Separation anxiety is, unfortunately, common among dogs, including Golden Retrievers. Whenever you leave the house, your puppy might chew up furniture, urinate, defecate, and show other signs of stress. Separation anxiety can be dealt with once it develops, but it’s easier to prevent it than it is to cure it. Here, we provide some ways you can prevent separation anxiety in your Golden Retriever.
Desensitize your departures
Golden Retrievers are sensitive to body language. As such, your pup can easily be triggered by any cues that signal your departure (e.g., grabbing your keys, putting on your coat or purse. The best way to prevent separation anxiety from taking hold is to desensitize your pup to these departure cues. Here are some ways to do that:
- Put on your coat other than when you are going out
- Rattle your keys every now and then while you’re staying in the house
- Put on your shoes and walk around the house without leaving the house
- Switch the lights on and off
Create a safety cue
A safety cue is a word, gesture, action, or toy that you teach your Golden Retriever to associate with safety. It reminds them that even if you leave, you will always come back to them. Start by cueing it for brief absences, such as taking out the trash or checking the mailbox. Gradually lengthen the time you’re gone and keep giving them the safety cue.
Increase your dog’s tolerance
It’s important that you gradually increase your dog’s tolerance to your absences. Don’t just go from being around all the time to being gone all day. This will just increase your pup’s anxiety. Instead, gradually increase your time away. Start with 15 minutes, then 30, then 45, and so on and so forth.
For more tips on how to care for your Golden Retriever puppies, contact MN English Golden today at 507-351-8510.
