Returning home after being away for a brief period, it is distressing to witness a pitiful sight: your dog is drenched in saliva, shaking uncontrollably, and exhibiting an expression of terror with its eyes wide open. Moreover, there is disorder near the entrance, and both the television remote and sofa cushions are severely mutilated.
It is evident that you are not simply dealing with regular mischievous behavior in your dog. This situation involves a dog experiencing separation anxiety, leading to significant stress for both the dog and yourself.
To ensure the safety and well-being of your dog, follow these steps to assist them with separation anxiety.
What Is Dog Separation Anxiety?
When a dog is separated from the individual(s) they are emotionally connected to, they experience separation anxiety, which is a form of stress response.
Tina Flores, KPA-CTP, CSAT, who is a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT), states that when a dog is going through separation anxiety, the experience is quite comparable to a panic attack in a human being. For instance, if a human with a fear of heights is placed on a tall building, they might display symptoms like sweaty palms, a dry mouth, and a fast heart rate. Similarly, whenever a dog suffering from separation anxiety is left alone, their bodies are overwhelmed by the same stress hormones.
The reactions of the dog can vary from mild distress, such as pacing and whining, to severe anxiety, leading to dogs hurting themselves when trying to flee and find their owners.
There is not one specific reason why certain dogs develop a difficult reaction to being left alone. In the case of some dogs, this can be attributed to a traumatic experience or a change in their surroundings that they found distressing. Instances of this include:
In the family structure, alterations can occur due to events such as the passing away of a family member or the dissolution of a marriage.
Changes in lifestyle can entail rehoming or relocating from a rural area to an urban setting.
The transition of a pet owner from a part-time to a full-time position leads to changes in routine.
It is possible for a dog to develop separation anxiety even if it hasn’t experienced any trauma in the past, which could be attributed to an underlying genetic tendency towards the condition.
Does My Dog Have Separation Anxiety?
There are several behaviors associated with separation anxiety that may also have alternative medical or behavioral explanations.
Excessive drooling can be attributed to reasons such as a fractured tooth or nausea. Barking can occur as a reaction to a territorial threat. Accidents could indicate that the dog lacks complete house-training or has a urinary tract infection.
To ascertain the appropriate treatment for separation anxiety in dogs, pet owners should initially arrange for a veterinary examination to exclude any potential illness or alternative behavioral causes for the reactions.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Dogs that have separation anxiety frequently acquire knowledge of their owner’s predeparture signals, such as getting dressed in a specific outfit, preparing a meal, or arranging a bag, and consequently display signs of stress even before their owner departs.
Once the dog is in a solitary state, it is possible for them to display any (or all) of the following indicative characteristics of separation anxiety:
Dogs who become panicked when their owner leaves may struggle to calm down and may resort to continuously pacing back and forth.
When left alone, dogs often respond to isolation by barking and howling. However, dogs experiencing separation anxiety may vocalize incessantly throughout the duration of their solitude.
Even the most food-motivated dog can ignore treats and bones due to separation anxiety, resulting in a loss of appetite.
When dogs experience separation anxiety, they frequently destroy small objects around the house, such as pillows or the remote control. In more extreme cases, they resort to causing significant damage by tearing through furniture, walls, doors, or windows.
House-trained dogs may experience accidents, such as diarrhea, when left alone.
Excessive drooling can occur in stressed dogs, leading to a dampened chin and chest.
Dogs that suffer from intense separation anxiety may have the ability to escape confinement, leading to the possibility of sustaining injuries.
Treating separation anxiety
Determining the reason behind your dog’s negative response to being left alone can be challenging. This becomes particularly difficult because research indicates that half of dogs experiencing separation-related behavior (SRB) do not exhibit any signs when in your presence.
How to treat or prevent separated-related behaviour
If positive action is taken to prevent or treat separation anxiety, it can be helpful.
- Your dog is showing obvious signs of distress.
- If you don’t know whether there’s a problem but want to help your dog to feel better when left alone.
- You want to identify if behaviour problems are being caused by other factors. For example, whether destructive behaviour is being caused by a lack of mental stimulation. Or, if barking actually caused by a disturbing noise.
Leave a ‘special’ toy
Ensure that your dog always has stimulating activities to engage in when you are not present by providing them with a durable chew, such as a stuffed ‘kong’ toy, a meat-flavored chew, or a treat ball.
Ensure that your dog finds it pleasurable to use the item in question while you are present. In the event that your dog does not utilize said item in your absence, it could be an indication that your dog experiences anxiety when you are not around.
To avoid overfeeding, remember to subtract any food treats from your pet’s daily food allowance.
Encourage your pet to relax during their alone time
To ensure your dog has a chance to relieve themselves and get some exercise, consider taking them for a walk before you venture out. Make sure to return 30 minutes prior to your departure time and ensure they aren’t hungry. You can either provide them with a small meal before you leave or leave a food toy to keep them content while you’re away.
Minimise disturbances
You can prevent disturbances and barking by taking steps to address the sight or sound of other people or dogs passing by their window or noises outside which may cause some dogs to bark.
- Closing the curtains to reduce what your dog can see.
- Leaving them in a quiet room.
- Leaving the radio on to muffle outside sounds.
Get a dog sitter
We advise against leaving your dog unattended for more than four hours, especially if they are a puppy. However, if your dog has difficulty with being alone, they can begin experiencing anxiety within minutes of your departure, or possibly even prior to your departure.
By utilizing the services of a dog sitter or a dog walking service, you enable someone to provide companionship for your dog and ensure they receive regular walks. This method effectively alleviates any anxiety your dog may experience in your absence.
Use Pet Prescription Medication
Medication can assist dogs suffering from separation anxiety in situations where, according to Dr. Arielle Schoenlein, a DVM practicing at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic.
A dog is causing harm to themselves because of their anxiety
The presence of a dog in the house is causing harm to other animals.
When left alone, a dog is causing damage to household items.
The potential for a dog to stay in the home or have a good quality of life is diminished.
According to Dr. Schoenlein, in every case, medication is utilized alongside training to decrease overall anxiety, which in turn increases the effectiveness of the training.
There are typically two options for treating anxiety in dogs with medications. The first option involves using anxiolytic drugs, which are drugs that reduce anxiety. Typically, these medications are used for the long-term. It usually takes four to eight weeks for this type of medication to start working, and you will need to take your dog for blood work every year.
The second choice consists of using event-specific medications in combination with training to minimize anxiety and allow positive experiences when you depart from home, particularly when a known trigger is about to happen.
According to Flores, a lot of the dogs we deal with take some form of anti-anxiety medication. Based on my experience, these medications frequently assist in reducing the threshold and facilitating learning during the separation anxiety protocol.
Never punish your dog
To ensure your dog’s behavior doesn’t worsen, it is crucial to refrain from displaying any disapproval if it does something undesirable while you’re away. Making loud noises or expressing disappointment could frighten your dog and exacerbate the situation.
The behavior, such as chewing and barking, will worsen as your dog becomes anxious about what you will do upon your next return after going out.
When dogs are scolded, they may respond by lowering their head, putting their ears back, and tucking their tail between their legs. Regrettably, owners often misinterpret this behavior as guilt and mistakenly scold their dogs, assuming they are aware of their wrongdoing.
Even if you bring your dog to the place where they misbehaved, they will not understand that your anger is connected to their previous actions. Instead, your dog will feel more anxious the next time you leave. In the event that you come home to a mess, it is crucial not to physically punish or shout at your dog.
Here are some guidelines to follow for maintaining the same meaning while rephrasing the text: 1. Ensure that your dog does not perceive your annoyance – take them outside first before cleaning up. 2. it is advisable to prevent your dog from witnessing your irritation; allow them to go outside before tidying up. 3. To avoid your dog noticing your annoyance, let them outside prior to engaging in any cleanup activities. 4. It is recommended to refrain from exhibiting any signs of annoyance in front of your dog; instead, let them out before commencing with cleaning. 5. It is best to avoid displaying any indication of annoyance towards your dog; instead, let them outside before starting to clean up. 6. To prevent your dog from sensing your annoyance, make sure to let them go outside before you begin cleaning up.
Leaving your dog to ‘cry it out’
Here is the reason why some dog training guides might recommend letting a dog ‘cry it out’, despite the fact that it can cause neurological harm.
- Dogs and puppies left to cry it out will only learn that being alone is terrifying.
- Every time your dog becomes highly distressed, stress hormones occur in the body which can take days to reduce. This can cause negative, long-term effects on your dog’s body and mental state.
- Some will sadly learn that calling for their owner to come back doesn’t work, so they learn to suffer in silence.
Fixing Separation Anxiety One Step at a Time
The effective treatment of separation anxiety can be overwhelming, as progress can be slow, often happening at a literal pace of one second at a time, which further adds to the difficulty.
According to Flores, guiding your dog through a separation anxiety protocol may not be a simple task, but based on personal experience with numerous clients and Flores’ own cherished dog, it can be stated with sincerity that there is hope and complete recovery can be achieved.
