My upstairs neighbors have recently told me that my dog moans while I’m not home, which is obviously bothersome. When I asked her to clarify what he does, she said that it’s like an “ARO” that occurs every time I’m gone, whether it’s for a short while or a long while (I never leave him alone for more than eight hours). I believe it is separation anxiety because I know my dog. Fortunately, he doesn’t have any harmful habits. I don’t want to bother my neighbors, but I also feel horrible for the little man. Any advice on how to fast fix this?
While you’re away, record him to observe his behavior, which should provide some information.
The neighbor gave me enough details to draw some conclusions. As I have stated, I think it’s separation anxiety. It’s difficult to stop him from howling and upsetting the neighbors while I’m not even there, so I’m just trying to find a solution.
This was a common behavior for my husky, and it still happens sometimes.
What I actually did was start going outside the house more often, even for short bursts of time. ‘I’ll be right back, and I need you to be a good boy,’ I would tell him. I would give him a treat, a cuddle, and praise if he hadn’t barked when I returned. I would have given him a treat if he hadn’t barked, but I still hugged him.
Though not entirely recovered, he has made significant progress in the last few months. Still, that was pretty darn close.