Hey, so my 1-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has started chewing on stuff when we leave the house. He’s usually a happy, cuddly dog and not anxious at all. But recently, whenever we leave, he just goes wild with the chewing. Any advice on how to help him stop this? I don’t want him destroying everything while we’re gone… 
It sounds like separation anxiety! Have you tried leaving him with toys like a Kong or treat dispenser? That helped my dog a lot when he started chewing. Also, there’s this calming music for dogs on YouTube. Could help to try it out!
@CarolWright
Yeah, I’ve heard of calming music for dogs! I’ve been meaning to try it. Did it help your dog a lot?
Lizzah said:
@CarolWright
Yeah, I’ve heard of calming music for dogs! I’ve been meaning to try it. Did it help your dog a lot?
Definitely! It’s worth a shot. My dog seemed more relaxed after listening to it, especially when we’re not home.
I had a similar issue with my dog. We got him a puppy toy with a heartbeat, and that helped him feel less alone. Also, have you thought about using a calming collar like Adaptil?
Meryl said:
I had a similar issue with my dog. We got him a puppy toy with a heartbeat, and that helped him feel less alone. Also, have you thought about using a calming collar like Adaptil?
Ooh, I didn’t know about the heartbeat toy! I’ll check that out. The collar sounds interesting too, I’ll look into it. Thanks!
Have you tried using Melatonin? It’s something I used for my dog when he had separation anxiety. Just make sure you get the right dosage for his weight!
MaryJane said:
Have you tried using Melatonin? It’s something I used for my dog when he had separation anxiety. Just make sure you get the right dosage for his weight!
Melatonin? Like the stuff for people? I didn’t realize it could help dogs too. I’ll definitely try it out. Thanks for the tip!
Same thing happened with my pup. I started leaving him with a puzzle toy, and it kept him distracted for a while. You can find a lot of dog puzzles on Amazon or Petco!
FetchFanatics4 said:
Same thing happened with my pup. I started leaving him with a puzzle toy, and it kept him distracted for a while. You can find a lot of dog puzzles on Amazon or Petco!
A puzzle toy sounds fun! I’ll grab one for him and see if it helps. Thanks for the suggestion!
I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s normal for dogs to chew when they’re left alone. Just make sure you’re giving him enough mental stimulation when you’re home, and he might calm down when you leave. Also, try not to make a big deal when leaving or coming home!
@Amelia
That’s a good point! I’ll work on making my departures more low-key. Hopefully, that helps him relax a bit more. Thanks for the advice!