Separation anxiety is a common and distressing condition that affects many dogs, manifesting as disruptive or destructive behaviors when they are left alone. These behaviors, which can include inappropriate urination and defecation, excessive barking, howling, chewing, digging, and escape attempts, are not simply signs of poor house training or a lack of obedience. Instead, they are strong indicators of distress triggered by separation from their guardians, the people to whom they are deeply attached. Escape attempts can be particularly severe, leading to self-injury and significant damage to the home, especially around doors and windows.
Dogs experiencing separation anxiety may exhibit agitation as their guardians prepare to leave, or they might seem anxious and depressed even before their guardians depart or when they are not present. Some dogs will actively try to prevent their guardians from leaving. The distress behaviors typically begin shortly after the dog is left alone, often within minutes, and upon the guardian’s return, the dog may react with an overwhelming display of relief, as if it has been an extended period since they last saw their owner. The primary goal in treating separation anxiety is to alleviate the dog’s underlying anxiety by teaching them to tolerate or even enjoy being left alone. This is achieved by creating positive associations with the situation that triggers their fear, ensuring they experience solitude without fear or anxiety.
Common Symptoms of Separation Anxiety
Several key symptoms can indicate that a dog is suffering from separation anxiety:
- Urinating and Defecating: Dogs with separation anxiety may urinate or defecate when left alone. If these incidents occur in the guardian’s presence, the cause is likely not separation anxiety.
- Barking and Howling: Persistent barking or howling that occurs only when left alone is a hallmark symptom. This vocalization is not triggered by external stimuli but by the absence of the guardian.
- Chewing, Digging, and Destruction: When left unsupervised, dogs may chew on objects, door frames, or window sills, dig at doorways, or destroy household items. These destructive behaviors, often resulting in self-injury (e.g., broken teeth, cuts on paws), typically do not occur when the guardian is present.
- Escaping: Attempts to escape confinement when left alone can lead to self-injury, particularly from chewing or digging at doors and windows. Like other anxiety-driven behaviors, escape attempts stemming from separation anxiety do not usually happen when the guardian is home.
- Pacing: Some dogs exhibit repetitive pacing, walking back and forth in fixed patterns or in circles, when left alone. This behavior is specific to the guardian’s absence.
- Coprophagia: In some cases, dogs may defecate and then consume their own excrement when left alone. This behavior is generally not observed in the presence of the guardian.
Understanding the Causes of Separation Anxiety
While the exact reasons why some dogs develop separation anxiety remain unclear, it is believed that significant life changes can trigger the condition. Dogs adopted from shelters appear to be more prone to this issue than those who have lived with the same family since puppyhood, suggesting that the loss of a primary guardian or a drastic change in their living situation can be contributing factors. Other situations associated with the development of separation anxiety include:
- Change of Guardian or Family: Being abandoned, surrendered to a shelter, or rehomed can be a significant trigger.
- Change in Schedule: Abrupt alterations in a dog’s daily routine, particularly concerning the duration or frequency of being left alone, can induce anxiety. For instance, a dog accustomed to constant companionship may develop separation anxiety if their guardian’s work schedule changes, leading to prolonged periods of solitude.
- Change in Residence: Moving to a new home environment can be a stressful event for dogs and may precipitate separation anxiety.
- Change in Household Membership: The sudden absence of a family member, whether through death or moving away, can also trigger the disorder.
Ruling Out Medical and Other Behavioral Issues
Before concluding that a dog’s behavior is due to separation anxiety, it is crucial to rule out other potential causes:
Medical Problems
- Incontinence: Some dogs may urinate involuntarily due to medical conditions like urinary tract infections, weak sphincter muscles, hormonal imbalances, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease, or neurological issues. Dogs with incontinence are often unaware of their accidents. Consulting a veterinarian is essential to rule out these medical causes before addressing behavioral concerns.
- Medications: Certain medications can lead to increased urination and house soiling. If your dog is on medication, discuss potential side effects with your veterinarian.
Other Behavior Problems
- Submissive or Excitement Urination: Some dogs urinate during greetings, play, or when being reprimanded, often accompanied by submissive body language.
- Incomplete House Training: Occasional accidents in the house might indicate that house training was inconsistent or that the dog fears eliminating when the owner is present due to past punishment.
- Urine Marking: Scent marking, typically involving small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces, is another reason for house soiling.
- Juvenile Destruction: Young dogs often engage in destructive chewing and digging, both when their guardians are present and when they are away.
- Boredom: A lack of mental stimulation can lead to disruptive behaviors when a dog is left alone, but these dogs typically do not display signs of anxiety.
- Excessive Barking or Howling: Vocalization can be a response to environmental triggers rather than separation from the owner.
Treatment Strategies for Separation Anxiety
Treatment for separation anxiety aims to resolve the dog’s underlying distress by teaching them to cope with being alone.
Mild Separation Anxiety
For mild cases, counterconditioning can be effective. This involves associating the experience of being alone with highly positive stimuli, such as special food-stuffed puzzle toys. When leaving the house, provide a toy filled with a long-lasting, high-value treat. This toy should only be accessible when the dog is alone. Examples include a KONG stuffed with peanut butter, cream cheese, or canned dog food, which can be frozen to increase the duration of engagement. Feeding meals in these puzzle toys can also be beneficial.
Moderate to Severe Separation Anxiety
More severe cases require a structured desensitization and counterconditioning program, which involves gradually increasing the duration of absences. This process must be carefully managed by a qualified professional, such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), ACAAB, or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), to avoid overwhelming the dog. A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with specific experience in treating anxiety may also provide assistance.
The treatment typically involves:
- Step One: Predeparture Cues: If a dog shows anxiety as the guardian prepares to leave (e.g., picking up keys, putting on shoes), these cues must be desensitized. This is done by performing these actions repeatedly throughout the day without actually leaving, thereby teaching the dog that these cues no longer predict an absence.
- Step Two: Graduated Departures/Absences: Begin with very short absences, ensuring they are shorter than the time it takes for the dog to become anxious. Gradually increase the duration of these absences over many weeks. This process may start with “out-of-sight” stays within the home and progress to short departures from the house, incorporating counterconditioning treats. It is crucial to observe the dog for signs of stress and shorten the absence duration if any are detected. The goal is to build up to absences of 40 minutes, and eventually several hours, without the dog experiencing anxiety.
A Necessary Component: During treatment, the dog should not be left alone except during desensitization sessions. Alternative arrangements include taking the dog to work, arranging for a sitter, using doggy daycare, or, in moderate weather, leaving the dog in a car (with extreme caution due to heatstroke risk). Greetings and farewells should be calm and uneventful to minimize the contrast between the guardian’s presence and absence.
Crate Training and Environmental Enrichment
- Crate Training: For some dogs, a crate can be a safe den. However, for others, it can increase anxiety. Monitor the dog’s behavior during crate training to determine if it is a suitable option. If signs of distress occur, consider confining the dog to a single room.
- Provide Plenty of “Jobs”: Ample physical and mental stimulation is vital. Daily aerobic exercise, interactive games like fetch and tug-of-war, varied walks, and playdates with other dogs can help. Puzzle toys and chew items provide calming benefits and should be available whenever the dog is alone. Hiding kibble around the house and enrolling in obedience classes or dog sports can also provide mental enrichment.
Medications
For severe cases, anti-anxiety medications prescribed by a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can be highly beneficial, helping the dog tolerate isolation and progress more effectively with behavior modification. In some mild cases, medication alone may suffice, but a combination of medication and behavior modification is generally recommended.
What NOT to Do
It is crucial not to scold or punish a dog for separation anxiety-related behaviors. These are distress responses, not acts of disobedience. Punishment can exacerbate the anxiety and worsen the problem.
