Goldendoodles are known to be some of the kindest and outgoing breeds. They love their people and having all the attention on them. These are great qualities to have in a dog. Unfortunately, there is a downside. Goldendoodle anxiety is a widespread thing. It can suddenly come on, or it can be a problem since puppyhood. Today we are going to talk about Goldendoodles separation anxiety options.
Signs Of Goldendoodle Separation Anxiety
Before we start talking about Goldendoodles separation anxiety options, it is essential to get a proper diagnosis. There are many forms of anxiety and not every dog will display them the same way. And even if your dog does show some signs, it could be another issue, but more on that next. Right now, we are going to focus on the symptoms of separation anxiety.
Pacing
Many dogs will start to pace in the same direction when they are left alone. The pacing might start when your dog notices that you are about to leave, or it will happen after. If the pacing begins after you are gone, this might be a hard one to tell. Some people might catch their dogs if they come home early. Others might notice marks in the carpeting where their dogs have paced. If you think your dog might be pacing, you could set up a camera to see the extent of their behaviors.
Being Destructive
Some dogs might relieve their anxiety by chewing on things around the house. They might destroy your furniture, carpets, walls, and doors. Then, there is some Goldendoodles separation anxiety that displayed through getting on the counters and in the garbage. If you ever leave the house and always come back to something destroyed, your dog could have anxiety about you going.
Howling And Barking
If you’ve ever had a conversation with your neighbors about how loud your dog is, it might be anxiety. Some dogs will howl and bark nonstop when their owners leave. You might even come home and hear them howling from outside.
Peeing And Pooping
One often-overlooked sign of Goldendoodle separation anxiety is peeing and pooping in the house. Even if your dog has been potty trained, they might resort to peeing and pooping inside the house when they are nervous. Even if they have access to outside, or you are only gone a short time, they might resort to this.
Escaping
For a dog left outside, a common sign of separation anxiety is escaping. Your Goldendoodle will try to get out of the backyard by jumping or digging under the fence. But dogs left inside might try this too. Indoor dogs might try to claw and chew their way through doors or kennels. Some have even been known to get out of windows that were left open.
Things To Rule Out
It is important to remember that not all of these always mean separation anxiety. Before labeling your Goldendoodles separation anxiety, you need to rule out a few things first.
- Is your dog reacting out of boredom? Try giving them a few more toys in their rotation and go for more walks.
- Does this happen only while you are gone, or when you are home too? If they do it while you are home, it isn’t anxiety.
- Is your dog still a puppy? They might just need more training to deter bad behavior.
- Is your dog fully house trained? If you are still working on house training, they shouldn’t have full run of the house just yet.
- Have you ruled out medical problems? Sometimes when a dog is in pain, they will resort to chewing or using the bathroom in the house.
If you have ruled out all of these things. Your dog might have anxiety.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Have Separation Anxiety?
The short answer is that Goldendoodles are very social. They need lots of interaction and affection for them to feel complete. If your dog feels like they are not getting enough attention, your Doodle will develop separation anxiety.
But there can be other reasons for separation anxiety. For instance, if you just adopted an older Goldendoodle, they might have a hard time adjusting at first. New puppies can also get separation anxiety when away from their mothers and litter for the first time. There is even Goldendoodle service dog anxiety if they feel like they are not close enough to their owners to do their jobs.
If you noticed that the anxiety has come on suddenly, you might want to examine homelife. If you have brought home a new baby or working crazy hours, your dog might feel neglected. This is a common thing in the Doodle breeds, so it’s best to take action before it gets out of control.
Goldendoodles Separation Anxiety Options
Now we can start to talk about ways to help with your Goldendoodles separation anxiety. When trying to see what works best for your dog, try one new thing at a time. That way, if the stress continues, you know what does and does not work. Your dog might even do best with a combination of a few things.
Go For A Walk
Sometimes the best treatment for separation anxiety is to go for a walk. Walking will give you the bonding time with your dog, and make them feel like they are apart of your adventure. You can do this one of two ways:
- You can go for more walks before and after you come home.
- Or go for a walk as the last thing you do before you leave.
Each of these will help your dog exert some energy and feel like they have bonded with you more.
New Method Of Leaving
If your dog is sad to see you leave, it is best not to make matters worse. You don’t want your dog to get worked up while you are going, but they should know that you are coming home soon. One of the best Goldendoodles separation anxiety options is to change how you leave. A simple way to do this is to say goodbye in an anticlimatic way and offer them a treat. Don’t make your voice sad as this will set off an alarm for your dog to be anxious. Try leaving for a few minutes and then coming back, slowly increasing the time gone each trial. When you come home, give your Doodle all your attention and praise.
Dog Proofed Room
For Goldendoodle’s social anxiety, it is never a good idea to crate them. Crating could lead to more severe symptoms and will cause behaviors that can hurt your dog. Instead, choose a room in the house to puppy-proof. Remove all items that your dog loves to destroy and fill it instead with their favorite toys.
Clothes With Scent
A great option for puppies is to leave a sweater that you have worn recently with them. They will cuddle the clothing, and your scent will help calm them. But you don’t want to leave shirts and sweaters that you don’t want to get ruined. Often a puppy might have an accident or chew the item.
Classical Music Or Audiobooks
Studies have shown that dogs are relaxed by classical music just as people are. Audiobooks can have a similar effect if the reader has a calming voice. You can set up a speaker in your home or in the puppy-proofed room to play these while you are away.
Calming Sprays And Collars
Another option is to get calming sprays or collars for when you are gone. Calming collars like the GUMEW Calming Collar for Dogs are great because they last for 60 days. There are also sprays like the NEXPAW Calming Spray for Dogs that you can use directly on bedding to help your dog relax while you are away.
Toy Rotations
Giving your dog a variety of toys is a great way to curb separation anxiety. These should be amazing toys that your dog loves, but they only get them while you are gone. You will also want to make sure that you have enough variety to switch them out every few weeks. Give your dog a combination of interactive, stuffed, tastes, chews, and textures while you are gone. Your dog will have some fun and might forget that you are gone.
Thunder Shirts
Thundershirts work like a hug or a weighted blanket helps human anxieties. They give just the right amount of pressure on specific points that calm your dog down. They work from large breeds all the way down to the Mini Goldendoodle separation anxiety. No size dog is too large or too small for these Thundershirts.
Doggy Daycare
If you work long hours, your best option might be to put your dog into daycare. In many daycares across the country, you will find that most of the participants are Doodles. Your Goldendoodle will have fun playing with other dogs and making human friends. They will get the love and care that they need while you are away. Even doing daycare a few days a week can help cure Goldendoodle social anxiety.
Medication
As a last resort, you might want to talk about medication with your vet. Medication should only be used if you have tried everything else and under the guidance of your vet. They make everything from puppy Prozac to a prescription food that helps calm dogs with anxiety.
Conclusion
Having a Goldendoodle with separation anxiety isn’t fun. It can make you feel like you aren’t a good match for your dog, and that they deserve better. But treating Goldendoodle separation anxiety is easier than you think. With a few new routines and lots of love when you are home, your Goldendoodle will feel like he is the most loved dog in the world.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
