Separation Anxiety in Dogs | Hespeler Animal Hospital

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

April 9th, 2013 Posted in Uncategorized

I have a 2 yr old boxer cross. She is well behaved and generally listens to my girlfriend and I. Our problem is that if she’s left at home when we’re out, she’s pees and poops in the basement every time we leave her alone. She knows she’s supposed to go outside because we have a pee spot for her and she never ventures outside of it to relieve herself. She also goes on command if needed. I should mention that we let her out in the morning or before we leave. The problem is if she can she will go in the basement. It’s not as if it’s a huge puddle or pile. More like she just goes for the sake of going. She also tends to hide it behind items. If we keep her in our front foyer with a puppy gate, we have no problems…ever.

Why does my dog do this and how can I get her to stop? I’m not a fan of hitting animals or yelling at them after the fact but I’m at my wits end. I would like to leave her out and be able to trust her but nothing seems to work.

It sounds like your pooch has Separation Anxiety.  This is a common behaviour problem in dogs, especially in those that are very bonded to their owners.  In your boxer’s case, it’s unlikely she has a problem with housebreaking.  In fact, you’ve done a great job in training her, from what you’ve described.
 
Dogs with separation anxiety miss their owners and do ‘bad” things to reduce their distress.  It’s similar to someone biting their nails when they’re nervous.  These dogs might pee and poo in the house, or they might chew things they’re not supposed to.
 
I agree you should not hit her or yell at her. Punishment induces fear in animals.  They rarely know why you’re mad at them, and it’s hard for them to learn when they’re upset.  Also, it may result in nervousness that will only result in more behavioural problems.
 
I can’t give you individual advice, but perhaps I can speak about Separation Anxiety in general.  Some of the recommendations on treating this disorder include:
 
1/  Do not allow your dog to become excited when you’re about to leave the house.  Don’t make a big deal about the fact that you’re going out.  You’re best to ignore her entirely for half an hour or so before your departure.  That’s because most dogs with Separation Anxiety engage in the undesired behaviour within the first hour after their owners leave.  If you don’t let her get wound up, she won’t have to let off steam by eliminating in the house.  It sounds mean to leave without saying good-bye, but many cases of Separation Anxiety are cured by this one simple step.
 
2/  Some dogs know when their owners are due to come home, so they misbehave around that time instead.  So, it’s also a good idea to ignore your dog for the first 15-20 minutes that you’re first home.  You can say hello after that.
 
3/  It’s really helpful to give her a special toy she only gets when you’re out.  For example, a Kong stuffed with peanut butter.  Don’t give it to her at any other time, so she really values it when she’s offered it.  Now she’ll have something to keep her occupied while you’re away.
 
4/  Talk to your veterinarian about counter-conditioning..  This is a method of training where you pair a stimulus with another event.  For example, you’ll teach her that turning the radio on signifies a short departure.  Then, when she’s made that association, you can use it for times you’re out for longer periods of time and she’ll think you’re coming right back.
 
5/  If the suggestions above don’t help, there are medications your veterinarian can prescribe for the short term, to enable the learning process.  Some dogs need to have their anxiety dampened before they’re able to learn what you’re trying to teach.
 
I recommend talking to your veterinarian about your dog’s behaviour.  We’ve learned about treatment of problems such as this in medical school.  Your vet is your best source for pet care information. She or he can give you specific advice for your dog and your situation.

Here are some great resources:

http://www.todaysveterinarypractice.com/article.asp?articleid=T1211C04#article

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/separation-anxiety-in-dogs-synopsis/171

and one of my favourite trainers:

Don’t forget to IGNORE the wrong behaviour, rather than say no or re-direct (=attention=rewarding the bad behaviour)

Examples of food puzzle toys include KONG® Toy, the Buster® Cube, the Tricky Treat™ Ball, the Tug-a-Jug™, the Twist ‘n Treat™, the Atomic Treat Ball™ and the TreatStik®. 
 
Louise Langlais