What Is Separation Anxiety In Dogs?

Separation anxiety is one of the most complex behavioral challenges we can encounter with our dogs. It can also bring immense amounts of frustration, for dogs and owners alike.

There are several reasons why separation anxiety is so complex. Firstly, is a behavior that can be easily misdiagnosed, as many of the signs of separation anxiety are shared with other behavioral issues. In addition, separation anxiety comes without any easy solutions, meaning that working with a canine behavior expert is often the best approach.

In this article, we’ll look at what separation anxiety actually entails, how it differs from other behavioral issues, and how you may be able to manage it.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety occurs when a dog is left on their own when their guardians leave the home. If a dog is significantly attached to their owners, they may become overwhelmed and stressed when left by themselves. A dog’s stress can manifest itself in a number of different behaviors.

Signs of separation anxiety

The unusual aspect of separation anxiety is that it is a behavior that you’ll probably never directly experience, because it is triggered by the fact that you and your dog are not together. However, there are several signs of this behavior that you may notice when you return home later in the day. You might even become aware of them as soon as you close your front door behind you. These signs include:

Exhibiting stress signals before you leave the home (ex: panting, trembling, shaking, etc.)
Loud, repetitive vocalizations while you are apart (ex: howling, barking, whining)
Engaging in destructive behavior (ex: chewing furniture or destroying household items)
Causing self-injury (ex: chewing on their paws or tail)
Urinating or defecating in the home while you are absent
Excessive excitement upon your return (ex: jumping on you or charging out the door)

As we will explore in the next section, just because your dog shows any or all of these signs does not necessarily mean they suffer from separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety, or another reason?

The real difficulty with separation anxiety is diagnosing it correctly in the first instance. As this is a behavior that does not occur with owners present, oftentimes, many families just “have a hunch” that separation anxiety is the root cause of the issue because their dog is displaying some of the behaviors listed above.

The problem here is that, as you may have noticed, many of the signs of separation anxiety share commonalities with other behavioral issues. For example, your dog could engage in destructive behavior because they are simply bored and understimulated. If you have an extremely long day at work, your dog may urinate in the home because they are unable to hold their bladder for that amount of time. In these scenarios, it would be a mistake to jump straight to the conclusion that your dog suffers from separation anxiety.

With all of these variables in mind, it is imperative to diagnose whether separation anxiety is actually the issue before trying to come up with a solution. The best way to do this is to seek the opinion of a professional dog trainer, who is experienced in similar situations and can accurately help you to diagnose if separation anxiety is the cause. Analyzing video footage through a camera recording of your dog’s activity while you are out of the home can be very useful.

How to manage separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a behavior that may be difficult to eradicate entirely (unless you plan to always have someone stay at home so your dog is never alone). An experienced dog trainer can help you to formulate a management strategy that reduces your dog’s anxiety while you are going through the process of fixing the issue. If your dog suffers with severe separation anxiety, it is certainly worth speaking to an expert immediately.

In the meantime, if you’re sure that your dog does suffer from separation anxiety, there are a few tips you can implement to help manage the situation.

Build your dog’s confidence and security in the home. Your dog becomes anxious because they are separated from you, but they need to understand that security comes not only from you, but from their surroundings. Ensure that they have a comfortable area of the home to call their own, containing their bed and their favorite toys. You want to create a safe space where they can truly feel relaxed. Create further positive associations by practicing obedience (ex: down/stay) and playing enrichment games in this area.
Get a dogsitter, or return home during a lunch break. Eight hours is a long time for your dog to be on their own. Hiring a dogsitter or dog walker can make sure that your dog is only left alone for a maximum of four to five hours. In addition to reducing their anxiety about being left alone, a dog walker can also provide them with necessary physical exertion.
Take your dog to a doggy daycare. A doggy daycare may be a way to get your dog out of the home and prevent them from spending time alone. While in a best-case scenario, this can also provide them with socialization opportunities, it could also result in bad habits forming if other dogs at the daycare have their own behavioral quirks, or if the groups are too large or not properly supervised.
Change your routine. When you leave your home, you likely follow the same routine – you take your keys off the hook, put your shoes on, grab your wallet, and so on. Your dog is perceptive and these triggers stack on top of one another to gradually increase their stress, until they are totally wound up by the time you leave. If you alter your own behavior – for example, randomly taking your keys off the hook throughout the day – your dog may develop a more positive or neutral association with that behavior.
Provide distractions. Another way to help manage separation anxiety is to take your dog’s mind off your absence. Consider providing them with a fillable bone with yogurt and peanut butter (xylitol-free) that has been in the freezer for a few hours – the licking will help to keep them occupied and calm them. You could also provide a puzzle game or treat-dispensing game to provide mental stimulation in your absence.

In conclusion

There’s no doubt about it – separation anxiety is one of the most challenging behaviors to manage with our dogs. If you suspect your dog is struggling with separation anxiety, it is always best to ask for professional help to put a behavioral strategy in place. At Highland Canine Training, we have dog trainers located across the United States – reach out to one of our certified dog trainers in your area today.