Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Uh-oh, Did I do that?

One way of understanding this issue is from your dogs perspective. This might help you better understand the issue and possible solutions with better outcomes.

Below are some scenarios from your dogs perspective (bearing in mind that you are probably not the pack leader).  Your dog knows your routine very well and will start getting agitated or anxious in anticipation of your departure and ensuing separation:

From the dog’s perspective a middle ranking pack member might wonder.. “Where are you going after all the fun we had together? Don’t you know that pack members need to stick together?” They might appear a bit concerned and try to call you back initially but will quickly settle down and wait for your return. Over a period of time such dog’s will quickly learn and adjust to your routine.

A lower ranking dog might work itself into a frenzy (wide eyed, panting, shaking, whining, crying, clingy..) in anticipation of your departure thinking “Oh no, they are leaving me alone again! When will they be back? Why can’t I go with them? I have to be with my pack at any cost.. “. They might try to claw thru’ their crate, front door or window, have accidents in the house and basically demonstrate undesirable traits as a result of their angst and nervous energy.

A higher ranking dog might think.. ”Hey, Where do you think you are going? You cannot leave without me! WAIT!” They might get all worked up hit 0-60 in a few seconds and destroy things, pick on lower ranking pack members, bark incessantly or even correct you upon your return.

From our perspective we tend to think.. “What’s wrong with my dog? He has everything he needs. I took him for a walk and even played with him. What more does he want?  I have to leave for work soon and I can only imagine what’s going to happen this time.. Let me try being firm and lay down the rules..” and it only snowballs from there since dogs pick up on your frustration and anxiety which in turn feeds their nervous energy.

Ever wonder about a wild dog or stray’s perspective? It’s probably something like.. “We are leaving the den to patrol our territory, check for intruders and forage for food..” Able pack members leave the den as a group and the rest stay behind and take care of the den. They are not confined to their den and leave when needed taking care not to stray too far or attract potential threats. Their reward for staying put is possibly food, continued pack membership and play time when the rest of the pack returns.

We can learn a lot about the true power of ‘pack’ from wild dogs and strays. What it means to form and maintain a close knit pack with calm and confident leadership, pack co-operation with minimal conflict and clear communication. They may not be as well “cared for” or “safe” as domestic dogs but they live a full free life on their own terms.

Getting back to the topic.. Once you understand what triggers your dog’s separation anxiety, start working on down playing those triggers one by one by making associated activities less significant. Work on getting your dog conditioned to the separation by leaving frequently with increased intervals of absence. Start with just a minute or two by stepping outside the house, add a few minutes by walking up to the mailbox and work your way up to an hour or so, this will help them realize that you frequently leave only to return and that it’s no big deal. It’s important to keep your departures and arrivals low key! Pay no attention to your dog remember Cesar’s advice “No touch, No speak, No eye contact”. Give them attention only after you settle down and they are calm. It also helps to kennel or crate train your dog and keep him occupied as you get ready to leave and while you are gone. A stuffed kong, toy puzzles, companion dogs, pet sitters are all good distractions to help keep your dog occupied as you leave. It also helps to walk or exercise your dog ahead of time since a tired dog will rest when you are gone.  A technique that helps build calm confidence in both you and your dog is realizing the power of “doing nothing” with your dog. Doing nothing, crate training, dog walking are possible topics for discussion in future posts.

Other sites with relevant information:

http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/40/Separation-Anxiety.aspx

http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/dogs/separationanxiety.pdf