What To Give Dogs With Separation Anxiety

Whats The Difference Between Separation Anxiety And Bad Behavior

Bad behavior is your dog acting out before you leave, just so he can have your attention. Separation anxiety is a phobia: theres actual fear behind the behavior.

How to know whats what:

Dogs are really smart. They live in our entirely human worlds, and to our schedules and patterns. So its really easy for our dogs to tell when were about to shut their world down, separate them from their pack, remove all sources of love. Humans call this leaving for work.

Knowing theyre about to be alone and dreading it, many dogs will do ANYTHING to get your attention. And that includes bad behavior. Even being reprimanded becomes a reward because theyve got your attention.

In these cases, the canine behavior has a quality that we in the professional world call naughtiness. Just kidding. But you do know it when you see it they wont come when you call. Instead, they grab your shoe and run into the kitchen, maybe start digging in the yard.

There is no fear behind this behavior. That is the distinction. The remedy here is more training and careful discipline, and it is fairly easy to overcome.

But what if there is fear behind the misbehavior? Your dog might just have a full-blown case of separation anxiety. But thats ok too because were about to pinpoint the problem.

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How To Prevent And Manage Separation Anxiety In Dogs

• The most common signs of separation anxiety are destruction in the home, excessive vocalization, and inappropriate elimination.
• Certain circumstances, like changes in schedules, can trigger anxiety in dogs who are predisposed. This is why some experts are concerned that there may be an uptick in separation anxiety among dogs as their owners return to work post-pandemic.
• A key principle in staving off and managing separation anxiety is establishing a strong relationship with your dog and training them to be independent during the hours you are together.
• Create routines and boundaries so your dog experiences low-intensity separation. Crate training is recommended as a preventative measure.
• In treating, start small in managing separation, like training your dog to stay in another room while you leave, and then work up to leaving the house.

To live with a dog is to know with certainty that theres someone who never tires of your company. Thats part of the joy of dogstheyre always happy to see you come in the door whether youve been away for an hour or a long workday. But at what point does your dogs desire to be with you turn into a problem?

While separation anxiety has been widely discussed over the last several decades, its become a hotter topic lately. As a global pandemic has changed our daily living and working habits, many experts and dog owners raise the possibility of a spike in rates of separation anxiety when normal schedules are resumed.

Exercise is key

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Encourage Your Pet To Relax During Their Alone Time

Try to take your dog for a walk before you go out so that they have the opportunity to go to the toilet and exercise. Return half an hour before you plan to leave and make sure they’re not hungry. You can feed them a small meal before you leave or leave a food toy – your dog will be much more inclined to relax if they’re fed!

Rule Out Problems That Can Cause Destructive Chewing

Dogs who chew to relieve the stress of separation anxiety usually only chew when left alone or chew most intensely when left alone. They also display other signs of separation anxiety, such as whining, barking, pacing, restlessness, urination and defecation. To learn more about separation anxiety and how to treat it, please see our article, .

Fabric SuckingSome dogs lick, suck and chew at fabrics. Some experts believe that this behavior results from having been weaned too early . If a dogs fabric-sucking behavior occurs for lengthy periods of time and its difficult to distract him when he attempts to engage in it, its possible that the behavior has become compulsive. If you think this might be the case with your dog, please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help, for information about finding a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist , a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with specialized training and experience in treating compulsive behavior.

HungerA dog on a calorie-restricted diet might chew and destroy objects in an attempt to find additional sources of nutrition. Dogs usually direct this kind of chewing toward objects related to food or that smell like food.

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How Can I Teach My Dog To Accept My Departures

Formal retraining should be directed at teaching your dog to remain on his mat, in his bed, or in his crate or den area, for progressively longer periods of time. You may need to begin with food lure exercises, starting with a down-stay and gradually increasing the time and the level of relaxation at each session. Once your dog will stay in your presence, begin to walk away and return, beginning with just a few feet for a few seconds and progressing over time to leaving the room for 30 minutes or longer. Reward with a quiet play or attention session, perhaps coming back and giving a gentle massage or tummy rub. In this way the desired behavior is being shaped and reinforced with the very attention that the dog craves. Remember however, that attention at other times, especially on demand, encourages the dog to follow and pester rather than stay in his bed and relax. A head halter can be particularly useful throughout this training to ensure that your dog remains in position and immediately responds to the command.

Calming Treats And Supplements

Another non-prescription option, calming treats are nutraceuticals that promote calm. As with human supplements, the market isnt closely regulatedwhich means its worth taking a hard look at a products ingredients before you buy. Early studies indicate that tryptophan, melatonin, and L-theanine could have a positive effect on a dogs anxiety, while traditional human soothers like lavender and chamomile havent really been put to the test. Chat with your vet before incorporating new supplements in your pets diet.

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Problems To Rule Out First

If your neighbors call you and tell you that your dog is howling when you are at work, your dogs excessive howling might be caused by separation anxiety. Separation anxiety howling only occurs when a dog is left alone or otherwise separated from his owner. This kind of howling is usually accompanied by at least one other symptom of separation anxiety, such as pacing, destruction, elimination, depression or other signs of distress. For more information about this problem, please see our article, .

Medical CausesDogs sometimes howl when theyre hurt or sick. If your dog starts howling or howls more than usual, take him to a veterinarian to rule out illness and injury before doing anything else.

Other Problems That Can Cause Barking

Illness or InjuryDogs sometimes bark in response to pain or a painful condition. Before attempting to resolve your dogs barking problem, please have your dog examined by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes.

Excessive barking due to separation anxiety occurs only when a dogs caretaker is gone or when the dog is left alone. Youll usually see at least one other separation anxiety symptom as well, like pacing, destruction, elimination, depression or other signs of distress. For more information about this problem, please see our article, .

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How To Manage Or Reduce Your Dogs Destructive Chewing

Puppy TeethingThe desire to investigate interesting objects and the discomfort of teething motivate puppies to chew. Much like human infants, puppies go through a stage when they lose their baby teeth and experience pain as their adult teeth come in. This intensified chewing phase usually ends by six months of age. Some recommend giving puppies ice cubes, special dog toys that can be frozen or frozen wet washcloths to chew, which might help numb teething pain. Although puppies do need to chew on things, gentle guidance can teach your puppy to restrict chewing to appropriate objects, like his own toys.

Normal Chewing BehaviorChewing is a perfectly normal behavior for dogs of all ages. Both wild and domestic dogs spend hours chewing bones. This activity keeps their jaws strong and their teeth clean. Dogs love to chew on bones, sticks and just about anything else available. They chew for fun, they chew for stimulation, and they chew to relieve anxiety. While chewing behavior is normal, dogs sometimes direct their chewing behavior toward inappropriate items. Both puppies and adult dogs should have a variety of appropriate and attractive chew toys. However, just providing the right things to chew isnt enough to prevent inappropriate chewing. Dogs need to learn what is okay to chew and what is not. They need to be taught in a gentle, humane manner.

Useful Tips

Lack of Exercise or Mental Stimulation

What NOT to Do

When Should I Worry About My Dogs Signs Of Separation Anxiety

If your dog barks, howls, eliminates inside the house, or destroys doors and other things when you’re home as well as when you’re away, it’s probably not a sign of separation anxiety, says Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, a certified veterinary behaviorist in St. Louis. That’s because these behaviors may be linked to a fear of fireworks or other loud noises, for example. Elimination inside the house may be due to your dog not being fully house-trained. But if these behaviors happen only when you’re gone, your dog may be trying to communicate his distress.

“The best way to know for sure is to get a video of your dog after you leave,” Horwitz says. “You may see that 10 to 20 minutes after you depart, your dog starts pacing, panting, whining, and tearing up the door. Dogs tearing up things for fun looks different than dogs tearing up things because they’re distressed.”

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Is My Dog Lonely

Dogs are social animals and many will prefer companions. However, this is not a cure for separation anxiety from you. These dogs are not in need of the company of another dog or human. They need you.

If you think your dog would be better with a companion, borrow their best four-legged friend and see how they respond. Then you know another dog is the solution to make your hound happy whilst you are away.

My Dog Starts To Get Anxious Even Before I Leave What Can I Do

There are a number of activities that we do consistently prior to each departure. The dog soon learns to identify that these cues or signals mean imminent departure. On the other hand, some dogs learn that other signals indicate that you are not planning to depart and therefore can help the dog to relax. If you can prevent your dog from observing any of these anxiety inducing pre-departure cues, or if you can train your dog that these cues are no longer predictive of departure, then the anxiety is greatly reduced. Even with the best of efforts, some dogs will still pick up on “cues” that the owner is about to depart. Train your dog to associate these cues with enjoyable, relaxing situations rather than the anxiety of impending departure. By exposing your dog to these cues while you remain at home and your dog is relaxed or otherwise occupied, they should no longer predict departure. This entails some retraining while you are home. Get the items that normally signal your departure, and walk to the door. However, do not exit the house. The dog will be watching and possibly get up, but once you put everything away, your dog should lie down. Then, once your dog is calm, this is repeated. Only 3 to 4 repetitions should be done in a day and the dog must be calm and quiet before presenting the cues again. Eventually, your dog will not attend to these cues because they are no longer predictive of you leaving. Then, your dog will be less anxious when you do leave.

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If The Problem Is More Serious

A dog with severe anxiety won’t be distracted by even the tastiest treats. You’ll need to slowly get them used to your absence.

They may start to get nervous when they see signs you’re about to leave, like putting on your shoes or picking up your keys. So do those things, but then don’t leave. Put on your shoes and then sit down at the table. Pick up your keys and watch TV. Do this over and over many times a day.

When your dog starts to feel less anxious about that, you can slowly start to disappear. First just go on the other side of the door. Ask your dog to stay, then close an inside door between you. Reappear after a few seconds. Slowly increase the amount of time you’re gone. Put on your shoes and pick up your keys. Ask your dog to stay while you go into another room.

As they get more used to the “stay game,” increase the amount of time you’re gone. Then use an outside door, but not the same one you go out every day. Make sure your dog is relaxed before you leave.

Only you can tell if your dog is ready to be left alone for longer periods. Don’t rush things. Give them a stuffed treat when you’ve built up to 10 seconds or so apart. Always act calm when you leave and when you return.

Gradually build up the time until you can leave the house for a few minutes. Then stay away for longer and longer periods.

Why Does Exercise Help Calm Down An Anxious Dog

Exercise is a great way to release pent-up energy and calm an anxious dog. It tires them out both mentally and physically, which can help reduce their anxiety. A tired dog is a relaxed dog, after all.

You dont have to go on long hikes or runs to tire out your pup even a short walk around the block can help. If your dog is particularly anxious, try some calming exercises like yoga or swimming.

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The Behavior Modification Plan

Behavior modification is an efficient, yet challenging strategy based on two processes desensitization and counter-conditioning. Namely, the idea is to gradually get the dog used to spending time alone and then rewarding its calm behavior.

Creating and implementing the proper behavior modification plan is a tricky job that often requires the assistance of a trained professional, preferably a canine behaviorist experienced in these techniques.

How To Help A Dog With Anxiety

If your dog seems to worry when youâre heading out, destroys stuff when you leave the house, follows you from room to room when youâre home, goes berserk when you come back and seems to be eyeing you suspiciously even before you leaveyou may be dealing with a case of separation anxiety.

Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit distress and behavior problems when theyâre left alone. Some of the most common ways they do this:

• Digging and scratching at doors or windows attempting to reunite with their owners
• Destructive chewing
• Urination and defecation

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Situational Medications For Dogs With Separation Anxiety

Situational medications are used on specific occasions when the otherwise stay-at-home dog parent needs to be absent or the left-alone time is expected to be longer than usual.

Situational meds kick in fast but do not last long.

In dogs with milder forms of separation anxiety, situational meds can be used as a sole solution. However, in dogs with severe SA, it is best to combine them with maintenance drugs and use the event-based medication as a booster.

Medication 5: Benzodiazepines

The group of benzodiazepines includes different medications which are usually used for dogs exhibiting signs of intense fear or panic responses. Here are of the most frequently used benzodiazepines:

• Alprazolam – achieves results really fast, but its calming effects are short-lasting
• Clonazepam if used twice per day, may reach a continuous state of calmness
• Clorazepate it needs more time to kick in, but its effect lasts longer
• Diazepam is efficient but may cause sedation in some dogs
• Lorazepam this is considered a safe alternative for young puppies and seniors.

Medication 6: Clonidine

Clonidine achieves calmness and relaxation by modulating the norepinephrine levels. The drug is beneficial for dogs showing signs of anticipatory arousal.

It usually needs between 60 and 90 minutes to achieve effects, but in some dogs, it may cause hypotension and bradycardia .

Medication 7: Trazadone

Medication 8: Acepromazine

What Causes Separation Anxiety In Dogs

While dogs of certain breeds are genetically predisposed to separation anxiety, in others, the anxiety is caused by a traumatic event for example, spending time in a dog boarding facility or kennel.

Here is a list of the causes of separation anxiety in dogs:

• Change in Household Membership. If you are a dog owner, then you know firsthand just how sensitive our dogs are. They bond with members of the family and individuals who they see on a regular basis.
• Changes in Schedule. As creatures of habit, dogs like their schedules and sticking to them. Therefore, when there are changes in the typical day-to-day schedule, it can lead to symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs.
• Abandonment. Separation anxiety in dogs is often caused by abandonment. A dog that has been in and out of kennels is likely to have separation anxiety due to fear that the owner wont return.
• Lack of Integration into Household. Improper integration into the household may cause separation anxiety in dogs. If a puppy is confined to a crate the first time it is brought to its new home, it may become anxious.
• Moving. A change in living arrangements is a common cause of separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs form strong bonds with their surroundings, and changes can wreak havoc on their emotional wellbeing.

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