Dog Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a psychological condition that affects some dogs when they are left alone. Not all dogs suffer from this, and whereas some dogs will react badly to being left alone, others will be absolutely fine. We don't fully understand why some dogs suffer from it and others don't, but what is important to realize is that separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of dog behavioral problems such as:

Digging, chewing, scratching and other destructive behavior
Excessive barking and whining, depression and hyperactivity
Defecation and urination in inappropriate places

These behaviors may also be the symptoms of other problems. That is why you have to make sure that your dog actually suffers from separation anxiety. A visit to the vet will ensure that there are no underlying medical problems.

Indications of Separation Anxiety

However, there are a few signs that you can look out for and could indicate that your dog suffers from separation anxiety. For example, if

your dog exhibits this kind of behavior during your absence or only when you're away
it starts shortly after your departure
your dog becomes overly excited when you get home and engages in a frantic greeting behavior
your dog dislikes spending time outdoors by herself

These are signs of a dog that has become overly dependent on her owner. Sometimes you unintentionally invite this kind of behavior when, for example, you pay too much attention to your dog's reactions every time you leave the house to go to work. Spending time trying to reassure your dog that you will be back does not make it easier on her as you would think, but actually makes your departure an even bigger event. It also teaches your dog that this kind of behavior always gets your attention so now she has a way to emotionally control you.

Contributing Factors

There are other factors contributing to separation anxiety occurring in dogs:

A traumatic event in a young dog's life; early separation from the mother, time spent in a pet shop or an animal shelter
A major change in the family's lifestyle or sudden change of environment such as a move to a new home or a period of time the dog spends at a kennel
a change in the owner's lifestyle which results in a sudden end of constant contact with the dog like a change in work schedule
a long-term or permanent absence of a family member (divorce, death, child leaving home) or the addition of a new family member (a baby or a new pet)

Things You Can Do If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety

For minor separation anxiety problems, the following simple techniques may be all you need to minimize the problem.

You could schedule some time every day in order to exercise and play with your dog and give her your undivided attention. A happy dog is less likely to cause trouble.
Provide your dog with lots of toys especially if she likes to chew on things. It will prevent her from chewing on (and destroying) house items and possessions
If your dog likes digging you can designate an area in the yard where it's ok for her to dig during your absence
Keep your arrivals and departures low-key. For example, when you arrive home, ignore your dog for the first few minutes, then calmly pet her. This may be hard for you to do, but it's important.
Leave your dog with a piece of clothing that has your scent on it—such as an old t-shirt that you've slept in recently.

For more severe cases, these techniques should be used along with desensitization techniques which currently are the most accepted method for treating dog separation anxiety. This kind of treatment involves planned departures and it is a systematic process of getting your dog used to being alone by exposing her to many short departures. At the beginning you should leave your dog alone only for very short intervals (seconds to minutes) so that you have plenty of time to get back before the stress symptoms occur. You must carefully observe the dog for any signs of anxiety or extended greeting behavior upon return. If none of these occur you can gradually increase the time your dog is left alone until you reach the 1.5 hours mark at which point your dog can usually be left alone all day. Keep in mind that your departure and return should be made as quiet and uneventful as possible to avoid over-stimulating your dog. The dog should not be given any special attention before your departure or any praise upon return.

There are some cases where even more drastic measures should be taken in order to reduce the dog's dependency on her owner. If this is the case for you then you are required to ignore your dog for a period of time -sometimes as long as three weeks. Ignoring your precious pet may prove very hard for you but it will decrease your dog's extreme dependency on you and allow her to endure your absence without anxiety.

Things To Avoid If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety

Punishing your dog. Punishment is not an effective way to treat separation anxiety and may actually increase the symptoms.

Crating your dog during your absence. By crating your dog when you are away you're just avoiding any damage to your belongings but you're not helping the dog overcome her anxiety. She can still engage in a number of anxiety responses in the crate (howl, bark, urinate) and even runs the risk of injuring herself in an attempt to escape. Also your dog learns to associate the crate with your departure and sees it as a means of punishment so you lose the advantage of using it to confine your dog at other times when it's necessary.

Conclusion

Dog separation anxiety is a disorder and it should be treated as one. It is not something that will simply disappear with time. Your vet may be able to help get a treatment program started or could refer you to an animal behaviorist who may be more familiar with treatment alternatives. It is important to understand that your dog is not bad or spiteful and is not destroying your house just to get revenge on you for leaving her, though it may seem that way. If you are willing to spend time working with your pet you have a very good chance of eliminating the problem for good.

Get powerful information about training your dog that will help you overcome any behavior problem here: Dog Obedience Training – STOP Your Dog’s Behavior Problems by Daniel Stevens.

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