The “I Miss My Owner” Blues
Everyone needs a little alone time now and then–unless you are a dog who suffers from separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit behavioural problems when they are left alone. They usually exhibit a dramatic anxiety response within a short time (20-45 minutes) after their owners leave them. Typical anxiety responses include:
• Digging, chewing, and scratching at doors or windows in an attempt to escape and reunite with their owners.
• Howling, barking, and crying in an attempt to get their owner to return.
• Urination and defecation (even with housetrained dogs) as a result of distress.
Why Do Dogs Suffer from Separation Anxiety?
We don’t really know why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don’t. It is important to know that when a dog is destructive or house soils because of separation anxiety; it is not the dog’s attempt to punish or seek revenge on his owner for leaving him alone. These responses are part of a panic response.
Separation anxiety can occur:
• When a dog is accustomed to constant human companionship and is suddenly left alone for the first time.
• Following a long interval, such as a vacation, when the owner and dog are constantly together.
• After a traumatic event (from the dog’s point of view), such as a period of time spent at a shelter or boarding kennel.
• After a change in family routine or structure (such as a child leaving for university, a change in work schedule, a move to a new home, or a new pet or person).
What To Do If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety
For minor separation anxiety, the following techniques may be helpful by themselves. For more severe problems, these techniques should be used in combination with the desensitization process in the next section.
Some examples of safety cues are playing a radio, playing a television, or a toy (one that doesn’t have dangerous fillings and can’t be torn into pieces). Use your safety cue during practice sessions with your dog. Be sure to avoid presenting your dog with the safety cue when you leave for a period of time longer than he can tolerate, otherwise the association will be lost.
Desensitization Techniques for More Severe Cases of Separation Anxiety
The usual treatment for more severe cases of separation anxiety is a systematic process of getting your dog used to being alone. You have to teach your dog to remain calm during “practice” departures and short absences. Try using the following steps:
Teaching the Sit-Stay and Down-Stay
Another technique for reducing separation anxiety in your dog is practicing the common “sit-stay” or “down-stay” training exercises of positive reinforcement. The goal of this practice is to move out of your dog’s line of sight while he “stays”. This teaches him that he can stay in one spot calmly and happily while you go to another spot in the house. Gradually increase the distance you move away from your dog during normal daily activities. For example, if you are watching television with your dog by your side and get up for a snack, tell your dog to stay, and leave the room. When you return, give him a treat or praise him quietly. Never punish your dog during a training session.
In the Meantime…
Because these treatments can take awhile, and because a dog with separation anxiety can cause significant harm to himself and/or your home in the interim, consider some other options:
• Talk to your veterinarian about drug therapy. A good anti-anxiety drug shouldn’t sedate your dog, but reduce anxiety while you’re gone. Medication should be a temporary measure only and must be used in combination with behaviour modification.
• Take your dog to a dog day care facility or boarding kennel.
• Leave your dog with a friend, family member or neighbour.
• Take your dog to work with you–even for a half day, if possible.
What Won’t Help a Separation Anxiety Problem
• Punishing your dog. Punishment is not an effective way to treat separation anxiety and may in fact, increase his separation anxiety if you punish him when you return home.
• Getting another pet as a companion for your dog. This won’t help the anxiety your dog is feeling because it’s a result of separation from you, his person, not because he’s lonely.
• Crating your dog. He will still engage in anxiety responses within the crate and he may urinate, defecate, howl or injure himself in an attempt to escape from the crate.
• Leaving the radio on (unless the radio is used as a ‘safety cue’ as described above).
• Training your dog. While formal training is always a good idea, it won’t directly help with separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is not a result of disobedience or lack of training; it’s a panic response.
Adapted from the Kentucky Humane Society, 2009.
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