Most people typically love when their dog wants to be right by their side. After all, we wanted a companion.  But when your dog won’t even let you out of sight to take a shower ~ you may be dealing with something a little more than a desire to be with you.
If your dog panics when you leave the house and attempts to break out of his crate, drools puddles of saliva, injures himself, or attempts to eat your dry wall ~ you are definitely dealing with an anxiety disorder with your dog.
Dogs with separation anxiety or isolation distress suffer from a very real physiological stress response. They can’t rest. They pant heavily. They pace. They drool profusely.  They panic and need to get to you — wherever you may have gone.     They believe that their eating the front door is what brought you back home.  So when it works once in their mind — they do it again the next day.  When it doesn’t work the same way, they intensify.Â
Separation Anxiety is often misdiagnosed by the owner.  The term is applied generically to every whine or whimper your dog has when put his or her crate. They may even think a crate escape artist has separation anxiety — but really he’s absolutely fine without you home though maybe a little mischievous — once he’s out of the crate. He just hasn’t be properly acclimated to his crate.Â
- Some dogs will be fine with you out of the room as long as you’re in the house — Separation Anxiety. Â
- Other dogs can’t bear to have you out of sight, even if you’re home — Isolation Distress.
It’s a terrible way of being for your dog. And for you.  You may be feeling like you can’t risk leaving the house for fear of an emergency vet visit or needing a new front door. It is highly emotional for everyone.
There are no quick fixes. Generally speaking:  Your dog is not going to get better on his own. He won’t outgrow it on his own. And he won’t give up.Â
You need to begin today helping your dog change his behavior.  Stop feeling sorry for your dog’s past, let go of everything that happened yesterday — live in the present and change your behavior.
- Lead him gently but with confidence as a daily way of life. Â
- Be consistent with clear expectations for your dog’s behavior — and your own.
- Work on obedience training — teach your dog any new skill that he can earn praise for and build his on confidence in ways he can please you. Challenge his mind and stimulate him mentally.
- Exercise him daily to the point of being nice and tired (not exhausted) — he will be more responsive to the work you’re doing if he has burned off excess energy.Â
- Find a great game you can play with him — Fetch, Tug (if appropriate), Scent Work, etc.
Working with Isolation Distress:Â You won’t be able to leave the house, if you can’t leave the room.Â
-  Teach Place!  If your dog can learn to settle and relax on a mat with you in the room, he can also learn to settle and relax on a mat as you step out of the room.  You’ll work your way up to leaving the room after the dog learns the skill.  Later, you’ll work your way up to leaving the room for more than a few minutes.  It gives your dog something to do that he knows how to do — and he will earn your praise for doing it.  That makes him happy.
- Basic obedience will help in this area as well. Â Â
- Giving him a chew toy, yummy frozen treat etc may help
- Using your crate can help as well — even if you tie a tasty treat to the crate and leave the door open for him to enjoy (see our Crate Training guide)
 Working on Separation Anxiety:
I recommend you take a weekend maybe even a day or two off work and start practicing this behavior modification for several days in a row. You’ll make a lot more progress with repetition and consistency.  Â
- Change your routine. Create an unexpected response for your dog.
- Gather up your keys and belongings and if you are going to leave and don’t leave. Â
- Assuming you are using a crate — put your dog in the crate with a special treat and then let him right back out. Â Â Â Repeat often throughout the day.
- Â Consider the instructions for Crate Training as needed.
- When your dog is familiar and comfortable with being his crate with the door closed for a while with you home but out of the room — begin to leave the house.
- Calmly, without fanfare or any communication, walk out the front door and then come right back in to let him out.  Do this several times throughout the day.  Practice with and without gathering up your personal items, or with having your personal items in different locations of the house.  Use a different door.  Â
-  Again — change the pattern so that your dog does not predict the pattern. Â
- Walk to his crate without saying a word –remind him he must be sitting calmly before the door opens to let him out. Â
- Praise him & give him a treat.
- When you can go in and out with ease — up the ante. Stay out side for 3 minutes. Then back in and repeat letting him out with treat and praise.  Repeat 3-5 times and then give your dog a break for an hour or so, and do it all over again.Â
- Over the next several training intervals work on the following — Repeat these exercises 3-5 times, take a break, and repeat the interval 2-3 times before advancing to the next one. Judge your dog’s stress level before advancing and stay on that interval as long as it takes.    Also — Randomly go back to the very easy exercises — in the crate and right back out.  Out the door right back in. He should never be able to anticipate the pattern.
- Increase the time to 5-7 minutes.    Make a phone call.  Check the mail.Â
- Go outside and start the car. Trust me he knows that sound. Then go right back inside. Â
- Go outside and back the car out of the drive and right back in the house.
- Go outside and drive around the block and come back in the house.Â
- Go outside and drive away for 15 minutes,  then 30, then 45, then 1 hour…. then 2, etc.Â
I know what you’re thinking.  This could take weeks! Yes, it could.  Your dog didn’t develop this level of anxiety overnight and you won’t solve it overnight. It takes as long as it takes.  But with regular practice, keeping him guessing about the pattern, and you remaining consistent in your behavior — you will see results.Â
There are some holistic medications you can give you dog to help with anxiety.  These may include melatonin, Rescue Remedy, Calming Collars, Storm Stress, Lavender Essential Oils, Chamomile Tea, Valerian Root to name a few.  Discuss any supplements and dosages with your veterinarian,especially if your dog is on other medications.   Many vets may not agree with holistic solutions, so do your research.
For severe cases your vet may help you by prescribing something to help with behavior modification.  Medication alone is not your solution. You still need to put in the training work.
We’re here to help with you need us.  Call today.
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The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.
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My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.
My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.
Begin all training with a consultation with a professional trainer to be sure you’re solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty — do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.
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