Prevention of puppy separation anxiety can begin before your dog is adopted. Normally, you should wait until your puppy has been fully weaned from the mother. This will normally occur at around two months of age. Your puppy should then begin to have some level of independence from his mother. A puppy that is carried earlier may experience puppy separation anxiety.
Puppy separation anxiety is the distress young puppies feel when left alone. When in such a state, a puppy may whine or bark when going on short errands. Also, the puppy may start to be destructive in your home or have potty accidents. Dogs with a strong bond with their owner are likely to suffer from various stages of puppy separation anxiety.
With the right type of training, more than half of adult dogs will see improvement in this area. However, you may need to change your routine a bit to desensitize them when you leave. Training can be more difficult if your puppy is already showing signs of puppy separation anxiety. Don’t worry too much, your extra effort will start to show results.
Separation anxiety is most often seen in adult dogs that have come from shelters or have gotten lost. Free to good homes puppies can sometimes exhibit these behaviors. Before being adopted by your family, they likely had difficult experiences … but be patient with them. Don’t give up and keep your hopes up, as these types of dogs will show increased confidence and loyalty as adults.