There are times when you need to board your dog, but he seems upset when you’re about to leave. Robinwood Kennel, a family owned and operated pet boarding center in Highland Heights, KY, has advice on how to keep your pet anxiety-free when you’re away.

How can you tell if your pet suffers from separation anxiety?

• He’s housebroken, but he urinates or defecates when he’s left alone or he’s away from you.
• He destroys furniture, door frames, or window sills by chewing or digging at them.
• He’s so determined to escape the area he's confined to, that he’s broken teeth from chewing, or injured himself from digging.
• He barks or howls when he’s left alone.

One of the best ways to help your pet feel less distressed about being alone is through behavior modification. Your pet may associate certain cues, such as putting on your coat and shoes, as part of your departure ritual, which will trigger their anxiety. Ease your pet’s nervousness by putting on your coat, but not leaving the house, so that he will disassociate the act with you going away. You can also keep your departures and arrivals low-key. Your pet is very in-tune with your emotions, so it’s best to not make these events a big deal.

Separation anxiety is usually common with pets that feel they need to be near you—for example, the ones that follow you from room to room. You can try and train your pet to be independent by having your pet practice being physically distant from you.

Behavior modification does not always work with all pets, and some may need medication. If you think your pet has separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian about the best form of treatment.

Robinwood Kennel will make sure your dog or cat is as comfortable and happy as possible. Call these cat and dog boarding experts at (859) 781-2352 for information about boarding your pet, or visit their website for a full list of their pet sitting and grooming services.