Running errands or going to work means leaving your dog alone, but for dogs with separation anxiety, that means sheer panic. Dogs are social animals.
Separation, especially the long kind, is very difficult and distressing for a dog.
When dogs develop an aversion to being alone, it can be a very difficult and distressing situation for a dog.
When your dog becomes distressed and homesick, they not only suffer and feel anxious, they can also become a destructive home wrecking ball.
Separation anxiety is a complex behavioral issue that arises from both the dog owner and the dog’s interactions.
The first step toward addressing separation anxiety is identifying the cause.
Steps in helping your dog feel safe and secure while you are away
Separation anxiety is related to the dog’s fear of being abandoned and is most likely to occur when a dog is gone a long time, be it day or night.
The major life changes that can lead to separation anxiety are moving, a new job with different hours, losing a companion animal or the arrival of a new companion animal in the home.
Separation anxiety can be misdiagnosed as simple boredom so it is important to identify that your dog suffers from separation anxiety and not from boredom for effective resolution.
Identifying Key Signs of Distress
If separation anxiety is present, you will notice severe panic responses upon exit. Below are negative indicators to look for.
- Howling, whining, or barking of an exceedingly high pitch that lasts for hours on end.
- Rough chewing and scratching of door frames, as well as the shredding of window blinds, especially near exits.
- Refusal to consume treats left behind, excessive drooling, and pacing.
- ‘Accidents’ that are on purpose, and are a direct result of the previous fully trained house broken dog.
The anxiety level has gotten to a scary point if your dog injures their paws or teeth while trying to escape.
Reducing Departure Anxiety
Clever dogs are able to identify patterns. After your pets notice your departure cues (ex. grabbing your keys, putting on your shoes, etc), they go into full panic mode even before you have a chance to walk through the front door.
Break the cycle by doing part of the activity. For example, walking to the door without leaving and repeating with various departure cues.
If you sit on the couch in a fully dressed state with keys in hand, your dog will stop associating your departure cues with your disappearance for several hours.
Creating a Safe Space and Establishing a Routine
Keep your coming and going very low key.
Long, drawn out goodbyes with baby talk, hugs, and other physical contact may seem nice, but they heighten your dog’s stress and anxiety and will ultimately make your goodbye more difficult.
Quietly say your goodbyes and exit the house without looking back.
Distract them with one of their favorite long-lasting puzzle toys stuffed with freeze dried peanut butter or yogurt.
Make sure their resting area is a safe place free of distractions and potential hazards.
If you have a crate trained dog, an enclosure should feel more like a safe space than a prison.
Building Time Away and the Use of Professionals
Take an incremental approach to building time away, and when you start, be sure to stay close to calmly enter the house before any whining begins.
Increase that time in 1 minute increments, and repeat that process over many weeks of walking away for several hours.
When you are unable to control your dog's self-inflicted panic and suffer from severe separation anxiety, seek medical intervention from a veterinary behaviorist.
For more information on how to manage stress during behavior and daily activities, please see our Effective Leash Walking article.
The key is taking an incremental approach and leaving calmly to help them slowly feel more secure.
This really will make the time you’re apart feel so much better, and it will help reduce your dog’s separation anxiety.