Anxiety is quite common among dogs, especially when they’re puppies. Puppies are experiencing a lot of things for the first time, and it can be quite overwhelming for them. They may be frightened of objects, sounds, or people that are new to them. One of the most common forms of anxiety is separation anxiety. If you leave your puppy alone, it will often assume you are never coming back, which can be very stressful for them.
You can reduce and even eliminate your puppy’s anxiety by using a combination of tools and training. Here are five tips for helping your anxious puppy become confident and calm.
1. Crate training
Giving your puppy its own “safe zone” will dramatically help with anxiety. Using a crate as a base, you can train your puppy to go to its base whenever it feels scared or anxious. A crate is not to be used to lock your puppy up, but to provide a place for them to chill out. Make it comfortable for them and use treats and toys to encourage them to go into their crate. It will also make it easier when you do need to put them in the crate since they will already be comfortable with it.
2. Desensitize your puppy
Your puppy will likely have anxiety about all new things. Once they realize they are safe and spend more time with certain things, they will begin to desensitize to it. If there is a specific object that your puppy seems nervous about, introduce them to it slowly and keep repeating. Ensure that you reward them with a treat every time they remain calm. It is a good tactic to use around people, especially if your puppy seems frightened or if they don’t like the sound of an item in your home, such as the dishwasher.
3. Exercise
The most effective treatment for anxiety is exercise. Puppies have a ton of energy need somewhere for all that energy to go. Play fetch with them, let them run in the park, or play with another dog when you know you’re going to be leaving. Tiring them out will help them to settle down and relax when they get home.
4. Natural supplements/alternatives
Some natural supplements and treatments can help reduce anxiety in your puppy without the concerning side effects of medication. Pheromone collars can help them relax as can compression shirts. CBD is also a common natural treatment for dogs with anxiety. CBD treats, such as the ones at ceebeedoo.com, can provide relief from stress and help your puppy calm down.
5. Develop puppy independence
Separation anxiety is very common among puppies, and you can train them to be independent. Since they fear that you’ll abandon them, you need to teach them that it’s OK when you leave and that you’ll always come back. Building that trust takes patience and repetitive training. Train them to be confident on their own by starting with small distances of separation and build on it. For example, have them stay across the room from you and reward them. Increase the distance each time until you are in a different room. Using this method will help your dog gain independence.
Your new puppy is likely to have some form of anxiety. With a little work and a lot of love, you can help your puppy grow into a confident and independent dog.
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