• Kyle@lemmy.ca
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    10 months ago

    As cute as that sounds, for dogs, reducing separation anxiety is counterintuitive.

    The more emotional both departing and returning is. The more it hurts them when you leave, the more separation anxiety develops.

    In an ideal world, when you leave your dog for the day, saying nothing when going and a professionally distant “greetings puppy” when you return will reduce anxiety for a dog when left alone. This doesn’t work by itself; you have to teach them to be alone slowly and carefully.

  • doingthestuff@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I’ve had pets for more than forty years and I’ve never had one try to convince me not to go to work. Either:

    I’m an asshole and they want me to leave

    I’m a workaholic and they know not to bother asking (likely)

    I’m oblivious to them making this plea every day

    • EmergMemeHologram@startrek.website
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      10 months ago

      Most pets adapt to your routine quickly, they’ve got a strong internal clock (just try moving their dinner time and see for yourself).

      I’ve never had pets beg me not to go, but if they did I’m sure pretending they persuaded me would only make them think they can do it again and for them to try harder.

      As Dwight Schrute would explain that Micheal explained to him: “we deceive them to not hurt their feelings, and in doing so, we honor them”