English 
Greek 
Separation anxiety is more common among dogs than you might think. Dogs do not like to be left alone, as this is not a natural dog behavior. When humans domesticated dogs, we created a genetic obsession to live in a social community. This is the only way dogs can ensure their survival. We provide them with food and water and meet their needs. But most of all, we are there for them - as social partners.
But this natural predisposition doesn't mean you can't teach your dog to stay calm on his own. On the contrary! Once your dog learns to enjoy peace and quiet, calm and alone time in the house, he will be perfectly happy to be left alone for a few hours at a time. After all, let's be honest: we just can't get past those little emergencies, grocery shopping for the week or a hairdresser's appointment. And dogs just aren't allowed everywhere. Until that point, we just have to find a solution for our furry friend. Regular training in small steps allows your dog to gain experience and learn that being left alone doesn't necessarily have negative consequences. Your dog will learn that you always come back, which also teaches him to relax even when you're not there.
Prevention of issues caused by segregation
Have you, like many others before you, ever come home to find the place completely trashed? In most cases, this is the first time we as owners realize how serious the situation is. But from the dog's perspective, the psychological stress started much earlier. The good news is that you can find a solution for the two of you as a team. Offer your dog a sense of security. Be there for it and treat it with understanding.
What makes a stable bond between man and dog so important?
Having a stable bond with your dog is the basis for relaxed, harmonious coexistence. But here, as elsewhere, it is important that the bond between you and your dog is balanced. Only a balanced bond provides guidance and a firm foundation and gives your dog a sense of security. One reason why your dog may feel anxious when left alone is that the bond between you has become too strong, so it is out of balance. Do you find yourself lovingly referring to your dog as your "shadow"? Does it follow you around your home wherever you go? If so, you need to take steps to loosen the bond between you. You can talk to your dog trainer to find a solution.
This article contains some tips on what you can do to prevent separation anxiety and simple ways in which you can communicate to your dog that he can relax when he is alone.
Preventive measures
Before you start the training, you should clarify the following question: Where do I want my dog to stay while I am away? Most of us dog owners think that the dog would like to have the whole house or apartment to himself, but some dogs find it stressful. Your dog may well not be able to calm down with so many stimuli around. This is why we recommend choosing a room where your dog feels comfortable and safe.
Place a basket, blanket or dog bed that your dog already associates with a positive emotion in your chosen room to give him a safe place to go.
Now that you have chosen a spot, it's a good idea to introduce a goodbye routine. Routines are positive, familiar behaviors that make everyday life with a dog easier. These structures give you and your dog a solid foundation. Doing the same actions over and over again is comforting to your dog because he always knows what to expect.
Presenting a farewell routine
Here is an example of what a goodbye routine might look like.
Take your jacket and your keys. Your dog can really tell just by the jacket whether he's going to be allowed to go out with you or is supposed to stay home. Now go to the kitchen and get some small treats for your dog that are easy to swallow.
With your dog, go to the room where you want your dog to stay while alone. Once you get there, you can send it to its blanket or basket. Now you can say goodbye to your dog with a phrase like, "I'll be right back." Then put the treats in your dog's spot, turn around without comment and walk over to the door and close it behind you without looking back at your dog. It is important that you do not look back at your dog. It could perceive eye contact as a request and follow you.
Staying alone calmly with the right training
You can start training your dog to be left alone for a few seconds today. This should be the start of a routine for your dog, making it perfectly normal for you to open your house door and go out without her.
You can practice by going out the door or to other rooms in your house ten times a day. Close the door behind you, go to the mailbox and go back inside. The important thing is to pay no attention to your dog while you leave through the door and ignore your dog for a moment after you return. This exercise will show your dog how pointless it is to open and close the door.
Too many repetitions will make this training boring for your dog after a few days, so you can slowly increase the amount of time. At first, you went out for a few seconds and now it's five seconds. Don't go back inside until your dog is calmly behaving during the process. It is recommended that you record the time intervals in a training journal. This gives you better control and makes it easier to see your joint successes. You can gradually make the requirements more difficult as you practice. If your dog has gotten to the point of lying calmly in the room for five seconds when you return from the mailbox, you can extend the training units. Now go outside for 20 seconds. If it remains lying calmly when you return after 20 seconds, you can increase the time to 40, 50 or 60 seconds. We recommend extending the time intervals a little at a time each day.
If you're on two minutes today and things are going well, you can train for four or five minutes tomorrow. If you repeat this practice daily, your dog will have learned to relax and stay on his own after a few weeks. It is best to practice leaving your dog alone after he has had enough activity. This means he has less energy and is more relaxed during the practice.
Daily activity
Adequate activity and the right kind of activity for our dogs is a good way to help them practise being left alone while they are happy and relaxed. Make sure you find a suitable activity tailored to your dog and his needs. Before training, you can go for a walk with your dog, for example, and then leave your home to practice. Changing the time intervals is a good idea here. Depending on how intense the physical activity has been for your dog, you can go out for as little as five minutes or leave him alone for ten minutes, depending on how far along the training has gone. Adapt your training to being left alone to your dog's daily activity levels.
If you follow all these tips, there is nothing to stop your dog from being left alone in peace. We hope you and your dog have a great time training!
Website: https://flexi.de/en/products/category/flexi-collection/
Authored by Kirsten Mahne and Lisa Gunzenheimer
Kirsten Mahne and Lisa Gunzenheimer (Lisa and Kiki) turned their vision of owning an online dog school into a reality in 2017 with "Pawsitive Life Coaching". As certified dog trainers and dog psychologists, their goal is to provide professional support to human-dog teams and help them create a healthy, harmonious relationship.
Author's website: https://pawsitive-life.de
