If you’ve never had a dog who has struggled with separation anxiety (SA), consider yourself lucky. This common behavioural symptom is often characterized by destructive and annoying acts that can make you wonder what you might have gotten yourself into by getting a dog! In reality, separation anxiety can be mentally exhausting for both dog and owner. In fact, severe SA happens to be one of the top reasons why pet dogs are surrendered to shelters and rescue groups.
Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety will usually exhibit some (or all) of the following behaviours when you are not in sight. Keep in mind, these behaviours may occur even when the dog anticipates you leaving – say, hearing the keys jingling or the sound of you walking around with your shoes on:
- chewing/eating objects or “getting into†things
- barking, whining, howling
- pacing through rooms
- panting excessively
- digging at couches, beds, carpets
- compulsive licking
- defecating or urinating in the house
These are only some examples of behaviours that can indicate SA in your dog. Of course, some of these could also indicate illness, so rule that out first. You know your dog and you’ll probably know when he’s anxious, too! If you’ve just adopted or brought your new dog home, be patient with any strange or destructive behaviour – he is feeling insecure and it’s your job, as the leader, to help him fix it.
Why does separation anxiety happen? Remember that dogs are pack animals and will depend on a leader to show them how to act. In the wild, leaders (that’s you!) generally come and go as they please and everyone else within the pack can deal with that because they feel secure in rank. If your dog thinks he might be the leader and sees you leave, all is not well in his mind. Not only have you left, but he can’t physically get to you in order to keep his pack together! Alternatively, submissive dogs may find your departure just as unnerving because they are insecure in their ability to behave without you. Cue the howling, the barking … the clawing at the door. To your dog, this is serious.
But it might not be a leadership issue. Let’s assume that you’ve already successfully asserted yourself as pack leader and your dog respects his position. First of all, good for you! While that’s a great start, it’s very important that you ensure your dog gets enough exercise before you leave him alone. A bored or restless dog can wreak havoc on your home and belongings. And no, it’s not out of spite! Dogs likely don’t have the ability to think “Pfft … she left me – I’ll show her!â€, so don’t take it so personally!
Alright, so what can you do? The exact solution really depends on the behaviour, but overcoming SA can be helped by trying the following:
- Leave your dog alone in increments. Start with 2 minutes, then slowly work your way up to 30 minutes – the speed at which you move ahead depends on your dog’s reaction. Always praise your dog for good behaviour. Scolding for misbehaviour will be confusing, not constructive.
- Consider crate-training your dog or limiting his access to certain “safe†rooms. Keep in mind, however, that some dogs have been known to injure themselves in the process of escaping crates!
- Randomly pick up your keys, open the door, put on your shoes, etc. and don’t actually leave the house. You can desensitize your dog’s reaction to these noises by normalizing them. He’ll learn that the noises are no big deal at all!
- Resist the urge to say goodbye to your dog when you leave. When you return, do so calmly. Even better, ignore your dog and put the groceries in the kitchen before scratching his head hello.
- Give your dog appropriate chewing toys. Long-lasting chews like sterilized antlers or a peanut butter filled Kong are great options for heavy chewers.
- Schedule exercise time before you leave. I know early mornings can be difficult, but for a dog with SA, this could mean a world of a difference.
- If you haven’t already, set boundaries and stick to them in all areas of your interaction with your dog. Be a confident leader so he can relax and follow your cues. Your dog wants and needs to follow and trust you.
- Give it time. If your dog is new to your life, he might just need time to adjust to your routine and to figure out how things work in your household.
If, after a good period of time (it could take months), your dog continues to show signs of severe separation anxiety, you may need to consult your veterinarian to discuss options. While there are medications that can be prescribed for your dog to reduce anxiety, you’ll probably want this to be the last resort!
Above all else, be patient, be confident, and relax. Your dog needs your leadership when dealing with SA.
Got a dog who has (or got over) separation anxiety? We’d like to hear about it!
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