Caring for a dog with separation anxiety can be challenging.
Many owners attempt to train their dogs to handle being alone, but it doesn’t always succeed.
There’s limited evidence to explain the development of separation anxiety in pets.
A significant trigger for separation anxiety is believed to be significant life changes or losses, particularly in dogs adopted from shelters.
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1. Moving
Dogs can develop separation anxiety even if their family or routine remains the same.
Moving to a new residence can trigger this anxiety because the unfamiliar environment can make your dog anxious.
Being alone in an unfamiliar place, such as when you go to work, can make your dog even more scared.
Therefore, moving to a new home might trigger separation anxiety in your dog.
2. Change of routine
Dogs can be spontaneous, but they also thrive on routines.
If you suddenly change your schedule, such as getting a new job with longer hours, your dog will notice and may not be happy about it.
The bigger the change, the more it affects your dog. They prefer routines for meals, bathroom breaks, and your return home.
A sudden disruption in this pattern can cause anxiety in your dog and potentially lead to separation anxiety.
3. A new owner
A significant cause of separation anxiety in dogs is a change in ownership.
This is often observed in dogs surrendered to shelters and then adopted by new families.
Being abandoned by their previous family can be extremely frightening for dogs.
It can result in them developing separation anxiety with their new owners.
Even dogs who haven’t been in shelters can develop separation anxiety when they join a new family.
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This article was compiled with the help of Artificial Intelligence
