After spending significantly more time at home with your pets throughout the pandemic, many owners are wary of having to leave their beloved fur babies as they return to in-person work. While this may seem daunting, we want to offer you some guidance so you and your pet can spend time apart.
Whether you or your pet have separation anxiety, the best way to overcome this is to desensitize this feeling. It’s important to slowly start spending time away from your pet in small increments, then work towards a longer goal. Leave your pet in a different room or take a stroll around the block for a few minutes and see how it goes. After some time, increase this time apart to longer increments.
If picking up items such as keys or a purse causes your pet to be anxious, try to desensitize the stimulus. This can be done by repeatedly picking up the item multiple times a day, even when you are not leaving. Eventually, your pet will no longer worry when you are actually picking up this item to leave.
Try to make your comings and goings from home unnoticeable. You do not always need to give a formal goodbye to or rush to your pet every time you walk in the door. Consider creating a distraction with toys or leaving some worn-out clothes that smell like you too.
The process of desensitizing your pet is not anything that can happen overnight. Create a plan, with realistic and achievable goals, to move forward with training your beloved animal.
Some signs your pet is experiencing these symptoms, you should seek veterinary or behavioral help:
- Destructive behavior
- Excessive drooling or panting
- Change in eating or drinking habits
- Urinating or defecating in the house
- Excessive whining, barking, or howling
If you need help with creating a plan for your pet, don't hesitate to call us or make an appointment!