Separation anxiety in dogs is one of the most common issues for dog owners, even though the condition is normally associated with the anxiety that smaller children might experience when they’re being separated from their parents or caregivers.
Does separation anxiety happen to dogs, and how should dog owners react to the behavior?
Separation anxiety can be a serious condition in dogs, and it could trigger stress-related or destructive behaviors in your pets when they’re left alone. In extreme cases, dogs with separation anxiety might chew through household objects. Possibly, injuring themselves when their owners are absent.
Learn more about separation anxiety, the potential signs and causes of this anxiety, and what professional dog trainers recommend for its treatment.
What is separation anxiety in dogs?
Separation anxiety is a serious mental health condition in dogs, which is often categorized by stress-related or destructive behavior when dogs are left alone or separated from their owners.
According to the ASPCA, the condition is a common issue for pet owners.
Dogs with separation anxiety might do more than just the occasional chewing of shoes or whimper when their owner leaves for an hour. Serious anxiety in dogs triggers serious, often obsessive or destructive behavior. In extreme cases, dogs might even injure themselves when being separated from their owners.
Does separation anxiety in dogs exist?
Separation anxiety in dogs exists, and it can be common in most dog breeds and types. According to the American Kennel Club, this anxiety in dogs can create a lot of issues for pet owners who don’t know how to deal with the issue.
The condition can occur in new puppies, though sometimes also manifests in older or rescue dogs, who might have had prior bad experiences when being separated or split up from other pets or their owners.
However, separation anxiety can also happen to other animals, including parrots, rabbits, and cats.
Do all dogs experience separation anxiety?
Not all dogs will automatically experience separation anxiety, though all dogs can experience the condition’s signs or symptoms. Anxiety is more common in dogs who have had prior bad experiences with separation from their family or owners. Though anxiety can also develop later in a dog’s life.
If you notice that your dog starts to whimper and bark when you’re preparing to leave, or you notice a trail of destruction when coming back after an absence from the house, your dog might have separation anxiety.
What’s the difference between separation and general anxiety?
Professional dog trainers distinguish between “normal” puppy and dog behaviors, like a small bark or whimper when their owner leaves. Actual separation anxiety disorder in dogs: which leads to more obsessive, often anxiety-driven symptoms than most dogs exhibit.
Most dogs will show small signs of anxiety upon their owners leaving, however, separation anxiety takes this behavior to another level – and owners are likely to have initial trouble discouraging this.
Dogs with separation anxiety will watch their owners’ routine, beginning to show signs of whimpering or anxiety before their owners have even left. Of course, once owners actually leave, dogs with anxiety will react in different, often the most inappropriate ways.
What are some signs of separation anxiety?
According to Dogs Trust, separation anxiety in dogs can show through initial whimpering, barking, or other obsessive behaviors when they are left alone.
Dogs with anxiety are likely to chew, bark, bite, or claw at things in the home as a means of self-assurance. Some dogs will be noisier than others, while some dogs will display their anxiety through destructive means. Like chewing out an entire couch, or going straight for your shoe collection.
Separation anxiety can have a long list of potential symptoms, as each dog reacts differently to the condition. Dogs with anxiety might ignore their food or water while owners are away, or do particular damage to their environment when separated.
Dogs can also pant, drool, urinate, or engage in repetitive, obsessive activities like biting or scratching themselves.
Owners might be tempted to scold their dogs for this at first, however, this often makes the dog’s anxiety intensify. The American Kennel Club recommends that owners make a deliberate training effort to treat separation anxiety from spotting the first symptom in their dogs.
What causes separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety might be caused by previous separation, which rescue dogs and rehomed dogs are more common to experience. However, separation anxiety can occur in all dogs – and you might also notice the same symptoms in a puppy from birth.
No, separation anxiety in your dog doesn’t say anything about your capabilities as a dog owner. Even though it might sometimes feel that way. Dogs react in different ways, and separation anxiety is a common mental health condition that can happen for all dogs.
When do dogs experience separation anxiety?
Dogs experience separation anxiety when they’re being separated from their owners.
However, dogs with anxiety issues might experience the same level of anxiety whether their owner is gone for five minutes, or for an hour.
Dogs don’t distinguish between how long their owner leaves them alone. Part of the anxiety-condition is the imagined fear that their owner will leave them alone for a very long time. What if their owner doesn’t come back?
The condition’s nature is the “loop” of this thought pattern. Which owners should do their best to interrupt with positive reinforcement, distraction, and stimulation.
How to Treat Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separated from owner anxiety in dogs can be successfully treated, as resources like the American Kennel Club and ASPCA point out. However, there’s no “quick fix” for separation anxiety. Owners can’t expect the issue to go away on its own, like something your dog might grow out of over time.
Dogs look to their owners for reassurance, and want to know that their owners’ reassurance or comfort is still around even when they aren’t.
Here’s how to handle separation anxiety in your pets:
1. Avoid excited greetings when leaving
Owners might be tempted to give their dogs special, focused attention before leaving the house. However, this can make separation anxiety worse, as pets learn to anticipate signs of their owners leaving.
Avoid overly excited greetings when leaving, and instead focus on a clear instruction when leaving.
2. Train with fake leaves
Don’t wait for an hour-long trip to gauge your dog’s reaction. Introduce “fake leaves” into your routine, and practice leaving the house for minutes at a time. While leaving something to occupy your dog’s attention, like an engaging or favorite toy that they like.
Each time, extend the stretch’s length, and notice any positive differences in your dog’s anxiety-condition. When coming back, praise your dog for being good in your absence. Distract them if they’ve done anything else, instead of scolding them for it.
3. Exercise before leaving
A lack of stimulation in their environment can make symptoms of separation anxiety worse. Dogs lacking stimulation will keep their minds (and bodies) occupied in any other possible way. Including destroying their beds or toys, or deliberate chewing and destruction.
Exercise your dog a few minutes before leaving, and make sure that they’re reassured before you leave. Giving them distinct “play time” beforehand, integrates a whole new routine that could leave them more reassured in your absence.
4. Distraction with Toys
Dogs with separation anxiety often benefit from engaging toys, which gives them something to think about while their owners aren’t there. Leaving them with a chew or soft toy might just cause them to engage in the same behavior and destroy it. But leaving them with a toy that presents some type of puzzle (like a ball dispensing treats) could keep them sufficiently distracted.
5. Crate Training
While many dogs benefit from the above training tips, there are some dogs that still exhibit anxiety-like symptoms after weeks of their owners trying to discourage it.
Crate training can be used as a “last resort” for puppies or pets with separation anxiety. Gradually, pets can be reassured and reintroduced to their environment where they can know that their owners are coming back.
Professional dog training
Professional dog training techniques can also benefit your dog, if they have severe social or separation anxiety. Modern dog training focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors, while discouraging negative ones.
Seek professional dog training advice or help if your dog still exhibits signs of separation anxiety.