719-395-2737
DONATE

An Overview of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

An Overview of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
by
August 25, 2024
in Humane Education Column
No Comments
1572

By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer Columnist

Separation anxiety is a frequent complaint from pet parents – usually concerning dogs. Some dogs, for various reasons, may become upset when left alone by their people/person. According to the ASPCA article Separation Anxiety, what to do about it can be relatively simple or more complex depending on the degree of anxiety.

Very serious anxiety can result in destruction in the house and perhaps self-injury trying to escape. Some indicators may include urinating and defecating in the house, excessive howling, chewing and digging and destruction, escaping, pacing in round or straight lines, and maybe coprophagia (eating their excrement).

Why some dogs develop separation anxiety has several potential reasons: Pets transitioning from shelters into a new routine with an unknown family or individual, being abandoned or surrendered or given to someone new, a drastic change in schedule (pet owner going from remote working from home to full time at the job work), a move to a new place, or the sudden absence of a family member due to death or moving away.

However, according to the ASPCA, soiling, destruction, and other behavioral issues are not always indicators of separation anxiety, but may be the result of separate behavioral issues. Some dogs have excitement urination or urinate from being submissive, while some haven’t completed house training. Male dogs and some females may lift a leg and scent mark. Young pups can sometimes be destructive whether you are home or away, which can be a result of boredom or lack of exercise. Another notable behavior is excessive barking when you are home or away – my Sage at two years-old is a barker at seemingly everything.

Additionally, there are medical problems that can contribute to certain concerns, such as house soiling. For example, incontinence can be caused by urinary tract infections and some medications bring on frequent urination. It is recommended to check with your veterinarian to rule out a medical issue before assuming all concerns are behavioral.

Counterconditioning may help with mild cases of separation anxiety. Counterconditioning aims to exchange the fear with a more pleasant feeling by slowly desensitizing the dog through the presentation of something the dog loves, but only receives when they are alone. A peanut butter stuffed KONG for example – frozen is best. Or low-fat cream cheese, frozen banana pieces, and canned dog food can be frozen. I know from experience that my dogs love stuffed Kongs. However, highly anxious dogs may not eat when left alone.

Moderate and severe anxiety may require more complex desensitization and counterconditioning. This can be difficult and a certified veterinary behaviorist might be the answer. A dog trainer might be qualified to do desensitization, but it is recommended to check first if they are qualified and have experience helping dogs conquer their fears.

Ark-Valley Humane Society offers assistance for those who are experiencing behavior issues with their dog and need financial support to obtain dog training. They partner with positive reinforcement dog trainers to offer 4 individual training lessons for your dog. You must be a Chaffee County Resident to qualify for this program. To learn more, visit: https://www.ark-valley.org/pet-behavior-support/. Another great resource is the book, “I’ll Be Home Soon: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety” by Patricia B McConnell, PH.D.

If you are trying to desensitize on your own, there are multiple steps. Check out the ASPCA website, or the book recommended above, for detailed instructions. Last, but not least, is crating a good idea? I crated my devilish two-year-old retriever until she demonstrated she could be trusted. Bear in mind, she had the older retriever for company. It was amazing that when she turned two, she could be left without damaging anything. However, some dogs with separation anxiety do worse in a crate, so be sure to crate train in very small increments to avoid making the anxiety worse. All of this retraining may take a while, but the rewards are something to look forward to.

Share

Recommended Posts