Here Are Some Myths About Dogs And Separation Anxiety

Does your dog have separation anxiety? Don’t fall for these common myths about it.

Crate Training Will Cure The Problem

Crate training itself is a good thing, but it’s not a guaranteed treatment method for separation anxiety. It can keep them safe while you’re gone so they don’t act out in anxiety, and for dogs who feel comforted within it, it’s not a bad option. But for dogs who merely tolerate their crate, it’s just going to make things worse – and, either way, you’re not guaranteeing a cure.

It’s Just A Phase

Separation anxiety is not a phase – in all likelihood, it will get worse the older your dog gets, not better!

A Second Dog Will Cure The Problem

Many people get a second dog to reduce their first dog’s anxiety, thinking that giving them a companion will make them feel less lonely. But dogs who have separation anxiety are not anxious due to loneliness – they are anxious because their owners have left. A second dog may learn negative anxious behaviors from your first dog, too.

There’s An Actual “Cure”

Separation anxiety needs regular maintenance to stay at bay. Even when a dog seems to no longer be affected by it, they can relapse if you don’t take extra precautions in especially stressful situations.

Exercise Will Cure The Problem

Exercise can help a dog work off some of the nervous energy that will translate to destructive behavior, and exercise is good for dogs overall. But it may not be enough to override the fear that a dog feels when you leave.

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