If your dog won’t sleep unless you’re right next to him, it might be a sign of separation anxiety.
This is a difficult problem to tackle. Dogs cope with anxiety in different ways.
Some people get angry or frustrated because their dog does not want to do what YOU want it to do.
For others, the problem is the way YOU handle separation anxiety.
They suggest YOU go away and give your dog some time alone. And then think of other things to keep your dog occupied, while you are gone.
Separation anxiety has to be handled gently and it takes time, patience and creativity on the part of you and your dog.
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Separation Anxiety Issues
Separation anxiety is common in dogs that are left alone all day.
When you work at home, your dog will associate your presence during the day with special privileges like not being crated or fed more often.
So it’s important that you gradually give your dog more freedom by spending less time with him.
Remember not to just leave your dog alone. Dogs are pack animals and need the companionship of the pack leader.
It’s very important to make sure that your dog has confidence in you before you leave.
Your dog should look forward to spending time with you, rather than worrying whether you will come back.
Encouraging a State of Calm
Here are some tips for keeping him calm when you do go out:
Put his crate in your bedroom so that he feels secure while you are out of the house or the room.
Use a timer to turn on music or news at regular times during the day.
This will help him feel less abandoned when you aren’t there.
Put some kibble in a large plastic container that is too big for him to lift up but he can get into with his paw.
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, it’s important that you don’t go out unless you are calm yourself.
Many dogs are anxious when their owners are excited or nervous .
They can pick up on our feelings and it makes them anxious too so try to relax before you leave the house if you have an excitable or anxious dog.
If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, don’t put him in a different room while you are out.
This adds to his sense of being alone and reinforces the anxiety.
Also, try not to be gone too long when you first start leaving the house.
When you first leave your dog for the first time, keep him in his crate (if he has one).
Set aside some time before you go out to sit with your dog and tell him how much fun it is going to be when you come home later.
Praise him for being good about being alone during the day.
Make sure any other pets in the house are calm and not exhibiting any signs of anxiety.
Never make your dog anxious by yelling at him or punishing him when he exhibits separation anxiety.
When you get home give your dog lots of attention and if he seems really happy, reward him with some special treats!
Make every effort to take advantage of this time together to reinforce the good behaviors that he has done while you were gone.
It is good to remember that your dog needs you to show him that your absence does not have any negative consequences.
You can do this by being consistent, patient, and calm. The response should be the same every time you leave, whether it’s for five minutes or an hour.
Additional Measures
If your dog won’t sleep without you, try these steps as a starting point:
1. Go to the room your dog sleeps in.
2. Greet your dog with lots of love and attention. Speak to him calmly and soothingly. Make sure that he is calm before you leave him alone.
3. Leave the room for 5 or 10 minutes, then return.
4. Repeat until your dog falls asleep.
5. Return to the same room, and if your dog is awake, ignore your dog and go about your business for 10 minutes. Then return again to the room and complete step 3
6. Continue repeating steps 5 and 6 until your dog falls asleep.
7. Return to the room and make sure he is sleeping peacefully.
8. If he is wakeful, go back to step 6
9. As your dog gets more relaxed, increase the amount of time you are out of the room.
10. Work up to spending extended periods of time away from your dog before bedtime.
Keeping your dog company can be a great stress reliever but try not to overdo this.
If you have a friend or neighbor that will come over and sit with him for an hour or so then that would be a great help
One of the biggest causes of separation anxiety in dogs is not knowing how to be alone; therefore, never force your dog to be alone, or put him away when he is behaving inappropriately (barking, chewing, etc.).
Be sure that there are no other animals in your home that can cause distractions (puppy siblings, older dogs).
If there are other dogs in the house then you must provide them with enough exercise to calm down before you leave or they may cause your dog to become over-excited.
A barking dog is considered a sign of separation anxiety, and it often indicates that your dog was trained to bark at sounds outside the home.
If your dog was taught this behavior, it could cause problems when he hears noises outside of the home.
Dogs with anxiety-related behaviors often act the same way that they would if they were actually anxious.
If your dog’s anxiety occurs when he is alone, allow him to be alone longer to show him that nothing bad happens (using the tips provided in this article).
If your dog spends lots of time in his crate when you are gone, he may have an issue with being confined for too long.
This often occurs in puppies who are not yet housebroken.
A dog who does not like to be alone may also have an underlying medical issue.
Dogs with anxiety may lick their lips excessively due to the fact that they are nervous or anxious, which can cause your dog to salivate excessively.
If you think that your dog may have anxiety then visit your veterinarian for a full check-up and a blood test to rule out any medical causes of the excessive licking.
Final Thoughts
If your dog won’t sleep without you, the above steps should help you.
If you are having difficulties with your dog, or if he has some other behavioral problem, talk to a qualified trainer or behaviorist who can help him learn how to correctly behave.
Separation anxiety can have devastating effects on you, your family and your dog.
Be sure that all family members are equally committed to helping your dog.
Training can be a very time-consuming task for both you and your dog, but the end results are well worth it!
