Just like people, dogs have separation anxiety. As for what causes it, there are many. As a result, the dog and the owner can have quite a difficult experience. Overcoming separation anxiety can be work, but in the end it is worth it for both the dog and the owner because it is healthier and makes the overall environment more bearable.
However, you have to determine that what your dog is suffering from is really separation anxiety. This can mimic a number of other problems. Just because your dog may chew things, break things, and have accidents in your house when you’re not around, that doesn’t mean your dog has separation anxiety. These are non-anxiety issues that need to be addressed. Excessive barking does not indicate separation anxiety because barking can sometimes mean that the dog is simply bored. Sometimes the way to remedy this is by incorporating more exercise.
The sure sign of separation anxiety
The number one way to determine if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety is to look at your dog when he leaves. If your dog seems nervous when you leave, that’s anxiety kicking in. These nervous symptoms include pacing, tremors, a wild look in their eyes, and panting. After you leave, there are things that happen that you don’t know about. Your neighbors may know more about what your dog is doing than what you are doing because they can hear your dog barking and howling continuously. A dog without separation anxiety will whine, bark, and howl for about five to ten minutes. A dog with this will do these things for hours on end.
When a dog has separation anxiety, they may try to hurt themselves by trying to jump out of windows, out of their crate, etc. Their entire focus is on the areas where you can get out of the house because they want to find you.
The treatment
How quickly treatment works depends on the severity of your separation anxiety. If you can figure out how to calm down the reaction, then you can start dealing with the problem itself. If the dog is whining before you leave, he tries to calm it down instead of just standing there and worrying. It’s hard to know what to do, but try to calm him down.
You can also talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medications. In addition to medication, you can work on training. Counterconditioning is commonly used in combination with medication because counterconditioning takes a negative experience and turns it into a positive one. For example: the simple act of putting on shoes can make your dog nervous. However, do something positive. Give the dog a treat when you put on the shoes, it’s also great for puppy training.
The most effective form of treatment is prevention. This usually starts with crate training and spending time outside while in the crate. Every time you leave you can leave them a whim so that the experience is positive from the beginning. Even if you’re always home with your dog, make arrangements to go away and leave him with a treat because you never know what’s going to happen in the future that’s going to take you far.
Another effective way to help a dog with separation anxiety is to know that it is not your fault. Abuse prior to owning the dog, being left alone for long periods of time as a puppy, a naturally high-strung personality, not being socialized, and simply moving to a new home can all be triggers. By not feeling guilty, you can start the most effective treatment possible for training your pup.
