What is Dog Separation Anxiety?
In some ways, dogs are like humans.
Like us, dogs like routine and often get stressed over large changes in their schedule; especially negative changes that they do not expect and that they do not understand.
Dog separation anxiety usually occurs when our own schedule changes, thereby disrupting the amount of time we are able to spend with our dogs. When faced with such disruptions, dogs may get stressed, and become destructive.
A dog with separation anxiety may chew up household items, and urinate or defecate in the house because of extreme stress.
What is Dog Separation Anxiety?
Dealing With Dog Separation Anxiety
Sadly, we will sometimes get busy, or our schedule may change drastically. After all, we have to go out there in the wild world, so that we may put kibble on the table.
So how do we deal with dog separation anxiety and make things better for our dogs?
Dog Separation Anxiety - Dogs may suffer from separation anxiety even in a multiple dog household.
Dog Separation Anxiety 1 – Daycare
Dealing With Dog Separation Anxiety.
Dog Separation Anxiety Option 1 - Daycare.
One of the best dog separation anxiety solution is to put your dog in daycare. In this way, he gets the company of humans and dogs while you are away. He also gets to brush up on his dog-to-dog and dog-to-human socialization skills.
Before committing to a daycare center, it is important to drop by for a tour of the facilities. Ensure that the place is clean, well supervised, and suited to your dog’s temperament. Note that even a well-run daycare center may fail to detect dogs that carry common dog ailments such as kennel cough, puppy warts, demodectic mange, and fleas.
Make sure that your dog is up to date on his vaccinations before putting him in daycare or boarding.
Even if your dog is up to date on shots, he may still catch something from playing all day long with so many different dogs. This is especially true for puppies and younger dogs (< 2 years of age) who still have developing immune systems.
Dog Separation Anxiety - Make sure that your dog is up to date on his vaccinations before putting him in daycare or boarding.
Dog Separation Anxiety 2 – Pet sitter
Dog Separation Anxiety Option 2 - Pet sitter.
If you are uncomfortable with sending your dog to a public daycare, you can also hire a pet sitter to keep your dog’s separation anxiety issues at bay. The pet sitter can walk him, and keep him company, at home.
Make sure the pet sitter is insured, qualified, has good references, and most importantly, gets along well with your dog.
Although they may be more expensive, I try to find pet sitters who are also dog trainers. This means they have more experience with dog behavior issues, and can deal with a misbehaving, stressed, or sick canine.
Make sure to give the pet sitter your cellphone number, the location of your vet, and special instructions on your dog, including allergies, and important house rules.
Make sure the pet sitter is insured, qualified, has good references, and most importantly, gets along well with your dog.
Dog Separation Anxiety 3 – Stay over at a friend’s house
If the change in routine is a temporary situation, you can also have your dog stay over at a friend’s house. It is best to bring him on several visits first, where you are present the entire time.
If all goes well, do short stay-overs, then slowly lengthen the time.
Dog Separation Anxiety 4 – Try to keep to a schedule
Dog Separation Anxiety Option 4 - Try to keep to a schedule
Another way to alleviate dog separation anxiety issues, is to try and keep to a fixed schedule.
During holidays, go out and visit some friends, so that your dog has his usual alone time. If you have to be away unexpectedly, have a familiar friend come over to fill in for you.
Dog Separation Anxiety 5 – Exercise your dog
Take your dog out for a long walk before leaving. This will give him an opportunity to fully relieve himself outside, and also put him in a more restful state of mind.
Take your dog for another walk after you get home. Exercise will help to relieve stress and gives your dog important mental and physical stimulation. Neighborhood walks also help to socialize your dog to a variety of people, objects, other dogs, and other animals. Imagine having to stay cooped up in the house all day; you would get cabin fever too.
Exercise will help to relieve stress and gives your dog important mental and physical stimulation.
Dog Separation Anxiety 6 – Desensitize your dog
Dog Separation Anxiety Option 6 - Desensitize your dog.
Leave your dog many interactive, chew-safe, food toys while you are away.
Get your dog used to you leaving the house.
First start with the ritual of getting your handbag, and keys as well as wearing your shoes. Walk to the door, then sit back down. Repeat this many times throughout the day so that your dog gets used to your “leaving the house” ritual.
When your dog is ignoring your crazy ritual, walk to the door, leave, and come back right away. Repeat this until he is comfortable, then slowly lengthen the time that you are away.
Once you get it to about 15 minutes, get in your car, circle the block, and come back.
Make leaving, and coming home as low-key as possible.
When you return home, ignore your dog until he is calm and resting. In this way, your dog does not spend all day anticipating your return. Leave your dog many interactive, chew-safe, food toys while you are away. so that he has something interesting to do when home alone.
Make leaving, and coming home as low-key as possible.
Dog Separation Anxiety 7 – Dog Medication
There are a variety of medications available to help reduce the stress of dog separation anxiety. However, to be effective, these medications must be used together with a behavior modification program, which includes a rigorous exercise and desensitization regime.
The medication alone will not solve your dog’s separation anxiety problem. However, the medication will mute the symptoms of the separation anxiety, so that your dog can benefit from the accompanying behavior modification process.
Dog medication should only be used under the direction of a vet and only for the short-term.
Dog Separation Anxiety
Dealing with dog separation anxiety will take time and a lot of patience.
It is best to start desensitization exercises as early as possible, rather than waiting for a problem to develop. If you have a very busy lifestyle, consider volunteering at your local shelter or SPCA instead of buying a puppy.
Only get a dog when your schedule becomes more regular, so that there is less danger of separation anxiety and other behavioral issues.
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Thanks UnkCoothd. You make a very good point. Dogs can sometimes be forced into an alpha position when there are no rules or consistency in the household. Many dogs get stressed from this because situations arise in the human world that they are unequipped to handle. Many behavioral issues may ensue including not eating, guarding food, marking objects inside the house, etc. These behaviors usually persist even when people are home because such dogs feel stress all of the time. As you described, exercise, rules, and consistency are important to keep this from happening.
Hey shibashake great hub. I especially think number 3 is important. Another thing to mention is that only the alpha role in a pack is allowed to leave without the others. If a dog assumes the alpha role in its human pack the subordinates leaving can tend to cause separation anxiety and frustration that combined with a lack of exercise can lead to massive damage, defecation and other mayhem while the owners are away.