Dog separation anxiety affects many dogs and results in symptoms that range from your dog howling all day to your dog chewing everything in reach. In fact it can often cause the dog owner as much anxiety as the dog! Unfortunately, our approach to curing separation anxiety in dogs can often make it worse.

Here are 3 of the most common approaches to separation anxiety that are almost guaranteed to increase your dog's anxiety rather than make them feel better. Do you use any of them?

1. We Make a Big Fuss of Our Dogs Before We Leave

Because most of us hate leaving our dogs home alone and are going to worry about them while we're out, we try compensating for it.

We take them for a long walk (because we've also been told to wear them out), then we get out their favourite toys (because we hope that might distract them) and finally we give them a big old fuss, stroking and petting them and telling them not to worry because we won't be gone long.

Right Approach?

WRONG: All of this fuss just adds to their anxiety. It's a bit like your 5 year old child giving you a big hug, saying they love you and telling you not to worry about them while they're gone, and then promptly disappearing. It's guaranteed to get you worrying.

Secondly, they'll soon associate all of these rituals with you going out. Some people only have to pick up their car keys or get a coat from the cupboard to get their dogs whining or pacing the floor.

2. We Get Anxious Ourselves Before We Leave

We know they hate it when we're gone, we know they're going to be pining, we're feeling guilty, we're not sure what kind of destruction we'll come back to this time...and the more we think about it, the more wound up we get.

Your stress levels are sky high before you even grab your coat and keys and head for the door.

Right Approach?

WRONG: Dogs pick up on our anxiety, so if we start worrying before we even leave, they'll know it.

It's said that a dog can pick up the signs of an epileptic fit up to 40 minutes before it actually happens, so if they can do that, they'll definitely pick up on your emotions and know you're anxious! And if you're anxious, they'll assume something is wrong which will only increase their own anxiety.

3. We Greet Our Dogs Like a Long Lost Friend

The moment we're home we rush back in and start making a huge fuss of our dogs. In fact we're so relieved to be back that we're not even going to object to our dogs leaping all over us. We think they're showing how pleased they are to see us - but actually they're demonstrating their relief too.

Right Approach?

WRONG: Our actions put them on a pedestal, and reinforce their position as the pack leader. And when they think they're pack leader they also think they're responsible for you. So next time you go out, they're going to worry even more.

Learning to stay calm and make no fuss about our comings and goings teaches our dogs that what we do is no concern of theirs and therefore nothing to worry about. This is the best way to help our dog reduces their separation anxiety and a great first step to getting rid of this problem completely.