Anxiety makes kennel an uncomfortable place

Dear Paw’s Corner: “Harry,” my 2-year-old dog, is very anxious. We have to leave him alone in a kennel in our house for long times during school days, up to six hours. We give him plenty of attention and take him for walks every day, but we still can’t leave him alone or else he chews up the house. He’ll sometimes vomit in his kennel, but not very much. We would like to leave him home alone outside the kennel so he can sleep on the couch all day, but we don’t know what to do. Any suggestions? — Dylan Y., via e-mail

Dear Dylan: There are some common techniques that may help calm Harry: Place an item with your scent on it inside his kennel, as well as a chew-safe, but soft, toy. Leave a radio with soothing music nearby.

Another option is to have a pet sitter come over on school days to take Harry out of his kennel for an hour, take him for a walk and provide him with companionship halfway through a very long, boring day.

You may have to try several things to calm Harry down and get him accustomed to regular absences. Be patient, remember never to use the kennel as a punishment (it’s supposed to be his second home), and reward him with lots of treats and attention before and after putting him into it. If his anxiety continues, speak to his veterinarian about other options to make his time alone more bearable.