Every dog dislikes being isolated against their will. It is not pleasurable for any dog when you leave them alone at home for a long duration while you go to work. Dogs are naturally sociable beings. Even though dogs do require rest and solitude occasionally, most of the time they prefer to be in your company rather than being separated from you. Certain dogs handle this separation better than others. Nonetheless, separation anxiety in dogs extends beyond this fundamental truth.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety differentiates from generalized anxiety or boredom due to its timing (occurring immediately upon your departure) and its manner (being excessive and causing your pet to panic—instead of casually chewing on a shoe, they may tear through a crate, couch, or even a wall).
“As a veterinarian and Arizona state representative for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Nellie Goetz explains that separation anxiety can be defined simply as the fear of being abandoned and the uncertainty that ensues. Since animals live in the present moment, when you depart, they have no way of knowing if you will return or if you are gone for good.”
What causes separation anxiety?
TIME OF TRANSITION OR CHANGE IN ROUTINE
- Moving homes
- Being adopted after spending time in a shelter or foster home
- Family members returning to work or school after a long period of time at home
- Death of a family member or other pet
SUFFERING A TRAUMATIC EVENT
- Being housed in a shelter (even great shelters are inherently stressful environments for pets)
- Being left alone in a boarding kennel
- Abuse or neglect
What are the symptoms of separation anxiety?
When dogs are left alone, those with separation anxiety experience distress and display behavioral issues.
- Trembling or salivating
- Digging and scratching at doors or windows
- Destructive chewing
- Howling, barking or whining
- Urination and defecation (even with otherwise house-trained dogs)
Ways to Improve the Relationship with Your Dog
01. Train Your Dog
Establishing a training relationship with your dog will have a significant impact, but not all training methods are of equal value. The training should primarily revolve around cohabitating with your dog rather than solely focusing on specific specialized aspects. It is crucial to engage in intentional training rather than merely commanding the dog to sit whenever it is observed.
In order for the dog to understand its place in the world and how the world interacts with it, it must also comprehend its role within our social structure. It is important to distinguish between what is required and what is flexible. To ensure the dog can anticipate the consequences of its actions, it must possess a realistic understanding of how others, both humans and animals, typically behave. Training methods can help mitigate separation anxiety in dogs, but they are often inadequate by themselves.
The Correct Training Focus
When training your dog, it is important to focus on building a comprehensive understanding of how the world functions rather than solely teaching basic commands like “sit.” The goal is to cultivate positive behaviors and assist your dog in acquiring the ability to make wise decisions. An illustrative example would be ensuring that the dog becomes proficient in the following aspects:
- To be comfortable with being bored.
- That couch time is not an invitation to jump all over people.
- To be calm on the leash.
- To keep 10% of his attention on you outside the home.
- And so on.
By implementing leashes and crates strategically throughout the day, the majority of these tasks can be readily achieved. The objective of the training is to establish a structured system in which the dog comprehends what is anticipated and overall demeanors. This is achieved by establishing boundaries and channels through which the dog can obtain access to his preferred items. The ultimate aim is to foster a canine companion that is agreeable to cohabitate with.
02. Create a Consistent Daily Schedule
Examples are a way to illustrate that consistency and predictability are beneficial in soothing dogs with separation anxiety.
- Feed at the same times every day; twice a day during this process.
- Offer potty breaks regularly.
- Take your dog for walks daily, around the same time, ideally in the morning and evening; even 10 minutes before work helps (rain or shine).
- Feed your dog after the walk.
- And so on.
In order for your dog to anticipate the effects of its actions, it is necessary for each individual residing in the household to adhere to a uniform and unchanging routine.
03. Tethering, aka Umbilical-Cord-Training
To reduce separation anxiety in dogs, it is helpful to have your dog connected to your belt using a leash or using a product like The Buddy System, enabling you to continue with your usual activities while ensuring your dog remains by your side.
By creating rules and boundaries, you can effectively halt unwanted behaviors and promote desired behaviors. The principle of futility is employed, whereby the dog is immediately stopped and learns that its attempted action was unsuccessful. This method effectively discourages undesirable behaviors and diminishes motivation towards unfavorable actions. Futility serves as a powerful motivator against such behaviors.
Even if your dog already accompanies you most of the time, it is still worth doing this exercise. The distinction between willingly choosing to do something and not having any other choice is a unique experience.
04. Deference Training aka Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF)
By teaching the dog that you are a source of positive experiences, it also teaches them to behave politely. However, this approach also establishes a subordinate relationship. Due to this aspect, I typically do not endorse the NILIF method for regular training and everyday life with dogs. Nevertheless, it can be a beneficial training approach to address separation anxiety in dogs for a temporary period, possibly lasting a few months. Additionally, for certain dogs, this may be an ongoing adjustment needed to manage their separation anxiety, particularly if their insecurity is primarily rooted in genetics.
Step 1: Sit before I Pet You
After you have petted him, he is able to rise up on his four legs; however, if he jumps, you should repeat the process starting from step 1.
Step 2: Establish a Food Schedule
- End all free feeding.
- Offer two scheduled feedings a day.
- Food is only offered for 10 minutes; then, the food is removed.
Step 3: Sit before I Feed You
- Prepare the food on the counter.
- Pick a random number between 5 and 10.
- Pick up the food bowl, turn towards the dog and say his name followed by the sit command (e.g., Max, sit).
- In your head, count to that number.
- Begin to put the foot down. If the dog jumps up, repeat the process from 2. with a new number.
In order for the dog to start eating, the bowl should be placed on the ground and you should give the command “okay” or any other release word. If you notice that this approach doesn’t work due to the dog’s excessive excitement, store the food and attempt it again at the next scheduled feeding time. However, it is advised not to repeat this process more than 15 times during a single feeding attempt.
Also, don’t try it again an hour later; wait until the next feeding. The dog needs to know that if it decides not to eat, it’s deciding not to eat for 8 hours or so. When the dog understands the consequences of his decisions are more consequential, it takes the decision more seriously.
This decision is not about control, but rather about motivation. What is the price tag attached to this choice?
05. Crate Training
It is crucial to teach a dog to remain calm in the crate in order to address separation anxiety in dogs.
If there are multiple people in the household, the crate must be placed in the room of the individual who usually goes to bed last.
One issue that many individuals encounter with crate training is that it entails isolating the dog both physically and socially in areas such as the laundry room or basement, where the dog remains without any human interaction. Such an environment can lead to a considerable amount of stress for the dog and, depending on its psychological disposition, contribute to the development of separation anxiety.
- The bedroom is important because it smells more like us than any other room in the home.
Before turning off the lights, your final task is to place the dog in the crate and shut the door. After that, proceed to turn off the lights, climb into bed, and sleep.
Because the dog is with you and everyone else is asleep, there is no need to worry about missing out, which contributes to establishing a conditioned relaxation response to the crate. The crate then transforms into the designated sleeping spot for your dog, providing a serene and cozy environment. This approach is effective for most dogs.
06. Crates, Kennels, Dog Runs, and Boarding
If you do not want your dog to get into trouble, hurt itself, destroy property, or get loose, the only reason to crate it is when you’re gone. Other than those reasons, think about not crating your dog.
It is worth testing whether certain dogs perform better in a closed room rather than a crate. To evaluate this, leave your home for 5 to 10 minutes and observe your dog’s response using a phone, baby monitor, or wireless security camera.
One possible rephrasing could be: A dog run can serve as an excellent substitute for a crate, whether it is located in your basement or in your backyard.
Board-and-train programs serve as an effective method for dealing with separation anxiety in dogs as they facilitate the required separation. Separation anxiety is not solely related to being by oneself, but rather it is about being apart from a particular individual. Nonetheless, after the program concludes, it remains crucial to familiarize the dog with their crate in your own abode.
Ways to Build Good Crate Associations:
- If your dog already has bad crate associations, consider using a different type of crate to start over. If your dog hates wire crates, use a transport crate.
- Feed your dog in its crate.
- Use crate time as a pseudo ‘place’ command during training sessions (with the door open).
- Make the ‘kennel’ command part of playing tug. Sequence: out — kennel — down — wait — yes → play again. Get your dog to the point where it can be left in the crate for 5 to 10 minutes with a closed door. However, during the initial stages of this game, take the door off (or secure it to stay open) so the door doesn’t shut by accident. Also, have his bedding in the crate.
Marc Goldberg’s Straw Method
Marc Goldberg, a renowned veteran pet dog trainer in Chicago, has shared his straw method for crate and potty training extensively on public podcasts and online platforms.
- The straw method works because it speaks to the dog’s nesting instinct. Having things rolled up to the body of the puppy creates comfort.
- Use a transport crate.
- Start by filling the crate with straw up to the leg height of the dog.
- Foraging in the crate is better than anxiety. Throw some treats in for the puppy to search for in the straw.
- Straw doesn’t absorb liquids, so urine will not soil the straw immediately. But change the straw at least weekly. Put potty pads under the straw and change those out as needed. If you place a stack of potty pads under the straw, you only have to pull one out once it gets dirty. Put a sheet under the crate to catch additional spills and straw.
- Give it a couple of weeks, and then remove a handful of straw daily.
Addressing separation anxiety in dogs can be tricky.
In an ideal situation, your dog becomes comfortable in the crate and doesn’t have any issues. However, there are instances where certain dogs may destroy the house and require immediate crating, but may also try to escape and injure themselves in the process when left alone. In such cases, it is recommended to use crates that are secure and cannot be damaged or broken by the dog. I personally rely on Impact Dog Crates for these situations, even though they come at a higher cost, as they are more reliable and cost-effective compared to dealing with an injured dog or a damaged home. For more challenging scenarios, Gunner Kennels or Zinger Dog Crates may be necessary.
07. Adjustment Time
To help alleviate separation anxiety in dogs, ensure that crating the dog is the final task before leaving.
- Give the dog time to adjust when you’re leaving. Have consistent rituals. Clarity helps. After you’ve done everything, you’re doing anyway, like putting your coat on, grabbing your keys, tying your shoes, and so on. Sit down for 5 minutes and give your dog time to adjust to the fact that you are leaving.
Examples: Spend an hour with your dog before leaving, especially when you are outside your regular schedule, like on the weekends.
- Play tug or fetch
- Scent work
- Have fun
- Other biologically fulfilling activities
Take your time and continue step by step until your dog is fully satisfied. Additionally, allow your dog some time to relax before you depart. The objective is to mentally exhaust and gratify the dog.
08. Activate Seeking (Create Novelty)
- Consider giving your dog a frozen, stuffed Kong toy. Use peanut butter, honest kitchen, or a canned dog food mix as filler. This can keep it occupied when you’re leaving. The first 5-15 minutes after leaving are the most critical. Giving the dog something to focus on during this initial period can be very beneficial.
Create a treasure box.
- Get a cardboard box, tape, newspaper, and chew toys like antlers, bully sticks, and treats.
- Crumple up the newspaper and make balls. Hide treats in some of them.
- Mix the paper balls with a variety of chew toys. Mix different ones, not just multiple of the same type. Ideally, several with different textures, but all safe for your dog to have on its own.
- Tape the box shut. Don’t make it Ford Knox. Just tape it well enough, so the dog must work a bit to open it. You can punch a couple of holes in the top so the dog can pick up on the scent even better.
- You should be able to reuse the box several days in a row.
To keep the seeking system active before leaving, it is advisable to give the dog the treasure box and Kong toy right before you head out.
09. Controlling the Emotional State
When you depart, it is best for your dog to be emotionally neutral. Avoid attempting to make your dog happy or enthusiastic beforehand. By generating excessive excitement, you are setting the expectation of engaging in enjoyable activities. Consequently, if you eventually depart, your dog will be left in a highly undesirable state of mind. This can be profoundly frustrating since your dog anticipated having fun and not being left alone at home in the crate.
10. Create a Home Separation Routine
To make your dog accustomed to being alone, establish a regular routine at home where you avoid interacting with your dog for short intervals. You can designate a signal to alert everyone in the family that this is happening, such as placing an unfamiliar book on the dinner table.
When the routine begins, put the book on the table and avoid any interaction with the dog for a duration of 5 minutes. Disregard his presence. After 5 minutes, return the book to its original place and resume normal interaction with your dog.
To maintain the same meaning, rephrase the text step by step. Do not add new information or remove any details. Repeat this routine once or twice daily and progressively extend the duration by adding 5 minutes each time.
Once your dog becomes comfortable with this routine and it is working well for up to 15 minutes, it is advisable to introduce some distance and isolation. This can be achieved by using leashes, back ties, crates, or other methods to help your dog gradually adapt to spending more time alone.
As your dog goes through this process, it grasps the concept of occasionally entertaining itself.
11. Tire out your dog with long walks and puzzle treats
Lindsay Hamrick, a certified professional dog trainer and HSUS director of shelter outreach and engagement, suggests that the best way to address separation anxiety in your dog is by tiring them out physically and mentally. Start by taking your dog on a lengthy walk, exploring different paths and letting them sniff around. Afterward, provide puzzle toys, long-lasting treats (like a stuffed, frozen Kong or a frisbee coated in peanut butter), or other forms of enrichment before you depart.
“According to Goetz, there is nothing more intriguing than the fact that you are no longer here. If you have enough money available, opting for doggy daycare can be extremely beneficial for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. However, hiring a dog walker, pet sitter, or asking a neighbor to check in during the day can also be helpful. Despite the temptation, getting another pet is not always the perfect solution and can actually add complexity to the situation, as stated by Hamrick.”
12. Try Sooting music when you’re gone
According to Hamrick, playing reggae music, such as Bob Marley, can be beneficial in reducing anxiety for certain dogs, but it may have the opposite effect on others. Therefore, if the reggae music does not have a positive impact within a week, it is recommended to attempt a different approach.
13. Talk to a veterinarian about Anti-anxiety Medication
According to Goetz, if an animal’s separation anxiety is extremely severe to the point where they are causing harm to themselves or their surroundings, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medication. Hamrick also suggests continuing to use soothing techniques alongside the medication in order to lower the animal’s anxiety level, which will ultimately lead to better results in behavior modification.
14. Try Positive Reinforcement Training
It is not effective to punish your dog for separation anxiety behaviors as it can actually increase their anxiety. Separation anxiety is not caused by disobedience or lack of training. Nevertheless, positive reinforcement training can be used to tire out your dog before you leave, and a certified professional dog trainer can assist you in neutralizing anxiety triggers through positive training techniques.
How long does it take to cure separation anxiety?
Recognizing that your pet requires more time, energy, or resources than you can provide should not bring shame. Patience, compassion, and consistency are essential in addressing separation anxiety, which can be a long-term process. While many dogs can eventually lead stress-free lives, it is important to note that the behaviors may reappear during other periods of transition.
According to Hamrick, separation anxiety can be difficult not only for your pet but also for your home or lifestyle. In such cases, it is advisable to discuss rehoming possibilities with your local shelter or rescue organization. Depending on the characteristics of your dog, finding a better match with a retiree, a marathon runner, or someone who works from home might be more suitable.