Prevention of puppy separation anxiety can begin before your dog is adopted. Normally, you should wait until your pup has been completely weaned from the mother. This will normally occur at about two months of age. Her pup should then begin to have some level of independence from her mother. A puppy that is carried earlier may experience separation anxiety from the puppy.
Puppy separation anxiety is the distress young puppies feel when left alone. When in such a state, a puppy may whimper or bark when leaving to run short errands. In addition, the puppy may begin to be destructive in your home or have accidents with the potty. Dogs with a strong bond with their owner are likely to experience various stages of puppy separation anxiety.
With the right kind of training, more than half of adult dogs will see improvements 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, the extra effort from him will start to show results.
Separation anxiety is most often seen in adult dogs that have come from shelters or have lost their way. Free puppies to good homes can sometimes exhibit these behaviors. Before being adopted by your family, they may have 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 trust and loyalty as adults.