My dog has separation anxiety. How to stop barking and scratching?

This behavior in Buster could actually be due to separation anxiety. I would recommend crating him when you are gone. The crate will provide him a small space where he can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train him to get used to a crate. Start putting him in it when you are home and sitting nearby so he doesn't think you are abandoning him, and slowly increase the time he is in it. He can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that he has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can also fill a Kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to him in the crate. That will keep him occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety.

I am sorry to hear about Maverick! There are a few over the counter products that can help with mild anxiety, including an Adaptil collar https://www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-On-the-go-Collar , a thundershirt https://www.thundershirt.com/, and calming supplements such as Zylken or Composure. IF these do not help, then your veterinarian can prescribe other medications that are a bit stronger and can help with anxiety.

I am very sorry that you are experiencing these issues with Luke. Separation anxiety is unfortunately a fairly common condition for companion animals. I would try the following tactics; Increased exercise -helps with bonding and mental health Interactive toys -treat releasing Puzzle feeders White noise machine while out Interactive games- fetch and hide and go seek Thunder coat continue to use You may consider adopting another pet into the home Here are some further resources to help you, but also feel free to ask me any for their questions here on the forum. https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-ways-to-make-sure-your-dog-feels-safe-in-your-home/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-signs-your-dog-is-stressed/ There are training techniques to try as well where you leave the home for increasing amounts of time. Each time you return you reinforce that you will come back and everything is fine. I hope this is helpful and Luke feels better soon!

Poor Molly! Scratching the door to the point of causing damage while you're away is a very common sign of separation anxiety - this may also be why she cries at night and even has potty accidents, since anxiety is a common cause of these issues as well. Since it sounds like her problem is fairly severe, I would recommend talking with your vet about the issue - many dogs with anxiety like this benefit from daily medication such as Prozac to help reduce their stress. You can also try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to see if this helps. I would also recommend leaving Molly with some type of long-lasting treat every time you leave the house and also at bedtime - something like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter works well for many dogs. This will give her something to keep her busy and encourage her to settle and relax.

I hate to hear Whiskey is having this issue. Behavior modification, exercise and medication are the three pillars of treatment with the best success rates. These link should help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/separation-anxiety/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-ways-to-reduce-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety/ I hope this helps.

What can I do if my dog already has separation anxiety? Treating an established case of separation anxiety will require the guidance and help of your vet. The road to recovery takes time and patience, but with the right tools you and your dog can both lead a less stressful life. It is very important that you visit with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will help you formulate a specific plan to help reduce your dog’s anxiety and build his confidence. Things your vet may recommend are: Behavioral exercises SPECIFIC for you and your dog. Anxiety-reducing medication. These medications will not cure your dog; however, they can alleviate his anxiety enough so that he is able to learn new behaviors. An examination to look for underlying medical conditions.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern! Unfortunately, separation anxiety can be quite difficult to address for most dogs. I usually recommend a multi modal approach. I recommend the following non-prescription approach prior to anything prescription: 1. NaturVet Quiet Moments calm chews plus Melatonin (can be found online quite easily. 2. Adaptil pheromone collar 3. Adaptil diffuser 4. Thundershirt In combination with this, I typically recommend providing plenty of toys such as a kong toy filled with peanut butter and some other noise making toys. I have recently recommended a product called the Pet Cube. This allows you to watch him via an app on your phone remotely and you can even control a laser pointer and interact with him while you are away. If this does not work or the behavior worsens, I typically recommend adding in anti-anxiety medications such as Trazodone, Amitriptyline, Clomipramine (clomicalm), etc. in combination with the above recommendations. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.