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Pomsky Dog Breed: How To Stop Separation Anxiety

What Is Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a certain nervousness and angst that occurs in some dogs when they are separated from their owner.

Separation anxiety is a very stressful behavioral issue that affects a huge percentage of the dog population, estimated to be as high as 14%. This is a common behavioral issue with the Pomsky breed.

A Pomsky with separation anxiety from its owner will exhibit the following traits:

  • Pomsky becomes anxious when owner prepares to leave
  • Pomsky acts out or misbehaves within the first 15-30 minutes after owner leaves
  • Pomsky follows owner around at all times
  • Pomsky is always trying to touch the owner

This nervousness from separation anxiety can cause a number of other issues when the Pomsky is separated from its owner including barking, whining, chewing and urination.

Recognizing Pomsky Separation Anxiety

Recognizing that the above behaviors are symptoms of separation anxiety is the first step.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs is wide ranging (and distressing for the dog) but you can’t correct the symptom, you need to correct the underlying issue. By treating the symptoms you are not treating the cause of the problem. You must solve the underlying issue causing the symptoms and separation anxiety.

First ask yourself the question; does the behavior stop when you return? If so, then I suggest that you being away from your Pomsky (separations) is actually connected to the cause. Let’s take a look at a few of the key symptoms.

  • Chewing – Chewing releases an endorphin similar to the one released when a human is chewing gum. Pomskies do this in an attempt to stay calm.
  • Barking/Whining – Barking and whining is a call for the owner to return to the pack, similar to if you were to call your children when you can’t find them. Controlling your dogs’ barking is important especially if you want to give your neighbors some peace of mind!
  • Escaping – Escaping is often destructive, and sometimes dangerous. Your dog is looking for you. Most people try to exercise their dog more and physically stimulate their dog to correct this, but that will not solve the problem.
  • Digging/Destruction – Digging and destruction is connected to stress and anxiety of the Pomsky.
  • Potty – If your Pomsky is potty trained but starts going potty in the house, it may be a result of separation anxiety. If it is only occurring when your Pomksy is away from you then it is very likely connected to your Pomksy having separation anxiety
  • Self-mutilation – Excessive licking, chewing, and drooling is a sign of stress. These are signs that are often mistaken for being medical conditions, when in fact it is stress related.

 

Training Pomsky Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety in Pomskies is one of the most misunderstood issues. People try to treat it by approaching it from a human point of view and fail to see the cause.

The answer to how to stop separation is simple. Show your dog that you are the pack leader.

Whilst there are lots of places that you can find advice on how to treat all these symptoms there is only one way to treat the cause of the problem. If you are serious about how to stop separation anxiety then you must become the pack leader.

Let me explain.

Separation anxiety is a very straight forward problem that occurs when your Pomsky believes they are the pack leader and you are their puppy or member of their pack. In the wild, dogs do not wander off out of the pack away from the leader on their own. When you leave, your Pomsky has separation anxiety until you return home. Once you show your Pomsky that you are the pack leader your Pomsky will be fine with you coming and going as you please.

Pomsky Separation Anxiety Help – Pack Leader

All dogs worldwide, regardless of breed, use the same ways to check to establish the pack leader.

So how do you become the pack leader?

Well, it’s a little tough to explain through text, so we recommend you download this free obedience course from our friends at The Online Dog Trainer (they are giving our readers to access to this free course) for a video breakdown of what to control and how to become the pack leader.

The important areas to take control in are the following:

  • Be calm – The pack leader will be totally calm and in control when your Pomsky barks and alerts you of danger. This includes anything that your Pomsky may perceive as dangerous and barks at in and around the property
  • Control the walk – When on a walk, your dog should not pull you at any time, not even at the beginning.
  • Relax – The pack leader must always be on high alert, looking out for danger. Your Pomsky must know to relax when in the house; it should know you are the leader and you are on alert to protect the pack. If you are the pack leader, then your Pomsky should be able to relax and switch off completely inside the house. Getting your Pomsky to switch off is directly connected to how you meet and greet your Pomsky when you return home.
  • Feeding – Feeding your Pomsky correctly will establish who is the pack leader.

Summary

Separation anxiety is a certain nervousness and angst that occurs in some dogs when they are separated from their owner.

Separation anxiety is a very straight forward problem that occurs when your dog believes they are the pack leader and you are their puppy or member of their pack. When you leave, your Pomsky has separation anxiety until you return home.

The answer to how to stop separation is simple. Show your Pomsky that you are the pack leader.

Remember, understanding the real cause of the problem is the first step, becoming the pack leader is the solution.

I highly recommend you check out this free video course from Dan at The Online Dog trainer for more insight. He covers each of the above in much more detail, with real video examples, to help you stop separation anxiety.

Dog Training Obedience Course (Free)

This article was written with the help of our friends at The Online Dog Trainer.

We are happy to have an incredible partnership with Dan, otherwise known as “Doggy Dan”, and The Online Dog Trainer team.

Dan and the team have given us permission to use his proprietary puppy training content and videos. He has provided us with videos from his online training courses for FREE to help Pomsky owners around the world with training the perfect puppy.

Dan provides us with one more free bonus. He is giving our Pomsky owners free access to his four part obedience training course. 

This free download is a great supplemental to use in addition to the above training article. I highly recommend using Dan’s free course.

It’s completely free for our readers. This course covers important training topics and breaks down Dan's method that he uses to get your Pomsky to CHOOSE to obey you every time! In Dan's free course he teaches us:

  • Why most Dog Training methods set you up to fail.
  • Why food bribes and clickers to train your dog doesn't work long term.
  • Why using force, fear, and aggression does not work to train your Pomsky.
  • Why you don't have to spend hours training your dog.
  • How to teach your dog to CHOOSE to obey you and follow your commands.

More Pomsky Resources

Need more help raising and training your Pomsky? Check out our other Pomsky articles and videos including:

Need more help training and raising your Pomsky? Click here to download our complete guide to owning a Pomsky (Includes step by step training instructions).

Download - POA's Guide To Owning A Pomsky

 

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