Separation Anxiety Among Dogs When They Are Alone

Separation Anxiety among Dogs

 

Does your dog get nervous when he sees you getting ready to leave the house? 

 

Did your dog destroy your footwear, Chew furniture, pee in the living room or claw at doors?

 

Your dog could be going experiencing separation anxiety.

 

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

 

When a dog is separated from its pet parent, especially after a prolonged period of exclusive contact

  • Sudden change in routine.
  • Being left alone for the first time or when he’s used to being with people
  • Change of ownership happens in readoption/ rescue
  • Loss of a family member

 

These dogs usually have more than usual attachment and are unable to cope with the separation.

 

Dogs that are already predisposed to anxiety (firework or storm phobia, for example) are more likely to develop separation anxiety.

 

The dog that is extremely attached to his parent extra stressed when left alone.

 

 

SIGNS OF SEPARATION ANXIETY

  • Vocalization - Howl, bark, or whine to excess
  • Have indoor "accidents" even though he’s housebroken
  • Destructiveness - Chew things up, dig holes, scratch at windows and doors. Usually focused on doors, confinement areas, pet parent’s possessions
  • Drool, pant, or salivate way more than usual
  • Pace, often in an obsessive pattern
  • Continuously seeking contact
  • Departure cue anxiety,
  • Excessive greeting and rarely spending independent time alone or outside
  • Possibly soiling during your absence

 

Many a times the behavior isn’t apparent when you are home and your dog has access to you

 

In some cases, it may be so severe that the following can also occur:

  • Depression and no interest in food during your departure
  • Vomiting, diarrhoea, and hypersalivation (drooling)
  • Inability to settle or stop moving, circling, or pacing
  • Excessive licking or grooming (i,e., hotspots occur while you are away)
  • Restlessness, shivering, shaking

Signs begin within 30 minutes of your departure, and may not settle for up to an hour, if at all. Sometimes your pet might settle for 15-30 minutes and then cycle with the above signs, settle, and cycle again the entire time you are away.

 

BEST WAY TO HELP YOUR VETERINARIAN DIAGNOSE THIS CONDITION IF YOUR SUSPECT IT

 

 

TREATMENT

If the Problem Is Mild

  • Give your dog a special treat each time you leave (like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter). Only give him this treat when you're gone, and take it away when you get home.
  • Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting.
  • Ignore your pup for the first few minutes after you get home.
  • Leave some recently worn clothes out that smell like you.
  • Consider giving your pet over-the-counter natural calming supplements. There are several forms of pharmaceutical therapies including anti-anxiety medications and even natural pheromones.

 

Most effective treatment involves a Behaviour Modification Program and training (both the pet parent and the pet) which may or may not involve medication.

 

PREVENTION

As with many acquired disorders, prevention is much more preferred. Here are some tips you can do to prevent separation anxiety, or even start addressing it if you catch it early enough. In general the pet parent is inadvertently reinforcing their anxiety.

 

The key is to be consistent with this behavior and always try to “catch” them being independent.

 

AT HOME

  • Interact with your dog only on your initiative and only when your dog is relaxed.
  • Catch them being calm and independent and then go over and reward that.
  • Ignore them or walk away when they are being excessively clingy.
  • Train them to stay calm when alone. Train them to sit, lie down or stay as you walk away. Gradually increase distance and time. Treats are great tools for this!
  • Give departure cues (keys jingling, packing your belongings, going to the door, maybe even walking out then coming back in) at times other than true departure.

 

 

BEFORE LEAVING

NO DRAMA. Show complete indifference for 20 minutes prior to going out. When you leave, walk out without saying goodbye. Always make leaving “no big deal.”

 

Leave a treat-filled toy when you leave and take it away when you return.

 

WHEN RETURNING

  • No drama. 
  • Ignore excessive greeting until your pet is quiet and relaxed.
  • Do not reprimand or punish for any undesirable behaviors. If you are able to ignore the destruction, do so until a later time when you can quietly clean up.

 

If you are astute at picking up the signs early and are consistent with the tips above, it is unlikely that your pet will develop severe separation anxiety. However, every dog is different, and some highly anxious dogs may need extra help.

 

If none of these are working, or if you have a difficult case, then please visit your veterinarian or consider a consultation with a board-certified veterinary behaviourist.

 

Pets provide us so much love, loyalty, and companionship. Sometimes, how we relate to them dictates how they perceive the world around them. We know you love them back, so please realize that even though you are “ignoring” them when you come home and consistently following the above tips, what you are actually doing is calming them in the long run. You are helping them so that you can have more life, more years, and more love with your dog.