Separation anxiety in your Frenchie can be hard to deal with and cause many adverse behaviors. Not to mention that it can be difficult to know that your little friend feels so down when you’re away. It is important to know that French Bulldogs are a Velcro breed, which means that they tend to be attached to their humans more than the average dog, therefore making them more susceptible to separation anxiety.
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as “a form of anxiety that is caused by separation from a significant nurturant figure and typically a parent or from a familiar surrounding.”
In dogs it can often present itself through destructive behavior, crying and barking, peeing or pooping inside despite being well trained, excessive excitement when you come home, and/or anxious behavior before you leave.
Causes
There are many different things that can cause separation anxiety in your Frenchie. One of which is genetics. As mentioned before, Frenchies tend to be more susceptible to separation anxiety, which is why it is important to look for signs and take preventative measures early on.
Other causes include changes in routine or environment. If you once worked from home or worked a few hours and you suddenly started working more out of the home that may take some adjustment for your Frenchie.
Another cause is that you gave them too much attention in the beginning. We know that you want to give your little friend as much love as you can, and when you pair that with the excitement of a new dog it can often be unsustainable. Your Frenchie will get used to that level of attention while growing a very strong bond with you. However, when you start falling into a normal routine again it can often be hard to keep up that level of attention and it can take a toll on them.
Solutions
While there are many different ways of easing separation anxiety in your dog through training, we always recommend going to see your veterinarian if you feel that their case is severe. However, with mild cases you can often ease their anxiety through at-home training and some tips and tricks.
1.Temporary Appeasement
A very common trick to temporarily help your little friend until you can implement better routines is putting one of your worn t-shirts on your dog. Your smell can help ease their anxiety for when you are gone.
2. Create a Familiar Environment
Creating a familiar and comfortable place for your Frenchie to go when you are gone is often a good way to help them be more at ease. We often recommend doing this through crate treating.
3. Create Separation
Lastly, you need to start creating some separation between you and your dog. It is important that they begin to realize that it is okay for them to not always be around you. You can do this through crate trading and/or place training. Through this, you should see them being more and more comfortable sitting in the next room while you are busy with tasks.
Preventative Measures
To prevent separation anxiety it is important that you keep an eye on any signs and behaviors early on. It is also important to implement the solutions above before you see those signs. If you can get your little friend used to being away from you early on then they will be less likely to develop anxiety.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you are able to put your Frenchie at ease using these methods. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you have any tricks of your own in the comments!
Alex Holman-Franco
Arlington Frenchies
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