchy, and that’s fine for them (and you, if you’re among them!), but I’ve got to say that I am a HUGE believer!

    I have had good luck with Canna-Pet in the past – my dog Rex was on CBD oil for 2 years and it helped tremendously with his pain management.

    It’s my hope is that it will soon be regulated, but for now I advise you to do your research, ask friends and family for recommendations, and (as with all oils) know your source!

Many of these products have similar ingredients but different formulas, so if you go this route I recommend trying a few. One formula that might not work alone, but could work wonders if paired with one or more other formulas. Do your research. Experiment. Play the field.

ONLY GIVE YOUR MOFO A NEW PRODUCT FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN YOU’LL BE WITH THEM TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS THEM.

Supervised use, people! Make sure your dog is safe!

I’ve got much more to say about separation anxiety and what you can do about it, so stay tuned for Part 3!

Everything is awesome. Now go walk your mofo 🙂
~Lisa

For everything you need to know about your dog and how to live your best pet-parent life, check out my online courses.

The recommendations contained within are solely for informational purposes and do not replace licensed professional veterinary care. If you have any questions about the information contained within, especially as to decisions you may wish to make concerning the health or well-being of your pet, please consult your veterinarian.

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Filed Under: Destruction, Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety – Part 3 of 3

Hey Mofo Friends!

What else can I do to ease my dog's separation anxiety?

This is the third and final post in my 3 part series on separation anxiety. In Part 1 we went over the benefits of physical exercise, crate use, and changing how you behave with your dog. Part 2 was a dip into the world of supplements and oils. Today in Part 3, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the importance of mental stimulation.

As I mentioned in Part 1, mental stimulation is crucial in easing separation anxiety.

Remember exam days during school? You sat in one place still while you took your tests, but by the end of the day (if you’re anything like me) you were totally exhausted. The reason for this is mental stimulation, and our dogs’ brains work the same way.

Dogs are SMART. They just need our help to get them working out their brain. Mental exercise options include puzzle games, hunting for food, and my all-time favorite: obedience. Obedience commands like Sit, Down, Down-Stay, and Heel all take mental work. Teaching tricks also creates mental stimulation. If you'd like to improve your dog's obedience commands, check out my Basic Training class.

There are so many amazing new products on the market to try, but always opt for safe, sturdy toys to avoid choking hazards. If one toy doesn’t work, never despair – just try a different toy. What one dog loves, another will turn their nose up at.

Another super awesome product is the thunder shirt. They are a tad on the expensive side but if they work they are a lifesaver. The premise is the tightness or compression that gives security to your dog.

If you would like to test out the idea before you make the investment, simply use some old ace bandages or an old t-shirt. Make sure it is snug but not so tight that it cuts off circulation.

Like all new methods, this should first be tried while supervised. Whenever I get a new toy for my dogs I always make sure I’m home the first time they use it. You don’t want your mofo to freak out when you’re not home to help. Safety first!

If your purchase doesn’t work, PLEASE don’t throw it out! Donate it to a local dog rescue or to the ASPCA. They will be forever grateful. A little love goes a long way.

And that’s it. I highly recommend checking out Parts 1 and 2 if you haven’t already, but here is the quick and dirty take-away message of these posts. When dealing with a dog suffering from separation anxiety:

  • Physical exercise and the power of the perfect crate work to your advantage.
  • Changes in YOUR behavior (like waking up early to take your dog for a walk and holding back your attention before leaving) can make all the difference.
  • Homeopathic remedies, supplements, essential oils, and CBD oils can dramatically reduce your dog’s anxiousness.
  • Mental stimulation (including games, toys, and the all-mighty obedience training) helps your dog learn and relax.
  • Physical and mental comfort (in the crate with relaxing music, wearing a thunder shirt) are the natural enemies of stress.
  • Walk your dog. Walk your dog. WALK YOUR DOG!

Separation anxiety can be heartbreaking for you and for your dog – I hope the information from this series helps you feel empowered to diminish or alleviate your mofo’s stress.

Even if nothing seems to work at first, keep at it! With patience and persistence, you will eventually find some combination of the methods and products discussed that does make a difference. Keep an ongoing open dialogue with your vet about your dog’s symptoms and progress.

Everything is awesome. Now go walk your mofo 🙂
~Lisa

For more on commands, obedience, games, and basically everything you need to know about your dog and how to live your best pet-parent life, check out my online courses.


Upper image by Amit Karkare from Pixabay

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Filed Under: Destruction, Separation Anxiety