Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

As pack animals, dogs are instinctively fearful of isolation. In the wild a dog on his own is much less likely to survive than a dog in a pack. For that reason, one of the main factors that influences a dog’s behavior—aside from food acquisition and reproduction— is the instinct to remain in contact with the pack. Domesticated dogs have retained this instinct, but the degree of associated anxiety varies from dog to dog.

  1. Howling

    • Dogs that become separated from their pack will howl in order to alert other pack members to their location. In the domestic environment, dogs view the family or people they live with as their pack. When a dog is prone to separation anxiety, the first instinctive reaction to separation is to howl. Howling may become a habitual behavior regardless of anxiety, in which case corrective training is necessary, such as rewarding the dog with food for periods of isolation in which he doesn’t howl.

    Agitation

    • General agitation or restlessness is often a sign of separation anxiety. Dogs form associations between stimuli and consequences. For example, if you pick up your keys and put on your coat before going out, your dog will learn that this is a sign of impending separation. As a result, the dog may begin to feel anxious in anticipation of the separation and will display the anxiety in a variety of ways, such as nervous whimpering or by following you around very closely.

    Scratching at the Door

    • When house training a dog, it's necessary to segregate him for brief periods of time. This is a good way to demonstrate that periods of isolation always end with the dog rejoining the family. Nevertheless, an anxious dog may react by attempting to physically remove the barrier between himself and the pack. If the dog is behind a closed door, he may scratch at the door. It's important not to respond or communicate with the dog while he's doing this, as doing so teaches the dog that scratching results in becoming reunited with the pack.

    Destructive Behavior

    • When a dog suffering from separation anxiety is left alone, he may become distressed. In order to relieve the tension and stress, he may chew and scratch on items within reach, such as a table and chair legs, or shoes and rugs. The key to preventing this is to train the dog so that he understands that the process of separation ends, regardless of his behavior. Achieve this by rewarding the dog with food or praise each time he manages to endure a period of separation without becoming anxious. Ignore the dog when he demonstrates anxiety.