Leaving home and leaving your dog alone is one of the most difficult times of your day. When we look at the beautiful face of our furry with that expression that seems to say "stay, please", it is practically impossible not to feel the heart in a fist. But we have responsibilities to fulfill and, unfortunately, our best friends can't always join us…
In addition to reluctance to leave their dogs alone, many guardians have to deal with another problem. During the absence of their relatives, some furry ones tend to cry or howl for hours and hours. On the one hand, this means that this dog has not yet learned to manage his lonelinessand the absence of his guardian causes negative feelings, such as sadness, insecurity, anxiety or boredom. On the other hand, a dog that cries or howls constantly, usually disturbs the neighborhood, which can bring many problems to its guardians.
If you often ask yourself questions like " Why does my dog cry when I leave?" or " how to make my dog not cry when I leave?", this article on our site can guide you. Next, we explain what dogs feel when they are left alone and why they can cry until they perceive that their guardians return home. In addition, we offer you some tips to teach your dog to better deal with his emotions and prevent him from crying or howling constantly during your absence.
How does your dog feel when you leave home?
Do you wonder how your dog feels when you leave him home alone? Being very social animals who greatly enjoy the company of their family members, dogs inevitably feel sad when they perceive that their guardians are about to leave and leave them alone. And if you look closely, your furry already knows that you will have to leave a long time before you open the door or say goodbye.
Thanks to his intelligence and memory, your dog can remember your habits and associate themwith routine events that your dog shares. day after day. When you go to bathe or start to get dressed, have no doubt that your dog already understands that you are getting ready to go out he will be several hours without seeing you… Therefore, It's natural for dogs to feel a little sad when their loved ones leave and be very happy when they return home.
Still, Not all dogs cry or howl when their guardians leave. Many furry ones learn to manage their loneliness and manage to exercise and entertain themselves by being alone, as long as they have toys and accessories that enrich their environment and keep their body and mind well stimulated. When this does not happen, some furry ones can "entertain themselves" and relieve their boredom by playing pranks around the house or simply take advantage of the fact that the place is quiet to rest and sleep.
Why do some dogs cry when they are alone?
Some dogs are so attached and dependent on their guardians that, left alone, they experience deep sadness and feel insecure about whether or not their relatives will come back for them. These dogs can express these negative feelings and relieve the tension that they have accumulated in their body through crying and howling.
Some of the reasons why my dog cries when I leave are:
- " Hyperattachment": many times this cause of the dog is related to the overprotection provided by its own guardians, which facilitates the development of certain types of behavioral problems through learning. The dog whimpers because in the past this behavior has been reinforcedby coming every time he cried, therefore, the dog hopes that by means of this behavior the guardians of him go home
- Physical abuse or neglect: The second reason my dog cries when I leave is because he has a history of ill-treatment, abandonment or physical and mental abuse. Thus, they manifest insecurity and will need to recover their self-esteemto learn to overcome their fears and manage his loneliness. In these cases, a total or excessive lack of ties with the owners is observed, which causes this situation and which may also worsen if it is not treated.
- Separation Anxiety: Furry friends can also suffer from separation-related disorders. Left alone, they often engage in certain destructive behaviors at home to relieve stress, such as scratching, biting, or breaking furniture, clothing, and shoes. In more advanced stages, these dogs also tend to perform repetitive movements (stereotypes) obsessively, which can lead to self-mutilation Find out more about Separation Anxiety in dogs: its symptoms and treatment in this article on our site that we suggest.
- Sedentary routine: The last reason my dog cries when I leave is because he doesn't have an active routine and doesn't It has an enriched environment to stimulate his mind. Thus, he will be able to cry, howl and show destructive behaviors as symptoms of stress or boredom.
It is important to understand that a he althy, mentally and physically balanced dog should feel safe regarding the bond with its guardian and be able to manage their loneliness during these periods of absence from their relatives. The dog is able to positively channel his emotions and await the arrival of his guardian, while he takes the opportunity to play, sleep or simply watch the movements of the street through a window.
How do I stop my dog from crying when I leave?
Your dog must learn to manage his loneliness not only to stop crying, but also to positively channel his emotions, feel more secure and develop better self-esteemHere are some tips to prevent your dog from crying when he's home alone.
- Enrich their environment: There is a lot of talk about environmental enrichment for cats, but dogs also need an environment that stimulates their body and mind. mind. If you are away from home for many hours and your dog cannot find the means to entertain himself, he will feel bored and may also show obvious symptoms of stress. In pet stores, you can find a wide variety of interactive toys, intelligence games, teethers, bones, and many other accessories made especially for your dog to exercise and work on his intelligence even when he is alone. Check out this article on the 10 signs of stress in dogs.
- The Kong: Don't you know the Kong toy? It is a safe toy that has a hole designed to put treats, dry feed croquettes or wet food inside. The "proposal" of the toy is to make the dog "discover" how to get the food inside the Kong. But since he can't fit his whole mouth into the hole, he'll have to use his tongue and intelligence to reach the food. And the treat is used as a positive reinforcement to recognize their achievement and continue to stimulate their cognitive ability. It may seem like a simple thing put this way, but Kong is very effective in preventing and treating separation anxiety In addition, it can help create better eating habits and prevent gastrointestinal diseases, mainly in gluttonous dogs that eat quickly and ingest a large amount of air in their meals. Don't hesitate to read this post about The Kong to treat separation anxiety, here.
- Provide him a positive environment: another alternative if you are wondering what to do so that my dog does not cry when I leave is that your dog sits in a comfortable and safe place in his environment to learn to stay home alone without fear or anxiety. If a furry is raised in a high-stress environment, he may feel insecure when his guardian is absent and exhibit certain unwanted behaviors, such as crying, howling or destroying household objects. Therefore, if you have just adopted a furry, it is important that it favors its adaptation to the new home and transmits security in its day to day.
- Exercise it before you kill yourself: If you take your dog for a good walk and set aside a few minutes to play before you leave, your best friend you will expend energy and be able to sleep while alone. In addition, regular physical activity helps your dog maintain a he althy weight and balanced behavior. A sedentary furry can easily develop symptoms of stress and boredom, as well as becoming more vulnerable to various diseases, such as obesity in dogs, canine diabetes and hypertension in dogs.
- Offer a " Shelter"a tu perro : our dogs feel safer when they can take refuge in a quiet place when they feel fear or uncertainty. There are some cave-shaped beds that provide a safe and warm environment for your furry. But you can also create a "shelter" for him by using a cardboard box and placing a clean blanket and his favorite toys inside.
- A little music can help: so that your dog does not feel the "loneliness effect" generated by absolute silence, you can leave some soft music in the background.
- Thinking about adopting a " little brother/sister": adopting a new dog can be an excellent option to not leave your best friend alone when you have to go. However, it is recommended to always consult a specialist since, depending on the diagnosis, it could be counterproductive and further increase problems at home. You should also consider if you have enough time and space to care for and provide affection to the two furry ones. And if you decide to adopt, don't forget to correctly introduce your dog to his new companion.
Also, in AnimalWised, we show you how to get an adult dog used to being alone. Otherwise, you can also take a look at this video on How to get a puppy used to being home alone.
Is your dog very insecure or fearful?
If you have adopted a very fearful, insecure or nervous dog, it will be essential to pay attention to its routine to identify what may be causing these feelings. Consult with a trusted veterinarian, it is essential since some pathologies could be altering their behavior They can also advise us regarding age, vaccination or deworming, factors that could be directly influencing and causing you serious anxiety and stress.
If, on the other hand, his behavior is not due to a he alth problem, we should assess the option of going to a dog trainer or educator to evaluate the case and work with him. It may be necessary to socialize and educate the dog so that it is able to learn to interact with other individuals and with its own environment.
In more complex cases it may also be a good option to contact an expert in canine ethology (veterinarian specialized in ethology, behavior of animals) to establish a treatment based on specific guidelines that will teach your dog to manage loneliness and positively channel his emotions.
