How Doggy Daycare Can Help a Dog with Separation Anxiety

Are you the owner of a dog that despises being left alone?  Maybe he eliminates all over the house when you leave, despite having ample opportunities for potty breaks ahead of time.  Perhaps he chews up furniture, walls, curtains, or whatever he can get his mouth on.  Or maybe he just barks/howls/whines for hours on end until you return.  If this sounds like your dog, then we may be able to help. 

•Cutting the Umbilical Chord - A dog with separation anxiety needs to learn how to cope without you around.  The easiest way for him to learn how to do this is by allowing him to engage in fun activities without you there.  Ideally, if he is distracted and happy, he will forget that your presence is lacking.  This will increase his confidence in his ability to navigate the world around him without his "safety net" (you).  Eventually he will gain confidence and the recognition that you always return for him.  Ideally, this newfound confidence will translate when he is home alone as well.  This will not happen overnight.  But with repetition and consistency, any dog (even an old one) can learn new behaviors.

For a dog (or child for that matter) the ability to confidently separate from his "parent" is an important life skill.  It’s also a good idea for dogs in multi-dog households to practice staying home alone or going places without the other dog to prevent issues if the two dogs ever do need to be separated - for a Vet appointment or a grooming visit for example.

•Socialization - A well-socialized dog is far less likely to be anxious.  A dog that's able to build bonds with other dogs as well as people other than just his owner will be a much more confident and content dog.   An experienced daycare staff will give an anxious dog ample opportunity for supervised interactions that will be positive and beneficial.

•Exercise is important for all dogs but it's especially helpful in minimizing the effects of a dog with separation anxiety.  An anxious dog lacking exercise can wreak havoc on his owner’s home, bother neighbors, or even hard himself.   A tired dog is less likely to notice or care if left alone, mostly because he will just want to catch up on his sleep (most dogs sleep on average about 14 hours per day so extra sleep after a day of activity or excitement should not be cause for alarm). 

•Preparation for Boarding - If you ever plan to travel without your dog, you will want to feel confident that he/she will not became completely overwrought while you are away for an extended period. Spending time at a doggie daycare that also offers boarding allows your dog to get comfortable with the caregivers and the location.   For a particularly anxious dog, having a “home away from home” can be a veritable lifesaver for him as well as his owners.

To find out if doggy daycare in Beverly may be right for your dog, please contact us!

*Please note, some dogs lash out aggressively due to fear and/or anxiety; if this is the case for your dog then daycare would not be an appropriate setting for him.  For fearful dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior towards humans or other dogs we would recommend consulting with a professional behaviorist and/or trainer.