Lockdown has been a great time for dogs with more walks, strokes and treats than ever before – but our return to the office will be ruff.
The last year has meant people have been at home more than ever and with a surge in dogs being adopted, some have never actually been apart from their owners for long periods of time.
Dog behaviour expert Sabrina Phelan has urged owners to start working on separation with their furry friends as soon as possible so that when they are left alone, they don’t act out and get destructive.
The expert from Dogs Trust said: “First teach them to be confident and relaxed when you are home, but busy and unable to give them your attention.
“Make sure your dog has a comfy and cosy bed or covered den all of their own, away from the main parts of the house and distracting activities.
“Encourage them to spend time in their bed when you are engaged in another activity, watching TV or cooking for example, by giving them a tasty chew or a food-releasing toy there.
“They’ll soon learn to enjoy these times when you are busy and can’t give them direct attention, and they’ll see their bed as a great place to be in by themselves.
“This will help them to cope better when you’re not there at all.
“It’s normal for dogs to want to be with us but teaching your dog not to follow you around the house is a good idea because it will help them not to rely on you being present all the time.
“Don’t feel mean doing this, you’re just teaching them that following you everywhere is boring!
“If your dog persists in following you, it’s important that you don’t tell them off or to ‘go away’.
“Even though you’re trying to discourage them you might make them anxious and confused so they might seek your attention even more! “Remember to ignore unwanted behaviour and reward good behaviour.”
But like anything, it will take a while for your dog to get used to their newfound freedom and it is important that owners start the process now so your pal has a chance to adjust.
Sabrina continued: “It’s important to introduce and practice separation gradually and very slowly build up your dog’s tolerance for being on their own.
“Start with very short periods (e.g. just one minute to begin with) then gradually build up the length of time you are away from your dog, as long as they remain relaxed.
“Gradually increase the time before you return to the room.
“If your dog becomes worried or shows signs of anxiety, go back to leaving him for a shorter duration.
“If they cannot cope with this level of separation stop and contact a qualified behaviourist for guidance.
“Preparing for success when you are leaving your dog alone at home
“Take your dog for a good walk and ensure they go to the toilet before you leave. Remember to leave them with water and food if they haven’t eaten already.
“Establish a leaving routine, use a special word or phrase (that you only use when you leave), for example ‘stay and be good’.
“Routine lets your dog know what happens next, and consistency helps your dog feel secure.
“Also consider where in the house you leave your dog when they will be on their own. For example, leaving them with access to see out the front window may result in them becoming aroused or worried and actually developing reactive behaviour when they are home alone, some people like to leave their dogs looking out windows so they can ‘protect’ the house or feel like they enjoy looking out, and of course some dogs probably do but barking out the window is a pretty common behaviour!
“If your dog is struggling to learn to cope being all by themselves a qualified behaviourist will be able to help you teach them.”
