Dogs are more than just a family. They are loyal companions and friends, forging strong bonds with their humans. Sometimes, dogs can become so attached to their human families that they become distressed when they can’t be with them, leading to attachment issues. This separation from their humans can cause the pups anxiety, and sometimes, this anxiety has some devastating impacts on the well-being of the dog as well as their relationship with their humans. Addressing these issues early with dog training can be crucial. If you have a dog with separation anxiety, do not despair. In this blog, we will delve into dogs with separation anxiety, the causes, the treatment, and how to prevent your dog from developing it.
What Is Dog Separation Anxiety?
Dog separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder in which a dog becomes distressed when they are separated from their human, or another animal, that they have created a strong bond with. While this disorder is more common among puppies and young dogs, older dog separation anxiety can also arise in senior dogs for different reasons. The disorder manifests itself in a variety of behaviors in the dog that can be very destructive to the dog’s health as well as to the owner’s property. The dog is experiencing extreme stress brought on from being left alone and feeling uncertain about that. Think of it as being the equivalent of a person having a panic attack. Your dog may also exhibit extreme joy when you come home, even if you were only gone for 10 minutes.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Dog Separation Anxiety?
What are some symptoms when your dog has separation anxiety? Some signs of separation anxiety in dogs include:
- Trembling
- Pacing, excessive salivating and whining while you leave and after you are gone
- Prolonged periods of barking, crying and howling
- Destructive chewing
- Scratching around exit points, like doors and windows
- Attempting to escape enclosures, like crates or pens
- Urinating and defecating in the household despite being house trained
But what differentiates regular anxiety, boredom or poor training from separation anxiety? If you’re saying to yourself, “Gee, my dog barks when I leave the room, even if I’m just going to the car or the bathroom” that could be a sign. You might be thinking, do dogs get mad when you leave them? Don’t think of it as anger so much as great distress brought on by being scared of how to handle being alone. A puppy pout is not the same as separation anxiety.
If your dog is already house trained and usually doesn’t have accidents, then urinating and defecating in the house when left alone likely indicates anxiety rather than a house training issue. Sometimes, a dog is destructive when left alone. Some might behave this way because they are very young puppies and going through a teething phase. Some dogs might chew a shoe because they’re bored of their toys and looking for stimulation. This is very different from a dog ripping a couch to shreds when left alone.
Dogs may not always direct this anxiety outwards on objects. Sometimes dogs will do self harm, like overgrooming until a hot spot forms or chewing their paws. Some dogs will be so desperate to escape that they can injure themselves in the process. It can be hard to stop dog scratching door if they are so scared they can’t think of anything but finding you.
What Causes Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
Why do dogs have separation anxiety? How did your dog go from being able to stay home alone to a dog suddenly has separation anxiety? Certain events can cause a dog to develop separation anxiety due to periods of major transition or after suffering severe trauma
- Moving to a new home
- Shortly after being adopted or fostered after a long stay in another facility
- Family members leaving during the day for extended periods of time
- Absence of core family members (whether from divorce, death, etc)
- Being abused or neglected
- Living for prolonged periods in a shelter or boarding kennel
- Change in guardianship (being abandoned, left at a shelter, given to a different person)
- Change in daily routine (ex: person who works from home starts a job at an office)
- Experiencing a traumatic event while alone; such as an intruder entering the home
How Can You Treat Dogs with Separation Anxiety?
Treating separation anxiety in dogs take a multi step approach. So, how to help a dog with separation anxiety? First and foremost, it is important to make sure that your dog’s behavior isn’t linked medically. Make sure to Take your pup to the vet for a check-up to rule out any underlying health issues, especially if your dog is older and may have special needs related to senior dog care. Sometimes these changes, like urinating on the floor or moodiness, can be a result of an illness or reaction to a medication.
Creating a safe place for your pup can also help them relax. Proper crate training means your pup will feel comfortable being left alone since they are in a happy place associated with comfort. However, not all dogs will be safe in a crate. Some dogs with severe separation anxiety will harm themselves trying to escape their enclosures, so crate training a puppy with this condition may not be the best solution. In these circumstances, a room with windows filled with some of their favorite toys and you dirty laundry would help.
If your dog is a very young puppy or new to your household, some of these behaviors could be the result of a lack of training or house training. Some pups will also need a decompression period following sudden changes. Your pup could also have some dog abandonment issues resulting from time spent at a shelter or a boarding house.
If the separation anxiety is mild, you can do some basic positive reinforcement and counterconditioning. With counterconditioning, you are teaching your pup to change how they react to certain situations or stimuli. For example, if a dog doesn’t like bicycles. Each time a bicycle passes, you give the dog a yummy treat. Over time, the dog will associate the bikes as something positive. The same thing can be done for separation anxiety.
Try giving your dog a delicious high reward treat, like a kong filled with peanut butter, every time you leave the house. Once you are home again, remove the kong and only give it to them when you are absent.You can leave your pup with a used piece of your clothing to comfort them with your scent. You can also leave on some soothing music or the TV.
When leaving the house, do not make it overly dramatic. Leave without too many words or emotions. Upon return, do not immediately greet your dog. Taking a few minutes before greeting your dog or saying hello.
Some calming treats can help as well. CBD for dogs separation anxiety might be effective as well. Ask your vet about the best options for your pup. Your vet might be able to prescribe dog separation anxiety medication in extreme circumstances.
You might be saying to yourself, my dog has separation anxiety, so what do I do? Severe separation anxiety in dogs can be trickier to treat, but not impossible! You should enlist the help of a professional trainer or dog behaviorist who specialize in dog separation anxiety training. The trainer or behaviorist will come up with a treatment plan on how to get dog used to being alone.
Dog Separation Anxiety Prevention
Keeping your dog properly exercised and entertained can also help prevent any anxiety from occurring. Take your dog for a long walk before you leave to ensure they release any pent-up energy. Treat puzzle toys, kongs and snuffle mats are great dog separation anxiety toys, they are also engaging your pup and keeping them entertained. Additionally, you can hire a professional dog trainer or dog walker to walk your dog.
Proper socialization would also help. Socialization does not just mean being friendly with people and pups, it also means that your dog learns how to behave appropriately and be comfortable around other people and pups. A dog that knows how to play around people as well as alone is a dog that can be comfortable being alone.
Creating a daily routine can help keep anxiety at bay. This is because your dog can anticipate how the day will unfold, which helps to calm their mind so they aren’t anxiously wondering what will happen. Try to stay as consistent as you can.
Make sure your home is a happy, calming, and enriching place.
