About Dog Separation Anxiety

Considerations

• A dog is a pack animal, hardwired to spending time with its pack, be it canine, human, or a flock of sheep that he is guarding. While it is not natural for a dog to spend a lot of time alone, most adjust to it. Those dogs who suffer from separation anxiety share some common traits. They lack confidence and often appear high strung or nervous. Their owners generally do not do a lot of training or exercising the dogs. Very often, the owner finds it flattering that the dog follows him from room to room or whines when the owner leaves briefly. In a nutshell, dogs with separation anxiety lack the training that gives them confidence, exercise to burn off excess energy, and are encouraged to be clingy.

Identification

• Separation anxiety runs the gamut from mild to severe. A dog with a mild case may simply potty in the house when left alone, or chew an object that smells strongly like his owner, such as a shoe or underwear. A dog with a severe case can go berserk, doing thousands of dollars in damage to furnishings, bloodying his mouth by chewing, howling incessantly and defecating. If your dog acts like this only when left behind, it may well be separation anxiety. If your dog becomes agitated and distressed when you leave him, even briefly, consider that he is lacking self-confidence and is prone to separation anxiety. An energetic dog may merely be under exercised and bored, so giving him physical exercise and interactive toys and chews to play with in your absence may curb destructive behavior.

Misconceptions

• It is a common misconception that a dog potties in the house or destroys things when left alone because he is "angry" or "getting back at someone" for being left behind. The fact that a dog often chews his owner's belongings makes some people assume that it is out of spite. However, a dog is capable of many emotions, but spite isn't one of them. If the only time a dog misbehaves is when he is alone, it is separation anxiety. The reason he may look nervous or "guilty" on your return is not because he knows he has done something bad. It is because he knows you are upset about the damage he has done.

Warning

• Never punish your dog for being destructive in your absence. Because it's after the fact, he will not understand why you are angry and it will only make him more stressed.

Prevention/Solution

• A well-trained dog has confidence and rarely gets separation anxiety. Training and exercise is important for a dog's physical and mental well-being. Consider doggie daycare and classes for obedience, agility or other dog sports. For a dog that is mildly stressed, management by crating or baby-gating him into a safe area along with some good chew toys is a wise strategy. Make your leaving and returning to the house non-events by being calm and even ignoring your dog for a while when you come home. Practice short separations by handing him a treat, leaving without a word, then returning without a fuss. More severe anxiety can be medically treated. Ask your veterinarian about medications to help your dog, but bear in mind medication alone is only a start, Behavior modification, exercise and training is always part of the solution. See the link in the Resources section for more detailed information.