Why Do Puppies Get Separation Anxiety
Its common to mistake separation anxiety behaviors for your dog being upset with you for leaving them, but this is not the case. Puppy separation anxiety arises when they havent learned the right coping strategies to deal with alone time. Hence, their behavior results from fear of being alone. Its somewhat like the puppy equivalent of a human panic attack.
Dog separation anxiety is probably one of the more challenging behavioral problems to address. Being proactive and taking preventative measures can go a long way in minimizing anxious behaviors.
In most cases, puppy separation anxiety starts early. Humans can become so attached to their new puppy that theyre delighted when it wants to follow them everywhereand this bonding is essential. If you allow your puppy to be with you constantly, however, they will grow up expecting to be in your presence every second of the day. Then, suddenly, when you need to go somewhere without them, they dont understand and become anxious and upset.
What Can I Do About My Dogs Separation Anxiety
Its exhausting to come home to destruction and upsetting to see your puppy in such distress. Its even more devastating for your dog. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to deal with SA. The Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic states the goal of treatment is to resolve the dogs underlying anxiety by teaching him to enjoy, or at least tolerate, being left alone. So some of the treatments are the same as the preventative measures and may already be part of your puppys routine. But consider all of them as you tackle SA. Look at the following methods of treatment:
1. Crate TrainingIt bears repeating that a crate is your dogs friend and your ally. Its an important training tool and the solution for many puppy challenges. It isnt cruel or unhealthy if used appropriately. Instead, it can provide your pup with a safe, quiet place to relax. The trick is to teach him to associate his crate with wonderful things like chew toys and food-releasing puzzle toys so hes happy to spend time inside. Some dogs feel safer and more comfortable in their crate when left alone. However, other dogs can panic. Watch your puppys behavior to see if he settles right down or if the anxiety symptoms ramp up. Remember, the goal is not to crate your dog all day, every day as a solution to his SA. Its to keep him and your house safe while you teach him to enjoy being alone.
How To Help Your Puppy Or New Dog Get Used To Being Left Alone
Its a good idea to teach a puppy or new dog to get used to your absence for short periods of time, even if you dont intend to leave them alone for long. At some point, you will have to leave your dog at home and if they arent used to it, they may become very distressed. The idea is to teach them that being alone isnt scary at all its actually a time to relax and feel comfortable.
Firstly youll need to decide on where you are happy for your dog to be left alone. Some people prefer their dogs to be left in a utility room or kitchen due to ease of cleaning up any potential mess. There is nothing wrong with this however you dont want to make the mistake of putting your dog in this area only when you are leaving them. This is because you want them to feel as comfortable and relaxed as they possibly can, and if they only get put in this area when they are left, they may learn to only associate it with isolation.
You May Like: How Can I Relax My Throat Anxiety
Why Are Dogs Scared Of Staying Alone
Dogs descend from wolves, which are well-known pack animals. Wolves work together, be it with hunting or rearing their young. No animal is left alone only sick and weak animals that can no longer aid the pack are left behind.
Our dogs still maintain this instinct, whether more or less deep-seated. So it isn’t surprising that dogs don’t like to be left alone.
Suspending Absences Is More Possible Than Ever
Lets be honest, the world has essentially changed overnight. For better or for worse, many people are at home for the foreseeable future. Although this situation is not ideal for most, and we hope everything returns to normal at some level in near future, it is the perfect time to help your dog make progress with his separation anxiety.
A true separation anxiety case will not display the same disruptive behavior when you are home because they are not panicked. So, if you were recently struggling with your pup barking when you were gone, having accidents in the home, or scratching at the door and the behavior has suddenly stopped because you are home now, theres a good chance your dog is impacted by separation anxiety. The good news is now that you are home, you can help your dog overcome this behavior!
Also Check: How Does An Anxiety Attack Feel
What Is The Difference Between Separation Anxiety And Normal Canine Behavior
Separation anxiety is a serious condition, and it goes beyond the occasional mournful whimper when you leave the house or the shredded sock waiting for you upon your return. Its also not the same as boredom, and unlike a little mischief when your dog is left alone, separation anxiety is the result of legitimate stress.
Before labeling destroyed cushions or potty accidents as SA, be sure its not a case of inadequate training. Does your dog truly understand good manners, even when youre not watching him? Is he 100% potty trained? One of the best ways to see whats really going on in your absence is to audio or videotape your dogs behavior while youre away.
My Dog Chews Everything In Sight 5 Minutes After I Leave
If this is the case, you should crate train your dog for its own safety. Introduce them to alone time in the crate and then work on your time away from them. Go into a different room for a few minutes and work up from there. However, a dog with severe separation anxiety would be safer in doggy daycare unless you can trust it to not destroy its crate.
If your dog feels safe in its crate, instead of leaving it out, take the above steps two or three times a day, but instead of leaving the dog out, crate it. If you do have to leave your dog crated all day, make sure you get a dog walker to take it out at least twice a day and make sure you are ready to take the dog for a walk or play in the backyard for 30 to 60 minutes when you get home.
Also Check: How To Help Your Child With Anxiety
Downplay Goodbyes And Hellos
Dont get emotional when leaving your dog and overexcited when you come back. By paying too much attention to your departure and return, you risk reinforcing the dogs fear of your absence. Calmly say goodbye and leave. When you come back, quietly say hello and don’t get too affectionate until your dog has calmed down.
Tips For Preventing Your Dogs Separation Anxiety
It might seem cliché, but the old saying is true: prevention really is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true with a condition like separation anxiety, which affects approximately 13 million dogs in the United States. Preventing separation anxiety from developing is much easier than trying to treat it later in life.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePreventing separation anxiety is all about building a dogs confidence and creating a positive association with being alone or away from you. Its especially important to do this kind of proactive and preventive training with young puppies, but dogs of all ages and backgrounds will benefit. Here are 5 things you can do to help prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety:\u003c/p\u003e,author:Cathy Madson, MA, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA?
*The exercises below are for dogs that do not yet show symptoms of separation anxiety. If your dog has separation anxiety, please talk with your veterinarian, veterinary behaviorist, certified dog trainer or behavior consultant about starting treatment.
Also Check: How To Stop Driving Anxiety
What If My Dog Fails
If your dog does not remain calm at any of the steps outlined above, all you can do is wait for calm, then click and return. Reset your criteria to one step away and try again.
Anxious behavior is just behavior. It looks and sounds terrible, but it can’t go on forever. If your dog is not coming to any physical harm, then wait it out. If you really can’t wait it out, at least wait for a reduction in the anxious behavior before you return to your dog. If the anxious behavior is extreme, seek professional help sooner rather than later!
My Dog Barks All Day While Im At Work What Else Can I Do
- Day care: In addition to the tips weve shared on this page and our Barx Buddy device, you might also consider doggie daycare one or two days a week. You might find that your dogs temperament becomes calmer after spending a day filled with energetic stimulation from other dogs. Again, we recommend that you use day care in conjunction with other training methods.
- Dog walking service: There are many dog-walking services that do thorough background checks or, you might hire a trusted neighbor to take your dog for mid-day walks. Make sure that your caretaker understands the train-treat-repeat method youre using with your dog.
- Dog TV: You may have heard about streaming dog TV channels or playing music to soothe an anxious dog. The jury is out on whether dog TV channels and music work to calm dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. You might try a free version for short periods to see if this helps your dog. We are skeptical that audiovisual stimulation alone will work for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. Its likely that youll need to incorporate a train-treat-repeat approach.
You May Like: Does Drinking Water Help Anxiety
Does My Dog Have Separation Anxiety
Many of the behaviors that are attributed to separation anxiety can have alternate diagnoses that are medical or behavioral.
For example, excessive drooling might be caused by a fractured tooth or nausea barking could be a response to a territorial threat and accidents might mean that the dog isnt fully house-trained.
In order to determine how to treat separation anxiety in dogs, pet parents should first schedule a veterinary exam to rule out illness or behavioral reasons for the responses.
How To Train Dog Against Separation Anxiety
If the Problem Is Mild Give your dog a special treat each time you leave . Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting. Leave some recently worn clothes out that smell like you. Consider giving your pet over-the-counter natural calming supplements.
Don’t Miss: How To Explain Anxiety To A Child
How To Leave A Dog With Separation Anxiety Alone
As dog owners ourselves, many of whom have had dogs impacted by separation anxiety, we know what you are going through. Know that you are not alone, and there is hope! As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us, or leave a comment! Make sure to follow us on to join the conversation, we cant wait to hear from you!
Can You Train Food Aggression Out Of A Dog
To deter food-producing dogs, place yourself a few feet away while they eat their kibble. Its a good idea not to move toward him while hes eating. You can now make him feel special by approaching him in a light, conversational tone and asking him, How was your day? and giving him a treat as a reward. Continue to do this as long as he is eating.
How To Stop Your Puppys Food Aggression
Puppy behavior is learned to avoid becoming aggressive around food. As a result, when your puppy exhibits aggression toward food, it is critical to take immediate action at the first sign of the problem. If you ignore the aggression, it may become more intense and cause more problems down the road. To reduce the aggression toward food, there are several methods. The first step is to develop a feeding schedule. Your puppy will understand when it is time to eat, as well as how to avoid becoming overly aggressive when it is hungry. If you want to make certain that your puppy is well fed, feed him a variety of high-quality, nutritious foods. They will not become aggressive around food if they are well-mannered. Make certain that you give your puppy plenty of positive reinforcement when it behaves appropriately around food. It will also assist you in reinforcing good behavior, and eventually, you will develop a habit of it.
Also Check: How To Get An Anxiety Diagnosis
Dealing With Separation Anxiety In Dogs
Your dog is showing signs of separation anxiety. This means that she is uncomfortable being left home alone. Because dogs are social animals, it is not natural for them to be away from their social group for long periods of time. However, most dogs can be left alone with no problems. Unfortunately your dog is not one of them and you will have to do some work in order to help her over her fear of being alone.
It is important for you to understand that your dog is being bad when she is alone because she is anxious. It is not due to spite or revenge. Because of this, punishing her for chewing the couch or soiling the rug will only make her more anxious. Recognize that she cant help the things she is doing and decide that you love her enough to put the time into helping her.
The program described below will help you teach your dog to be okay when she is alone. Have patience. It often takes several weeks or months for dogs to completely get over separation issues.
Crate training is an option, however, some dogs that are anxious when alone are more anxious in a crate. If you decide to crate train your dog make sure you put time into conditioning her to absolutely LOVE being in the crate before you leave her in there for the day.
How To Help A Dog With Separation Anxiety At Night
Itâs one thing to deal with separation anxiety during the day, and another thing completely to deal with it at night! Being separated at night can be very challenging for both you and your dog, especially since youâre trying to get some sleep.
In general, you should try to make sure youâre tiring your dog out during the day, and that youâre working on crate training consistently. Hereâs a great article for a few more tips and tricks.
Don’t Miss: What Can Help With Anxiety Attacks
Diagnosing Separation Anxiety In Dogs
Once a diagnosis of separation anxiety has been made, your veterinarian will try to determine the underlying cause. This is especially important if the cause is medical in nature, as your dog could be suffering from a severe condition. Diagnosing the underlying cause will also help during treatment, as most treatment options involve behavior modification on behalf of both dogs and owners. However, this process can take time, as in many cases the cause may not be immediately evident. Your veterinarian will likely recommend blood work possibly diagnostic imaging. They may even refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
Diagnosing separation anxiety in dogs is dependent on clinical signs. If your veterinarian diagnoses your dog with separation anxiety, he or she will then attempt to find the underlying cause of the condition, which can take time.
Nothing In Life If Free
Youll often hear of trainers recommending the Nothing In Life Is Free protocol to treat separation anxiety. The idea with NILIF is that a dog only gets reward, attention, or treats when they do something you, the owner, wants.
Some compare it to making your dog say please.
When applied, to treating anxiety, the somewhat convoluted idea is that the NILIF technique will teach your dog to look to you for guidance and leadership, and that somehow this will reduce anxiety.
NILIF isnt a bad concept it can be helpful in some situations . But I really dont recommend using this strategy to treat separation anxiety, because structure and leadership wont fix anxiety and panic!
Vergara adds:
Setting up the rule nothing in life is free as a training measure wont solve the problem, and furthermore could make it worse. A dog who is experiencing Separation Anxiety is in constant stress, and adding a new stress such as not paying attention to him anymore can promote more stress, making things even worse.
Keep in mind that a panic disorder cannot be remedied by obedience training, because panic is not a behavior, but rather an emotion that can drive unwanted behavior .
Don’t Miss: What To Do To Help Anxiety
How To Prevent A Dog From Getting Separation Anxiety
Like with most behavior problems, there are some steps that you can take to prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety.
While its no guarantee , there are a few things that you can do to protect your dog from developing this panic disorder.
Assuming that youve done your best to pick out a dog or puppy from a good source, youve already stacked the genetics and early life experiences in your favor.
Provide Interactive Toys For Your Dog To Play With While Youre Gone
Dogs with mild separation intolerance can also learn to enjoy the ritual of getting a treat-stuffed goody when their person leaves the house for the day. However, Flores cautions against leaving interactive food toys with dogs that are suffering from full-blown separation anxiety.
Sometimes, because the food toy has been given so often before departure, the food becomes a cue that something bad is about to happen, she explains. Once the food has been consumed, the dog will realize their person is still gone and panic.
You May Like: How Do You Know If You Have Anxiety