For many dog owners, the simple act of leaving to run an errand or go hang out with a friend can be a stressful situation.

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety, meaning that these dogs get extremely stressed out when their human leaves because they are hyper-attached to their owner. For me, leaving my dog makes me feel guilty and sad for my dog. So how can you help your dog to calm down when you leave?

The first thing you should do is make sure that your dog is healthy. Annual vet visits are important to make sure that your dog is both physically and mentally healthy.

If the problem isn’t super serious, then the best thing for your dog is to give them a special treat when you leave. Make sure to take the treat away when you come home so they learn to anticipate and want the treat when you are gone.

Other options such as leaving clothes that smell like you with them or making a small goodbye are also good ideas.

If the problem is more serious, then you should acclimate your dog to when you leave. Start putting on your shoes or grabbing your keys but then don’t actually leave. Once they remain calm during these actions, you can start leaving for short amounts of time to train them that you will be coming back.

Try out these tricks and your dog’s anxiety should lessen, and you won’t have to have so much stress or guilt about leaving your pup at home.