When we first got our Dachshund puppy we were told that they get too attached to their owner and we thought every dog shows love and affection towards their owner what’s the big deal?
In the initial days, everything was fine, we played with her all day, having fun, cuddling, and all that. Our dog seemed to enjoy it and the love and attachment started to build stronger.
The first sign of separation anxiety she showed was when we had to attend a party outside the town. We can’t take our dog with us so we decide to leave her with my brother to take care of her until we are out.
Later we got to know our dog started crying, and howling after just 10 minutes we left her. And that was a surprise for us because she never did that.
So we took her to our veterinarian and he told us that our little angel was dealing with separation Anxiety. Sometimes when our dog is left alone she screams like someone is beating her.
Seeing our dog in that condition was sad and exhausting, so we started looking for a solution to help her.
In this article, we will explain all we did to overcome our dachshund’s separation anxiety. Stay tuned!
What is Separation Anxiety In Dachshunds
They might feel like losing their owner while separated for a long. It can be traumatic for the dog as well as the owner.
Dachshunds show signs like crying, biting stuff, howling, unnecessary barking, and screams sounding like falling meteors.
One day when I came home from work, I saw poop and dirt everywhere from the kitchen to the drawing room, I thought we had an intruder in our house.
I instantly checked the cameras and found out our doxie is pooping everywhere, destroying everything that comes within her reach.
In extreme cases worse can happen, might be some serious health issues.
What Can Cause Separation Anxiety in Dachshunds
Generally, Dachshunds are friendly dog breeds but sometimes when they are not socialized with the outside world they feel anxious when they meet new people.
Now here in the Separation anxiety situation, I think I am guilty because I used to over-pamper her, always with her never leaving her alone.
I got a sling carrier for her, carrying her to the kitchen while cooking, doing dishes, and laundry so she feels safe and calm which was a good thing but I never thought the other way that it would become the major cause of separation anxiety.
Other things like if you are traveling with your dog to new places meeting new people, and changes in surroundings and routine can sometimes trigger the anxiety button.
And can be caused by some past bad experiences from their previous owners thinking that their owners are going to leave them alone.
How To Overcome Dachshund Separation Anxiety
Gain Trust
Separation anxiety is a nightmare for dachshund owners, it can be frustrating and annoying but you need to calm yourself because your dog also needs your help.
To deal with the dog’s stress and anxiety you have to gain his trust that no matter what you always come back.
We asked many of our friends and our veterinarian what would be the best way to deal with this problem.
Commonly they said you should practice leaving your dog for a short time and come back to build their trust.
You can also give treats each time you go outside and come back home so that they feel rewarded. With each passing day increase the time from a few minutes to hours.
This way you will gain the dog’s trust and eventually after some time he will be “OK” to be left alone.
Now if you train your dog correctly with this method then the anoxious behaviour of your dog will be reduced.
Safe Space
When you bring a Dachshund puppy into your home, he/she will always search for the dynamics of the home. That means the dog will look at the surroundings, walls, furniture, people, and how the things are placed.
He/she is only looking for one question answer from the owner and family “Where do I fit in this family?”
So you need to give a proper space to your dog that is comfortable in a clean and calm environment where the dog feels safe and secure. This will give Doxie the impression that he is not being neglected or abandoned by the owner.
Games
You can also try playing games with your dachshund that require physical and mental challenges that keep him busy. Go for some long walks, meet, and great with other dogs and people.
But if you tried all of these methods and still your Dachshund is facing anxiety then you need to seek help from professionals who are experts in dog behavior.
They might do some advanced training or suggest some medications that will suppress the anxiety and give relief to your dog.
Conclusion
It is hard to see your beloved Dachshund having separation anxiety, but it is not some kind of problem that is untreatable. With lots of love, training, and patience we were able to overcome this problem.
In this period, the owner will also feel irritated, but you need to calm yourself because you are the only one who can help your Doxie.
And if the situation is getting out of control always seek professional help from the veterinarians.