Canine Separation Anxiety & Your Dog

Free information on canine separation anxiety

Does Spot love you so much that when you leave she can't stand it?
Does she get so upset that your rugs, furniture, and anything else she
can reach or knock down show signs of her affection?

If she is a well-behaved dog when you're home and only turns into
a nut case when she can't be with you, then Spot is probably suffering
from canine separation anxiety.

It is estimated that 10-15 percent of the canine population experiences
some type of separation anxiety. Canine separation anxiety is tied to a
dog's natural instinct to be part of a pack, which explains why cats do
not seem to suffer from this problem. But there are many things you can
do to help your lonely pooch out. She certainly deserves the help; after
all, she acts out because she's longing for you.

Symptoms of canine separation anxiety

The difference between canine separation anxiety and just plain bad
behavior is easy to spot: pets with canine separation anxiety only act
out when they are unable to get to their owners.

In severe cases, anxious pooches will act out even when their owner is
simply in another room with the door shut.

Common ways of acting out include destructive behavior, excessive
barking, house soiling, attempts to escape, loss of appetite, inactivity,
sadness or depression, and psychosomatic disorders such as diarrhea,
vomiting, and excessive coat licking. Also, a dog suffering from canine
separation anxiety will often closely shadow her owner when they're together.

 

Why does your dog suffer from canine separation anxiety

Why does your dog suffer from canine separation anxiety while your
neighbor's dog is fine? The possibilities abound. Some dogs simply do
not ever gain enough confidence in themselves to be on their own.

For some, it's because they were left alone for too long when they were
puppies. Others have had the misfortune of being abused or neglected.
Then there are the poor pups who are pushed from home to home until
they finally end up in an animal shelter; needless to say, they might
be afraid of being left again.

Often a beloved pet is fine for years, then suddenly begins to act
out. If her behavior seems inexplicable, take a look at the changes in
your lifestyle that occurred around the same time Spot decided she loved
the taste of your favorite chair. Maybe Mom went back to work, or the
kids left for college. Or maybe you got a new job requiring longer hours.
Whatever the reason, Spot is spending more time alone, and she doesn't
know what to do with herself. She worries: "What if they don't come
back?" When the stress is more than she can take, she acts out.

Taming the Trauma of Canine Separation Anxiety

Dealing with canine separation anxiety is different than dealing
with just the problem behaviors. First, you must learn to check your
anger at the door. Punishing Spot will not fix the problem--it will
create a bigger problem. Once she associates your absence and return
with punishment, her anxiety will increase.

There are many different ways you can help your dog deal with her
fear. Your number one goal is to teach Spot that you can be trusted
to come back. One of the first exercises to practice is sit and stay.
This will prepare your panicky pet for practice departures. Make Spot
sit and stay while you move from one place to another. If she obeys,
give her a treat. If she couldn't stand it and didn't stay, try it
again for a shorter time and distance. Once you find something that works,
even if it's just moving from the living room to the dining room, you
can slowly increase the time and distance.

The next step is to change your habits. Think about your routine.
Do you do the same things every time you walk out the door? Kissing
your spouse, grabbing your bag, closing your briefcase, or even picking
up your keys can tell Spot that you're leaving. She associates your
preparations to leave with her destructive behavior.

Your goal is to change your pattern, teaching her new cues that
let her know that you're always coming back and help disassociate her
learned, destructive behavior from your absence. Do something unusual
and different from your normal routine: turn on the radio or television,
or give Spot a treat. There are many toys and treats designed to
entertain your pet while you're out. A Kong toy stuffed with food is
a popular option--she will spend many distracted hours working to get
the food out.

New Cue Review

Begin using your new cue when you start doing practice departures.
The key here is to take baby steps. When you first give Spot the new
cue, leave the house for just a minute or two--a time short enough
that you know Spot will be all right. When you come back, avoid a
big fuss and simply go about your business. The expectation of a big
to-do when you come home only increases her anxiety level.

The principle behind practice departures is the same as that of
sit and stay; you're teaching Spot that when you leave you will come
back. Slowly, you will increase her confidence in you and in herself.
Continue to practice your departures all day long for increasingly
longer amounts of time. Stay away a couple of minutes longer each time,
but remember to take it slow.

If Spot becomes upset at a certain point, cut the time in half
and be patient. For example, if Spot acts out after two hours, then
decrease the time to one hour and work your way back up from there.
Repeat the cycle over and over again, until Spot is confident that
you will always return.

Ideally you will be able to spend at least a week gradually easing
Spot into a new level of self-confidence. If you don't have that much
time, try to begin early on a Friday evening and continue the practice
departures throughout the weekend.

Clomicalm(R), a new anxiety drug from Novartis, can help calm your
anxious pup if you don't have enough consecutive hours to work on
correcting Spot's behavior. Clomicalm is not a sedative; instead, it
is designed especially for dogs with separation anxiety. Dogs take a
daily dose to relieve some of their anxiety, making it easier for them
to learn new, better behavior. Once the new behavior is learned, the
medication can be discontinued. As with any drug, be sure to visit
your veterinarian to ensure the medication is appropriate for
your specific pet.

Another strategy to help you deal with the problem is to take
Spot out for a good walk before you leave the house. Not only will
you spend some quality time together, it will also help tucker her
out, making it more likely she will spend her time away from you
sleeping. Another benefit to the long walk is that once Spot sees
the pattern, she will have something to look forward to when you
leave. And the exercise will be great for both of you.

With these tools, you should be well on your way to boosting
Spot's self-confidence. With enough time and patience you can teach
Spot that you love her just as much as she loves you. Eventually she
will realize that you won't leave her, and that destroying your house
may not be the best way to tell you she misses you.

Don't be afraid to seek professional help. Ask your veterinarian
for suggestions, or if the problem persists, ask your veterinarian to
recommend a behavior specialist. Chances are both you and your dog
will benefit from some one-on-one guidance. Together, you can transform
her anxious love and your tattered home into a secure peace you
both can enjoy.

(By Loraine Miller, AAHA editorial assistant. Originally published in the October/November 1999 issue of AAHA's bi-monthly practice management publication, TRENDS magazine.)

If your Dog is Anxious or Stressed Out....We Can Help!

Anxiety in dogs can include symptoms such as: pacing, tremors,
excessive biting at a particular area (especially the feet), excessive
barking, hiding, poor appetite, and even aggression toward
another animal or you.

Some dogs become anxious when left alone in the house, when
being boarded, just before and during thunderstorms, and July 4th,
when other dogs are around the house, when a new animal or
person is brought into the family, changes in routines, and car
rides (especially when going to the veterinarian or groomer).


Find out More Here:
"Mellow Out" Natural, Dog Stress Relaxer


See Also:

All Canine Care & Doggie Fun Stuff

Search Our Site for Dog & Pet Information

How to Keep Your Dog & Cat Healthy