Sit, Stay ... See You Soon!
As your family
returns to work
and school,
here’s how to
help your pets
handle the
transition. BY JENNIFER MARINO WALTERS
W henever Adam Lopuch would leave his house — to pick up food, to drive the baby to daycare or even
just to mow the lawn — his Labrador retriever, Bella, would go nuts. She’d bark like crazy. She’d jump
on the windowsill, sometimes scratching off the paint. She’d pant.

After Lopuch and his wife, Abbie, got some tips from a trainer, Bella’s separation anxiety eased a
bit. Her twice-weekly trips to doggie day care have helped as well. But when Lopuch returns to the office in September
following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, he’s worried about how Bella will react to his being gone on the days she’s
not at day care.

“I’ve had a lot of anxiety about it,” Lopuch admits.

And he’s not alone. According to the American Pet Products Association, more than 11 million U.S. households got a
new pet during the pandemic. A large number of those pets were dogs. And those pandemic pups have spent a lot of time
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with their humans, making them happier and
more closely bonded with their owners.

But all of that attention has come with a
downside. “Many of these dogs have never
learned independence,” says Dr. Amy Learn, an
animal behaviorist with AB Wellness Center
in Richmond, Virginia. “They were never
left home, so they may have become hyper
attached to the humans in the household.”
Now, as pandemic restrictions ease and
Americans return to work and school,
those dogs will suddenly be home alone
for the first time. And experts fear that
sudden change could cause — or worsen —
separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety in pets isn’t just sadness
when their owner is away. It’s extreme distress
and panic that could lead to all sorts of health
issues and problematic behaviors. Here are
some of its signs:
• Excessive howling or barking
• Peeing or pooping in the house
• Chewing up furniture, shoes
and other items
• Scratching windows and doors
• Pacing • Salivating
• Attempting to escape, sometimes to the
point where they harm themselves
These behaviors often begin when a dog sees
its owner getting ready to leave, such as when
they’re putting on their shoes or picking up
their wallet. The behaviors often continue for
some time after the owner leaves, until the dog
tires itself out or the owner returns.

How to Prevent and Ease
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Luckily, there are things you can do to help
prepare your pup for daily separations and to
ease their anxiety while you’re away.

• Give your dog lots of exercise and mental
stimulation. Physically and mentally
challenging your pup while you’re at
home will increase her endorphins,
making her more relaxed and less
stressed when you leave.

• Begin your back-to-work routine ahead
of time. Dogs thrive on routines, which
give them a sense of stability and thereby
reduce their anxiety. The key is to start
your workday routine before you head
back to the office. Wake up at the proper
time, get dressed, have breakfast, etc. You
could even leave the house to exercise or
run an errand at the time you’d usually
leave for work. Do your best to feed,
walk and play with your pup around the
same times you will when you’re back
in the office.

• Start with shorter absences and work
your way up. Begin building your dog’s
independence by spending increasing
lengths of time in a different room
from your pet while you’re at home.

Then you can start to leave the house
for longer and longer time periods,
starting with five minutes and gradually
increasing the time.

• Keep departures and returns drama-free.

If you make a big deal about leaving, it
will only make your pet nervous. So keep
your departures short and simple — just
smile and say, “I’ll be back!” The same
goes for your returns.

• Be careful with “departure cues.” Your
dog may begin to feel anxious when he
sees certain signs that you’re preparing to
leave. So, try to do these things at times
when you’re not leaving the house. If
your dog starts to whine when you pick
up your keys, for example, pick them up
and put them down throughout the day.

If he begins to pace when you put on your
coat, wear it around the house for short
time periods.

• Associate separations with positive
things. Before you leave the house, hide
little treats for your dog to find. You
could also leave out a bone or some fun
toys. Lopuch began to leave Bella in her
crate with a peanut butter-filled Kong
whenever he’d leave the house. Now she
knows that when Dad leaves, it’s time for
her favorite treat.

• Make your absences as comfortable
as possible. Be sure your dog has easy
access to her bed, her blanket, her
favorite stuffed animal and her food and
water. Leave the house at a comfortable
temperature, and consider keeping a
TV or radio on. You could also set up
a camera system that will allow you to
check on and talk to your pup remotely.

• Consider hiring a dog walker. Hiring
someone to walk and/or play with your
dog once or twice a day will mean he’s
alone for shorter time periods, which
could ease his anxiety a great deal.

DON’T FORGET
ABOUT CATS!
Cats may have a reputation for being
independent and aloof, but the truth
is that they can experience separation
anxiety as well. In fact, a 2019 Oregon
State University study found that
cats have similar attachment styles
to their humans as dogs and children
do. So, make sure to check for signs of
separation anxiety in your felines when
you head back to the office. Here’s what
to watch out for:
• Going to the bathroom
outside of the litter box,
especially on your bed
• Excessive meowing, crying,
yowling or other vocalizations
• Destroying things
• Excessive grooming
• Wanting constant contact with
you when you’re at home
To prevent and ease separation
anxiety in your cat, you can follow
the same steps as you would for dogs.

You could also provide a perch or
patio that will allow your cat to look
out the window, and a small shelter
or nook for your kitty to hang out
in. And you might consider adopting
another cat so the pair can keep each
other company.

As with dogs, see your veterinarian
if your cat’s separation anxiety seems
excessive. They may recommend a
supplement, medication or pheromones
to help with the anxiety, or connect you
with an animal behaviorist if needed. T
If your dog’s separation anxiety persists or
gets worse even after you’ve tried all of those
steps, it’s time to visit your veterinarian to make
sure there’s nothing else going on. They may
recommend anti-anxiety medication or natural
supplements, such as St. John’s Wort and
chamomile. You could also consult a veterinary
behaviorist or professional trainer.

With a lot of love, patience and consistency,
you can help your dog become calmer, happier
and more independent. T
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