Howling at the moon: How to stop your dog getting lonely

Does your dog howl when you leave the room or chew your favourite shoes the second you are out of sight? It may well be that your dog is lonely; this article takes a look at some easy ways to prevent your dog suffering when you’re not there.

Dogs are pack animals and therefore easily get lonely if left alone for long periods of time. Certain breeds can suffer severely with separation anxiety whilst for other dogs it will manifest itself in the form of barking, howling or chewing furniture and shoes. There are several ways that you can address this and prevent your dog from any further loneliness.

Every dog needs plenty of exercise but this is particularly important if you have a dog that tends to get lonely. A dog that is tired out form a good long walk is far less likely to try and chew or destroy your house. This also holds for playing with your pet. Although it can be easy to get caught up in general day to day living, just like children dogs need love and attention every day in order to flourish. If you have the time, training your dog will also help, even training them in basic commands can alleviate boredom and loneliness.

When leaving the house provide your dog with chews or treats to occupy them; a number of pet supplies stores stock toys that can be stuffed with treats that gradually release them. Many people also find that leaving a radio on helps a dog to become used to being alone. Training your dog to go into a kennel or dog crate with a familiar dog bed inside can also give your dog security when you leave the house.

Pampered dogs quite often suffer as they have been given the impression that they are the pack leader. These dogs believe that they are responsible for protecting the pack and that they cannot do this when part of the pack has left. Make a few changes in your routine to show your dog that you are in charge and you may find the problem will go. Ensure that your dog never eats until after you have and do not allow them to sit with you on your bed or on the furniture. It is often a good idea to restrict their access to certain areas of the house- upstairs for example- and make sure that your dog always does something for you, even if it is just a simple command, before you give them any attention. This may seem mean but you will find that your dog will be much happier as soon as it realises that it does not have to be the ‘pack leader’ and that you are the dominant one.

You can also treat the anxiety your dog suffers when you leave by training them slowly through a series of ‘false departures’. This involves leaving for increasingly longer periods of time starting with just a few seconds. It is important that you make as little fuss as possible when leaving and arriving and if possible it may help to vary the doors that you exit through.

Finally if none of these options work, it may be worth considering if you can re-home a second animal. Dogs are after all pack animals and most prefer to spend time with a companion. Usually if you are choosing another dog, a dog as dissimilar as possible to yours will mix best – so big male dogs mix best with little female dogs and so on. However, if you do not want another dog you may consider another pet such as a cat or even a rabbit; with a little time and training these can alleviate suffering for your dog and make home alone a good thing.