The puppies are absolutely adorable. When you first get a puppy, you probably want to spend as much time with him as possible. While it’s a great idea to spend a lot of time with your puppy to develop a strong bond with you, you can have too much of a good thing. Puppies need to learn to be left alone. Puppies that don’t learn to be left alone can develop puppy separation anxiety.
Causes of Puppy Separation Anxiety
When you bring your puppy home for the first time, it is very common for him to fuss during the first few nights. Understandably, they just left their mother and her litter, and haven’t joined you yet. Puppies that are separated from their mothers too soon or that have had severe trauma are more likely to develop problems than those that are taken after eight weeks. Puppies adopted from shelters and mixed breed puppies are also more likely to develop separation anxiety than purebreds purchased from a breeder.
Symptoms in puppies
Mild symptoms of anxiety in puppies include whining, nervousness, and anxiety when you’re getting ready to leave the house. Mild symptoms include digging and scratching at doors and rugs, constant barking, and chewing on underwear or bedding. Puppies tend to chew on objects that have your scent on them. Severe puppy separation anxiety includes compulsive chewing, losing bowel control, and destroying furniture. Some dogs will insult themselves because they are panicking.
Resolving separation anxiety in puppies
This behavioral problem will not go away on its own and should be treated as soon as possible. The best approach includes behavior modification training, natural remedies, and patience. The good news is that puppies can learn to behave quickly. You just have to show them the way.