Successfully boarding a dog with separation anxiety can be a complicated process. However, it is possible with enough patience and arming yourself with the correct tools to overcome the issue. Some helpful tips for this situation include understanding your dog’s anxiety and looking for coping mechanisms that work in your specific instance. For example, many dogs experience separation anxiety due to negative events, such as being left at an animal shelter by their previous owners or being separated from their mother too early. Other events may also trigger your dog’s anxiety, such as an unstable or changing routine and a lack of physical activity. Some signs of separation anxiety include barking and whining an excessive amount, trying to escape, and destroying household items and walls and doors.
Determining the cause of your pet’s anxiety can sometimes be difficult. However, if you can pinpoint any potential causes, this can help you better address the issue. For instance, you may have adopted your pet from an animal shelter and feel that this may have caused anxiety. Moving forward, you may want to take steps to ensure that your dog knows you aren’t going to abandon it, such as not leaving it alone for extended periods. If you need to board your dog in certain instances, such as a vacation, you must make sure you leave the dog with a trusted individual who will keep the dog entertained, and you need to go the dog with toys and treats that will keep it busy. Therefore, you may also want to include items like water bowls and pet beds, toys, and treats. This will help it focus less on your absence, and having familiar objects will also comfort it.
Also, suppose you plan on boarding your dog. In that case, you could begin preparing it beforehand by leaving it alone for a brief period and then gradually increasing the time you are gone until it begins to feel more comfortable on its own. You may also consider finding a pet sitter instead of leaving your dog at a boarding kennel. You can often ask friends or family members to come to your home and watch your dog while you are away. This will make this situation less distressing for your pet because they will be in a familiar environment with someone they likely already know. If you cannot find a friend or family member who will be available during your absence, you can also hire a pet sitter, which is relatively easy to find. Whether you leave your pet at a kennel, with friends/family, or with a pet sitter, you must discuss your pet’s anxiety with them to better prepare and handle the situation more easily. It would help if you also expressed the importance of allowing your dog to get the proper amount of exercise, helping it relax and focus on something else. Also, if your dog is friendly with other dogs, it can help it spend time with other pets, which is also a good distraction.