Separation Anxiety In Dogs

22 Jan

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Posted 01/22/2011 by mononanimalhospital in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

Dogs Separation Anxiety – Common Symptoms and Treatment

One of the greatest joys of dog ownership is the tight bond we experience and encourage with our dogs. However, if your dog becomes too reliant or dependent on you, dog separation anxiety can occur when you and your dog are apart.

Separation anxiety in dogs is an enormous problem for around 10% of all puppies and older dogs. Somewhat ironically, problems related to separation anxiety are the major cause for dogs ending up in animal shelters.

Look At It From Your Dog’s Perspective

To your dog you are the most important thing in his/her world. Dogs are pack animals that are very sociable creatures and thrive on company for many reasons. Your dog would spend every bit of his life with you if he could. So it’s only natural that when you go out, your dog experiences varying degrees of distress or anxiety. He becomes confused, doesn’t know where you are going, why he can’t be with you and if you will be coming back to him. When the two of you are separated all he wants is to be reunited with his pack – which is you.

Punishment is NEVER the answer to solving Separation Anxiety in dogs!

Does Your Dog Suffer From Separation Anxiety?

There’s every chance your dog is suffering from a separation anxiety disorder rather than another dog behavior problem if:

1. Your dog gets really worked up and anxious when you are preparing to leave the house. Actions such as picking up your car keys or putting on your coat can be enough to trigger the behavior.


2. Your dog engages in inappropriate behavior only when you are separated. I expand on this topic further down the page, but behavior such as urinating inside, excessive barking, and destructive behavior are common symptoms of canine separation anxiety.


3. Your dog follows you everywhere you go and immediately becomes distressed if he can’t be near you.


4. When you arrive home your dog is over the top with his greeting and takes a while to calm down.

Why Do Dogs Experience Separation Anxiety?

There are many theories on this one. In some cases the cause or trigger can be pinpointed to a particular event, but often there appears to be no explanation for the dog separation anxiety to commence. What I can say is that separation anxiety in dogs regularly occurs:

1. Straight after a change in routine. Such as your work hours changing or a family member leaving home. Remember dogs are creatures of habit and any changes can be very unsettling and confusing to them.


2. If you have been on vacation or unemployed for some time and have been spending heaps of time with your dog. As a result of this when you go back to work your dog becomes anxious and distressed.


3. Unfortunately dogs rescued from animal shelters contribute a highly disproportionate number of dog separation anxiety cases.


4. After your dog experiences a traumatic event while on his own. If a thunderstorm lashes your home while your dog is alone, this can trigger separation anxiety in the future – your dog will associate your absence with the traumatic event.


5. If your dog is rarely left alone and becomes overly reliant on his human family – Golden Retrievers are very susceptible to this type of separation anxiety in dogs.


6. When you move to a new neighborhood.

How Does Separation Anxiety In Dogs Manifest?

Barking

Whining

Licking

Destructive Behavior

Chewing

Howling

Panic Attacks

Digging

Inappropriate Urination

House Soiling

Self Mutilation

Escaping

Diarrhea

Loss of Appetite

Excessive Salivation

Vomiting

Jumping through windows

Crying

Separation Anxiety Treatment

The treatment administered to your dog’s separation anxiety problem depends on its cause and severity. A mild case of separation anxiety in dogs will be easily fixed by applying some of the proven methods listed below. More severe cases will take lots of time, commitment and possibly a visit to your Vet for some medication. Commence these techniques as soon as you identify separation anxiety to be the problem.

The golden rule is that you must educate your dog to accept the fact that sometimes you will need to be apart from each other. The earlier you start getting your dog used to this fact, the easier it will be, for both of you.

• Ensure that your dog feels safe and comfortable when you are away from him. Provide plenty of fresh water and clean, warm bedding for your dog.


• Be sure to give your dog plenty of exercise when you are around. On-leash walks, a run at the park with other dogs and some obedience training will all ensure your dog is happy and stimulated. Importantly, it can also mean your dog will rest while you are out, instead of tearing up the garden.


• Provide some appealing dog toys to help occupy his time. Kongs stuffed with frozen treats are a favorite with many dogs.


• Leave your dog a blanket or piece of clothing that has your scent on it. This may comfort a distressed dog – make sure it is something you don’t mind being torn up though.


• Try feeding your dog his main meal just as you are leaving the house. You can also hide part of his meal around the yard, which will give him/her something to do while you are away.


• If you often have the radio on when at home, leave it on while you are away. This can be soothing and comforting in mild cases of separation anxiety in dogs.


• Some dog owners report that buying another puppy or cat can help reduce separation anxiety. I believe that this action may reduce boredom, but won’t stop your dog from missing you when you are apart.


• Leave your dog in a safe and secure crate or kennel run. This has a twofold effect, it provides a comfortable “den like” area where your dog will feel comfortable, and it means your dog won’t be able to act out many of the problem behaviors listed above. Be sure that your dog is completely happy in this area before you go and leave him for any length of time. I’ve never crated my dogs for separation anxiety treatment purposes, but many dog trainers and owners recommend this training technique.


• Give your dog some obedience training. Teach and practice some basic obedience training commands like sit, down and stay. Be a strong leader or the “Alpha Dog” in your owner-dog relationship, your dog will respect and trust you for it. When you establish yourself as the trusted leader, your dog will respect your right to come and go as you please.


• Drop your puppy or dog off at a doggy day care center, to friends, neighbors or a family member’s home


• Don’t let your dog become too “clingy” and dependent on you every second you are together. Little by little teach your dog to be on his own when you are home. Put him in a crate, outside or just in the next room. Prove to him that it’s not a bad thing to be separated from you, give him his favorite treat in another room and leave him there for a while. When he is quiet and calm go and give him some praise, make it clear you are happy with him. You can also practice your down stay obedience training command for this purpose.


• Pay little or no attention to your dog when preparing to leave the house. Ignore him for 10 minutes and then slip out the door with no fuss. Same thing when you arrive home, just go about your business for about 10 minutes, ignore your dog. When he is calm, you can initiate some contact with him. You don’t want him to believe that his behavior (barking, whining etc.) has contributed to bringing you back home. Don’t inadvertently reward his behavior by giving a big over the top greeting every time you arrive home.

The 4 Step Program

Step 1

• Slowly teach your dog that he doesn’t always need to be close to you. Start out by ignoring his attention seeking behavior (jumping up, barking etc.) and then add some solid practice of his down and stay command. Little by little extend the time and distance you spent apart, until he is happy to be alone for up to 30 minutes. Of course, you will still spent lots of fun time together.

Step 2

• The next step is to get him used to being outside while you are inside. Again start off with very small periods apart and gradually lengthen the time over a couple of weeks.


• If you try this Separation Anxiety in dog’s treatment, make sure that you don’t just leave your dog outside to get all worked up and stressed. The trick is to start out leaving your dog out for a few seconds, then going out and reuniting before he shows any signs of separation anxiety. Give your dog a treat or dog toy to keep his mind off missing you. Only initiate contact with your dog when he is calm and quiet.

Step 3

• The next step in fixing your dog’s separation anxiety problem is to eliminate the distress caused by you getting ready to leave the house. What you can do is write a list of all the triggers that start your dog’s anxiety. Then set about desensitizing him to these triggers. For example:  put your shoes on, and not go anywhere. Put your coat on and sit down to read the paper. Pick up your car keys and just carry them around with you, jangling along as you go about your business.

Step 4

• When your dog is completely calm in situations that would have unsettled him in the past, go ahead and leave the house. At first, just step outside, shut the door and come back inside within 20 seconds – before he makes a sound. Again this is a slow process, similar to Step 2.  Then, extend the time outside the front door and then graduated to starting the car, then driving around the block before coming back inside.


• You can provide a tasty treat to your dog on your way out the door, something that he can work on for a while. A great recommendation is a frozen Kong stuffed full of peanut butter and a few liver treats.  This will eventually keep him occupied for hours.


• Remember that when you return home, don’t make a huge fuss. Come inside, get changed, pour yourself a nice hot coffee, and only then greet your calm dog.