Separation Anxiety in Dogs

It’s no fun to come home to a destroyed house.  And, contrary to what many owners believe, their dog did not rip things apart out of spite or to get even. Sometimes the destruction stems from a bored pup but it could also be a cry for help.

 Separation Anxiety is a term that is becoming more and more common. It’s difficult to tell if this is because the condition is more prevalent or if we are just more aware of the problem.  Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety exhibit behavior problems and destructive behaviors when they are left alone.  Destructive chewing, barking or howling, scratched doors, and soiling the house from a housetrained dog can all be signs of the stress that is associated with separation anxiety.  

So how can you tell if Fido is really suffering or just a naughty pup? One of the biggest indicators is that the problems occur only when you are absent from the home, and typically begin soon after you leave. Your dog follows you from room to room in the house and never leaves you alone. Your dog displays excitable or anxious behavior when you get ready to leave the house. 

Why some dogs are able to deal with an owner’s absences while others panic is not well known but some theories for things that might precipitate the onset of separation anxiety are; a dog that has enjoyed constant human companionship is suddenly left alone, changes to the family routine or the sudden loss of a family member, a traumatic event for the dog such as being left in a shelter or kennel for a very long time.  What might begin as minor anxiousness in a pet can become intensified when the owner adds drama or emotional weight to their leaving or returning  home.

The good news is that with counter-conditioning, almost always separation anxiety can be dramatically improved or even overcome.  The key to helping your pup is to move slowly never allowing your dog to feel the stress associated with your absence.  You also want to begin to build the confidence in your dog that he can be alone and that you will return. And keep departures and arrivals low key. The following steps will help to start the process:

1)      Although separation anxiety is a behavioral, not an obedience issue, helping the dog to become more comfortable with being away from his owner for increasing lengths of time and greater distance seems to help. So, practice the “stay” command.  Begin with simple exercises where you only walk a short distance from the dog and gradually make the exercise more difficult. You want to keep working until you can walk into another room and back. Your dog should never move from the location you left him. Be sure to reinforce after each successful exercise. Next increase the length of time that you dog must stay with you out of sight. Take a stop watch with you so that you slowly but consistently increase the length of time that you are away from your dog. Practicing this obedience exercise allows your pet to practice being separated from you. More importantly, it allows him to experience success and your repeated return.  Continue increasing the length of time that you are away until your dog is comfortable with staying for at least 10 mins.