Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Separation anxiety in dogs is exactly what it says: anxiety and distress, caused by being separated from familiar people and surroundings. Dogs are pack animals by nature and are most comfortable in company, in a hierarchy where they know their place.

Being separated from their mother and siblings at a very early age is a most stressful experience for a young puppy and it will naturally want to bond with its replacement pack - the humans in the home. If it is then abandoned by the humans for long periods of time, the stress is increased.

Similarly, if an adult dog is brought into new surroundings, with new people, it will often take time to become accustomed to the new situation. This process will be that much more difficult if the dog is then left alone in the early days. This is particularly true if the dog is a rescue dog, which has probably been through a similar trauma before.

How many people aquire a new puppy or adult dog and then expect him to behave perfectly in the home while they are all out at work for the whole day? Just a moment’s thought will tell you that this is totally unrealistic. Yet it happens all the time!

One of the first things to consider, before you even get a dog, is how much time you and other members of the "pack" will be able to spend with the dog. More importantly, how much time he will be on his own.

Separation anxiety can lead to all sorts of unwanted behavior. Excessive barking; chewing; messing in the house; fearful aggression; over-effusive greetings, and generally nervous and neurotic behavior.

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Dogs are highly perceptive of very minor movements and actions of their owner and will quickly relate cause and effect. Putting on your shoes, getting dressed in your work clothes, picking up the car keys will soon tell your dog that you are about to be away for a long period of time. (in your dog’s mind, 30 minutes is a long period).

The solution to this problem is like most of dog training. One small step at a time, repeated over and over, with calm and patience. You have to wean your dog away from his apprehension, by continually reassuring him that everything is going to be OK.

Do the things that raise the dog’s anxiety but change the outcome. Pick up the car keys, go outside but come back in 30 seconds; pick up the car keys go out and start the car, drive half a mile, then come back in. Don’t make your re-entry a big deal. Don’t make a great fuss of your dog, even if he shows he’s delighted to see you. Treat it all as just routine.

Separation anxiety is one of the hardest dog training problems you are likely to meet. For much more advice and help, see Separation Anxiety