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Effective Strategies for Managing Dog Separation Anxiety

Jasper Rimmer, August 4, 2024August 4, 2024

Dealing with dog separation anxiety can leave you feeling helpless. Our guide demystifies the signs and gives you straightforward strategies to comfort your struggling pet. Expect to gain the know-how to support your dog in overcoming their anxiety with confidence how to treat dogs itchy skin.

Key Takeaways
Dog separation anxiety is a severe condition characterized by signs such as vocalization, destruction, and house soiling, which are symptomatic of profound distress, not simply misbehavior.
Various factors, including major life changes and breed-specific genetic propensities, contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs, which may be exasperated in older dogs or those with past traumatic experiences.
Mild separation anxiety can be managed through independence training, establishing routines, and using distractions, while moderate to severe cases may require consultation with professionals, behavior modification techniques, and potentially medication.
Understanding Dog Separation Anxiety
An anxious dog sitting alone on a couch

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition characterized by extreme stress exhibited by a dog from the time their owner leaves them alone until their return. It’s more than just occasional whimpering or boredom due to being alone, it’s a legitimate distress that profoundly impacts their mental and emotional well-being. Distinguishing this condition from confinement or barrier anxiety, where dogs display anxiety when confined to a crate or specific room, is of utmost importance. Understanding and addressing dog’s separation anxiety is crucial for the well-being of both the pet and the owner.

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include:

Vocalization
Destruction
House soiling
Symptoms of distress like drooling when the owner prepares to leave
These signs indicate more than just bad manners or simple destructive dog’s behavior. Many dogs that have never learned to be alone or have experienced traumatic events while alone, such as storms or fireworks, are more susceptible to developing separation anxiety. Similarly, overly dependent dogs that follow their owners from room to room are more likely to develop separation anxiety.

Environmental changes, including moving to a new residence or alterations in family structure, can trigger separation anxiety in dogs. This is why it’s important to understand that dogs develop separation anxiety and treating separation anxiety is vital to address their underlying anxiety and give them the skills to enjoy, or at least bear, being alone. Dogs with separation anxiety may act extremely distressed within minutes after the owner’s departure and behave as if they’ve been alone for an extended period when the owner returns.

Common Symptoms of Dog Separation Anxiety
A torn pillow and scattered household items on the floor

Dogs with separation anxiety express their distress in various ways. You might come home to:

howling
barking
whining
signs of destructive behavior like chewing and destroying furniture, particularly around exits such as doors and windows
improper elimination inside the home, manifesting as urination or defecation
attempts to escape confinement, which can result in self-harm, like broken teeth or cut paws.
Other behavioral symptoms linked to separation anxiety include:

Excessive clinging to owners
Trembling
Panting
Excessive salivation
Pacing in repetitive patterns
Refusal to eat when alone
Heightened anxiety during specific departure scenarios, such as when the owner leaves for work
Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards addressing and managing your dog’s separation anxiety.

Factors Contributing to Separation Anxiety in Dogs
A dog looking distressed in an empty room

Numerous factors contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs. Some of these factors include:

An abrupt alteration in schedule due to a guardian starting a new job
A switch in guardian or family
Moving to a new home
The loss of a family member
Certain breeds exhibit a genetic propensity toward anxieties, indicated by behaviors like aggression, sensitivity to noise, and separation anxiety. For instance, a particular DNA stretch associated with the oxytocin receptor gene OXTR in some breeds like German Shepherds has been linked to these behavior patterns. When a dog displays anxious behaviors, it could be due to such genetic factors.

Older dogs, especially those experiencing loss of hearing or sight, painful conditions, or cognitive dysfunction, may display increased dog’s anxiety and dependence on their owner for security and relief, which can manifest as separation anxiety. Additionally, traumatic events like never having been left alone, experiencing a traumatic separation, or previous bad experiences, as well as learned behaviors, can lead to the development of separation anxiety in dogs.

Addressing Mild Separation Anxiety: Practical Tips
A dog engaging with a puzzle toy

While moderate to severe separation anxiety may require professional help, mild separation anxiety can be managed with practical strategies, which can be considered as a form of separation anxiety treatment. These include encouraging independence, establishing routines, and using distractions to treat separation anxiety.

Let’s delve into each of these strategies in more detail.

Encourage Independence
Promoting independence in dogs is a key aspect of managing separation anxiety. Independence training helps dogs adjust to periods of being alone, building their confidence, and reducing the likelihood of anxiety-related behaviors. Establishing a calm routine before departing, such as calm grooming sessions or using a keyword that signals the owner’s return, can minimize a dog’s anxiety about being left alone.

Effective training commands like ‘place,’ ‘stay,’ or ‘wait’ instill a sense of security in a specific spot and ensure the dog does not always follow the owner, aiding in the development of independence. Gradually increasing the duration and distance of separation within the home and encouraging the use of interactive toys can help dogs learn to enjoy time on their own without feeling anxious.

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