4 Tips for Managing Your Labradoodle’s Separation Anxiety
Labradoodles love spending time with people. However, that love can sometimes lead to separation anxiety when they’re left alone for too long. Whether you’re leaving for a family vacation or an extended day at work, your loyal companion could have a strong reaction. Here are four tips for managing your Labradoodle’s separation anxiety:
Identify the Signs
Some common signs of separation anxiety in dogs include digging and scratching at doors in an attempt to follow or chase after their owner, destructive chewing of furniture or other household items, howling, barking, and whining. If already house-trained, Australian Labradoodle puppies that are suffering from separation anxiety may also urinate or defecate indoors.
Teach Your Puppy to be Bored
Although most puppies get into trouble when they are bored, at times it is OK for him to just hang and do nothing. Your puppy does not have to be going 24/7. Supervised boredom can help your puppy learn to stay calm and not get into trouble. You also don’t have to give your puppy attention all the time. If your puppy learns that napping or calmly watching his environment are OK and he learns to keep himself occupied with his chews and toys while you are there, he will know how to keep himself busy without getting into trouble when you have to leave him alone.
Be Calm When Leaving and Coming Home
When you’re off to work in the morning, don’t make a fuss about leaving. If your dog starts to panic and pace around you, ignore them have a base command that he can always go back to, like sit. You can teach your dog that when he is anxious, excited, scared, etc., all he has to do is sit to calm down and regain his composure. You can take a few minutes to hug your dog and let him know he is a good boy until you feel his body relax. You can then go on with your preparations as before knowing that your pet feels more at ease than before. The same goes for when you come back home. You can also try ignoring them and see which one works better. Ignoring your pet e them for the first few minutes may work for some pets but probably not all. This way you have two approaches to try and see which one is more effective. While it may be difficult to not give them attention, this simple exercise will help your dog calm down over time.
Use Treats to Your Advantage
When you have to leave them alone, giving your pup a high-value treat when you return home each time you leave them alone is another good way for your dog to associate your departure with something positive. Only reserve that treat for when you’re leaving for an extended period. A common example of a high-value treat is a puzzle toy that’s filled with peanut butter or chunks of boiled chicken breast.
Leave Them Exhausted
Although the Dogs, especially young Australian Labradoodle puppies are calm by nature, younger puppies tend to have more energy than older dogs. That have a lot of energy that they needs to be use up otherwise, your dog may start acting out. This lack of exercise can manifest itself through the same symptoms of separation anxiety listed above, including urinating or defecating indoors and destructively chewing at furniture. Run with your Labradoodle, or bring them to a dog park Taking your Labradoodle for a short walk or playing a short game of fetch so that they can play and will help your puppy discharge some of that excess energy in a positive way use up their energy.
Managing your Labradoodle’s separation anxiety will require consistent effort and patience. You can also learn more about this topic from Texas Australian Labradoodles.