Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety?
by Claire Anderson, CSAP-BC
Let’s face it: having a dog is an amazing experience, but it's not always easy. If you're here, chances are you're dealing with a common problem that many dog owners face: separation anxiety.
Living with a dog who has separation anxiety can be intensely challenges. It can cause feelings of frustration, guilt, and stress as you struggle to manage your dog's behavior and ensure their well-being. Daily life can be more challenging, including coming home to find furniture and household items destroyed, neighbors complaining about barking or whining, and having to miss out on social events or outings.
I promise we understand the struggle!
When it comes to managing separation anxiety, it's hard to know where to start. So we wrote a guide to help you understand if your dog has separation anxiety and what you can do about it. By teaming up with a veterinarian and a qualified trainer, you can dramatically improve both the lives of your dog and yourself!
Separation anxiety in dogs is a condition where a dog experiences extreme distress and anxiety when left alone or separated from their owner. Dogs with separation anxiety may display a range of behaviors such as destructive chewing or digging, excessive barking, whining or howling, pacing, panting, drooling, and even self-injury.
While all dogs can experience some level of distress when separated from their owners, dogs with separation anxiety show a more extreme and persistent form of anxiety that can interfere with their daily life and well-being.
The exact cause of separation anxiety is not fully understood, but it can be triggered by a variety of factors, none of which we can promise were caused by you. Sometimes people assume they caused their dog's separation anxiety by spending too much time with them, "babying" them, or not crate training them. This is simply not true, and blaming yourself does no good!
Actually, separation anxiety develops due to many factors including but not limited to:
genetic predisposition
a traumatic experience such as abandonment or neglect
a traumatic experience not directly related to being abandoned
changes in routine
new living arrangements
illness, injury, or chronic pain
changes in the family dynamic
recurring, extended absences of the owner
a lack of secure attachment
The risk factors for separation anxiety are infinite and not entirely known and can most often be a combination of things. Typically we are finding there is a significant genetic component, combined with life experience and environment.
The symptoms and signs of separation anxiety in dogs can vary depending on the individual dog and the severity of the anxiety. However, some common symptoms and signs of separation anxiety in dogs include:
Destructive behavior: Dogs with separation anxiety may chew on furniture, doors, or windowsills or dig holes in walls or floors.
Excessive barking, howling, or whining: Dogs may vocalize excessively when separated from their owners.
House soiling: Dogs with separation anxiety may urinate or defecate inside the house even if they are house-trained.
Pacing and restlessness: Dogs may pace back and forth or seem restless when left alone.
Escape attempts: Dogs may try to escape from their crate, room, or yard when left alone.
Loss of appetite: Some dogs may lose their appetite when left alone or become less interested in food.
Depression: Dogs with separation anxiety may seem sad or depressed when their owners leave and may lack energy or enthusiasm.
If you suspect that your dog may have separation anxiety, it's important to consult with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
It’s also worth noting that if these behaviors are present in your dog when you’re home, it’s still a sign of severe stress but may not necessarily be separation-related.
It can be tricky when it comes to managing separation anxiety by yourself. Some people may try to solve the problem on their own by trying various remedies found online, such as leaving music or the television on, giving their dog treats or toys, or even crate training. However, these methods may not be effective, and some can even make the situation worse.
That's where a dog trainer can help. A professional dog trainer has the knowledge, expertise, and experience to address separation anxiety in a safe, effective manner. They can work with owners to identify the root cause of the dog's anxiety, create a customized training plan, and provide ongoing support and guidance throughout the training process.
As dog trainers, our job is to help owners develop strategies for desensitizing your dog to being alone, teaching coping skills to help your dog relax and feel safe, and helping your dog build confidence and independence. Trainers also provide valuable education to owners, including how to read your dog's body language and cues, how to properly use positive reinforcement techniques, and how to set realistic expectations for your pet's progress.
You will also want to discuss your dog’s separation anxiety with your veterinarian. Effective separation anxiety treatment requires a team. It takes a village!
It's important to understand that every dog with separation anxiety is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. At Tully’s Training, we create customized treatment plans that address the individual needs of each dog and their unique environment.
While there are common components to separation anxiety treatment programs, such as systematic desensitization, the program will be tailored to your dog's specific symptoms and behaviors. We take a personalized approach to address the root causes of your dog's anxiety and create a plan that works for them.
With the Tully’s Training unique program, we take the time to truly understand your needs, schedules, and who your dog is. We then use that information to form the best program for your family, allowing for changes to be made as things develop. Your very first session includes time to talk through your dog’s behavior and how it is affecting your life so that we can gain a deep understanding of the issue. We then help to create a doable management plan and discuss any other recommendation we may have. We then guide you through an initial assessment so we can all star off on the right paw. Clients receive unlimited support throughout the program as well as a shared communication platform for homework and updates in between sessions. We get that separation anxiety can be emotionally, socially, and financially devastating and we want to help you through it.
Our professional dog trainers will work with you to create a comprehensive management plan and help put together a care team to ensure your dog's needs are met.
During the assessment, we will review your dog's current exercise and enrichment plan and make any necessary modifications to improve their overall well-being.
Together, we determine the amount of time your dog can comfortably be left alone without showing signs of stress. Based on this assessment, we will create an initial mission that you will practice with your dog.
We continue to provide missions to help you continue to build on your progress, and we'll help plan days off for rest and decompression.
Check-in video calls with your trainer occur at least once per week to discuss your dog's progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
Above all, we always prioritize your dog's well-being. If your dog is experiencing fear, stress, or anxiety, we want to know so we can address their needs and make changes accordingly.
And lastly, it's important to involve your veterinarian in the treatment plan! We can help you prepare for the vet visit to discuss how they can support your dog's care.
We know that living with a dog with separation anxiety is challenging, which is why we’ve developed this program—to help people feel confident in their ability to help their dog overcome separation anxiety and lead a happier, healthier life.
With the help of your vet and a qualified trainer, you can regain the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your own social life and daily routines without the stress and worry that often accompany a dog with separation anxiety! We can do this, together.