As far as your buddy’s concerned, you’re ‘top dog’. You’re the centre of their world and if you happen to go AWOL, they think it’s time to panic. This is separation anxiety - and it can be tough for any dog to deal with. But here’s the good news: there are plenty of steps you can take to teach your dog that “out of sight” doesn’t mean you’re gone forever.
This article will help you to understand dog anxiety treatment and how to calm an anxious dog, allowing you to feel comfortable leaving your pooch for extended periods of time.
What is Dog Separation Anxiety?
You’re here and everything makes sense. Then you’re gone - and suddenly the house is empty. Take a moment to think about how dogs feel about this sudden change. Dogs with separation anxiety feel scared, because as far as they’re concerned, you may never come back!
Even for the smartest pooches, this is a lot to deal with. The people you’re most attached to are no longer there - and your natural reaction is to freak out.
For a new puppy in an unfamiliar home, all of this can be especially hard to take on board. For the first few months, they’ve basically spent every waking hour with their mum and siblings. Next comes the big move, it’s a whole new ‘pack’ and a completely different routine to learn. Even if you’ve just popped out for a pint of milk and some doggy snacks, how do they know that it’s not forever?
So for many pups, learning to deal with any separation anxiety issues becomes part of the growing up process. They get used to your comings and goings and start to understand your routine. It might take a helping hand, but eventually they relax and realise it’s not the end of the world.
What Causes a Dog's Separation Anxiety?
While most pups will grow out of their separation issues as they get older and wiser, this isn’t always the case. The Kennel Club reports that for one in 15 pets, separation remains a real problem.
Dogs that have come from a shelter can have an especially tough time with it. It’s not hard to imagine why; if they’ve had first-hand experience of abandonment in the past, they’ll be understandably scared of history repeating itself.
Separation anxiety in dogs is possible without any previous problems. Let’s say you’ve spent the last six months working from home but then your routine changes and you’re back on 9-to-5 in the office. As far as your buddy’s concerned, you’ve been mooching around together in the house for what seems like forever. Suddenly you’re gone and there’s no-one to play with, so it’s easy to understand why they’d get anxious about being left!
A house move can also be a trigger. The old place was their ‘den’. This place looks, feels and smells completely different. Your dog might not like the thought of having to get used to it on their own.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Dog separation anxiety symptoms vary. Signs of distress in dogs can happen at specific moments like when you're picking up your keys, while other dogs will only change their behaviour when you’re not there. In which case, you won’t know until you return home or have a dog-cam installed.
First off, barking. Everything seems fine when you set off in the morning and nothing seems wrong when you get back. But then you learn from your neighbour that your dog’s been barking or howling pretty much all day.
A dog with separation anxiety may have unusual toilet habits. This includes needing to go more frequently than usual, doing it in unusual places, or coprophagia (eating it afterwards). Destructive behaviour is another common symptom, this could include tearing or biting at the furniture and carpets, as well as targeted attacks on the windows and doors. Digging up the garden is another one, while they search for an escape route to come find you!
One, some or all of these signs of separation anxiety could indicate a problem. That said, it’s important to rule out alternative causes. For instance, unusual toilet habits could be a sign of a urinary tract or gastrointestinal problem. Barking due to anxiety in dogs might be down to other triggers
To avoid accidentally trying to treat the wrong problem, check it out with your vet to get a second opinion.
How to Treat Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
You may be wondering how to stop separation anxiety in dogs. Well, treatment of separation anxiety can’t be done quickly! Once you’ve established that separation is the issue, there are things you can do to reduce your dog’s anxiety...
Encourage Independence
This can be done while you’re still in the home. It’s about teaching your dog that being your dog isn’t the same as being your shadow.
Make a point of not always being in the same room together: leave the room and close the door. Gradually increase the time that your dog is left alone. This can be especially useful for showing younger dogs that spending time apart is nothing to fear.
Ditch the Dramatic Entrances (and Exits)
You want to teach your dog that leaving the building is no big deal. So why turn it into an event? This is ‘cruel to be kind’ time: cut out the long goodbye cuddles.
The aim is to show your dog that popping out for a while is nothing special. Follow the same routine when you prepare to leave the house, like pick up your keys and put on your coat, but by staying calm and quiet, hopefully your dog will too.
Counterconditioning
Dog separation anxiety training uses counterconditioning, which is turning a negative reaction to a certain event into a positive one. It’s about changing your doggy’s mind set so that being alone is associated with good stuff (as opposed to being left moping alone).
Toys can be your secret weapon here. Think carefully about what type of toy is most likely to get your dog seriously excited. Puzzle toys or food toys will keep them entertained and mentally stimulated. Introduce that toy into the home - but save it exclusively for those times when you’re out of the house.
Introducing a New Friend
Introducing a second pet to the home can be a great way to help treat separation anxiety. The presence of another companion can provide comfort and companionship for your anxious dog, reducing feelings of loneliness and distress when left alone.
Your new addition can hopefully play with and keep the other company, making each other feel safe and secure. Plus, having another pet around can help distract your anxious pup from missing you too much. Just make sure to introduce them carefully and keep an eye on them at first to make sure they get along.
Crate Train Your Dog
Crate training can help with separation anxiety, but it may not work for every dog. The idea is that your dog associates their crate with positive experiences. The goal is that your dog will associate their crate with a secure, den-like space where they feel safe and content.
Unfortunately, some dogs don’t take to the confinement of crate training, so care needs to be taken when attempting to crate train a dog with separation anxiety. Firstly, choose a crate that is big enough for your dog. They should be able to stand up it in and move around it easily with plenty of floor space to lie down stretch out.
Begin by making the crate cosy and welcoming for your dog. Feeding your dog in their crate to build up that a positive association is a good start. Don’t shut the door on them to start off with. Once they’re happy with this, start introducing crate time outside of feeding times.
Teach your dog to go in and out of their crate using treats as a positive reward. Using chew treats will encourage them to stay in their crate for longer periods. For now, stay in the same room so your dog can see you. And remember, don’t shut the crate door until they’re ready.
Once your dog is happy spending time in their crate with the door open, close the door for short periods, gradually increasing the amount of time. Then you can start leaving your dog alone in the crate. Slowly build-up the time you leave them.
Make sure they remain calm and content at all times. Eventually you should be able to leave your dog for a couple of hours at a time without them becoming stressed or anxious.
How to Help a Dog with Separation Anxiety
Leaving your dog alone for any amount of time isn’t easy, but how long can you leave a dog alone? This is difficult to answer as every dog is different. Moving suddenly from 24 hours in each other’s company to being away for the entire working day is a massive shift. To prepare your dog for this change take it slowly by gradually increasing the length of absence.
A combination of strategies can go a long way in helping a dog with separation anxiety. But what happens if your dog remains anxious? In these situations, you could be looking at a moderate to severe anxiety disorder. Professional input including specialist desensitisation and counterconditioning could be just what your dog needs to successfully reduce their remaining separation issues.
In some cases, you may need to get in touch with your vet for advice on anti-anxiety drug therapy. They may be able to prescribe some canine anxiety medication to help your dog through the process of getting over their anxieties alongside behavioural management.
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