Separation Anxiety: What is It?
A very common complaint of many dog owners is their dogs are destructive or disruptive when Mom and Dad leave them alone. These dogs might potty, bark, howl, chew, or try to escape when left alone. Although these behaviors are most often the result of a dog who needs to brush up on their manners or is simply bored, they can also be indicators of a dog who is in distress. When the problem behaviors are accompanied by distress behaviors such as excessive drooling, panting, or showing anxiety even when the parents are simply getting ready to leave, this is an indication that the dog may actually have separation anxiety.
When treating a dog with separation anxiety, the goal is to resolve the underlying anxiety so the dog enjoys (or at least tolerates) being left alone. We do this by creating the environment that causes the anxiety without experiencing the actual fear or anxiety.
Why do some dogs develop separation anxiety? Unfortunately, there is no good answer to this question. It is typically more common in dogs who have been rescued or rehomed than those raised with the same family from puppyhood, but that isn’t always the case. Some causes include change of family, change of schedule or routine, change of residence, and change of others in the house (both human and canine). You’ll notice the word change accompanies them all. Dogs are creatures of habit and THRIVE in structured, routine environments. Any change is difficult for the dog to deal with, and sometimes those difficulties lead to anxiety.
Behavior problems to rule out first: It can be difficult to determine if a dog truly has separation anxiety or not. Other problem behaviors are often mistaken for separation anxiety such as submissive or excitement urination, incomplete house training, marking, juvenile destruction, boredom (the most common and likely one), and excessive barking or howling at other triggers in the environment.
Treatment for mild separation anxiety: With mild separation anxiety, counterconditioning can often be effective. With counterconditioning, we change the animal’s current reaction (in this case, anxiety) to a more favorable reaction (in this case, calm) by associating the trigger with something really good. Instead of the dog expecting the worst by recounting previous responses to the trigger, we encourage them to accept or even desire the trigger because it comes with a fantastic reward. For example, you can give your dog a puzzle toy like a Kong stuffed with highly valuable food (e.g. low-fat cream cheese, peanut butter, low-fat yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, or canned dog food) whenever you leave. You should use foods the dog ONLY gets when being left alone, and the toy and any remaining food should be picked up as soon as you return so they only get that special reward when left alone. Keep in mind this approach typically only works for dogs with mild separation anxiety, as those with more severe anxiety generally won’t eat in their owners’ absence.
Treatment for moderate to severe separation anxiety: More severe cases of separation anxiety require a more complex program involving both counterconditioning and desensitization. In these cases, it’s crucial to take much smaller steps, starting with short separations of just a few minutes and working up to longer separations over several weeks of daily sessions. Desensitization and counterconditioning can be tricky for a more severely anxious dog. It’s important to avoid fear completely, or the plan may backfire. This plan requires many steps, and it is generally recommended that owners get the help of a certified behaviorist when working with moderately or severely anxious dogs.
