Separation anxiety is a common and distressing behavioral issue for many dog owners, characterized by a dog’s extreme distress when left alone. This can manifest in various disruptive and destructive behaviors such as excessive barking, howling, urination, defecation, chewing, and digging, particularly around exit points like doors and windows. Unlike simple house-soiling or chewing problems, these behaviors, when accompanied by signs of anxiety like drooling or distress when owners prepare to leave, are indicative of a deeper emotional issue. The core of separation anxiety lies in a dog’s profound attachment to their guardians, leading to panic when that bond is temporarily broken. Escape attempts in severe cases can even lead to self-injury.
Dogs experiencing separation anxiety often exhibit heightened agitation as their owners prepare to depart. Some may become anxious or depressed prior to the owner leaving, or even attempt to prevent their departure. Typically, once left alone, these dogs will begin to vocalize and display distress within minutes of their owner’s exit. Upon the owner’s return, the dog’s reaction can be disproportionately ecstatic, as if they haven’t seen their guardian in a long time. The primary goal in treating separation anxiety is to help the dog overcome this distress by teaching them to tolerate, or even enjoy, being alone. This is achieved by creating positive associations with solitude, allowing the dog to experience being alone without fear or anxiety.
Common Symptoms of Separation Anxiety
Several observable behaviors can signal separation anxiety in dogs:
- Urinating and Defecating: Dogs with separation anxiety may urinate or defecate when left unsupervised. If these incidents occur in the owner’s presence, the cause is likely not separation anxiety.
- Barking and Howling: Persistent vocalizations, such as barking or howling, that occur only when the dog is alone are a strong indicator.
- Chewing, Digging, and Destruction: Destructive behaviors like chewing on furniture, door frames, or window sills, and digging at doors can be symptoms. These actions can lead to self-injury. If these behaviors are linked to separation anxiety, they typically do not occur when the owner is present.
- Escaping: A dog may attempt to escape confinement when left alone, often by chewing or digging at doors and windows, which can result in injury. Like destructive behaviors, escape attempts linked to separation anxiety usually do not happen when the owner is around.
- Pacing: Some dogs exhibit repetitive pacing, either in straight lines or circles, when left alone. This behavior is generally absent when the owner is present.
- Coprophagia: In some cases, dogs may defecate and then consume their own or other dogs’ excrement when left alone. This behavior is typically not observed in the owner’s presence.
Why Do Some Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety?
The exact reasons why dogs develop separation anxiety are not fully understood. However, it is believed that significant life changes can trigger the disorder. Dogs adopted from shelters are often overrepresented, suggesting that the loss of a previous guardian or disruption in their social structure can contribute. Various situations have been associated with the onset of separation anxiety:
- Change of Guardian or Family: Events like abandonment, surrender to a shelter, or being rehomed can be triggers.
- Change in Schedule: Abrupt alterations in a dog’s routine, particularly concerning the duration or timing of being left alone, can cause anxiety. For instance, a dog accustomed to constant companionship may develop separation anxiety when its owner begins a new job requiring extended absences.
- Change in Residence: Moving to a new home environment can also precipitate separation anxiety.
- Change in Household Membership: The sudden absence of a family member, whether due to death or moving away, can trigger the condition.
Medical and Behavioral Issues to Rule Out
Before diagnosing separation anxiety, it is crucial to rule out other potential causes for the observed behaviors:
Medical Problems
- Incontinence: Some dogs may urinate involuntarily due to medical conditions like urinary tract infections, hormonal imbalances, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease, or neurological issues. Dogs with incontinence are often unaware of their accidents. It is essential to consult a veterinarian to rule out these medical causes before addressing behavioral issues.
- Medications: Certain medications can lead to increased urination and house soiling. Veterinarians can advise if any current medications might be contributing to these problems.
Other Behavior Problems
- Submissive or Excitement Urination: Some dogs urinate during greetings, play, or when being disciplined. These dogs typically display submissive body language.
- Incomplete House Training: Occasional accidents in the house might indicate incomplete house training or a fear of eliminating when an owner is present, possibly due to past punishment.
- Urine Marking: Dogs, particularly males, may urinate small amounts on vertical surfaces to mark their territory.
- Juvenile Destruction: Young dogs often engage in destructive chewing and digging, both when their owners are home and away.
- Boredom: A lack of mental stimulation can lead to disruptive behaviors when a dog is left alone, though these dogs typically do not appear anxious.
- Excessive Barking or Howling: Vocalizations can be triggered by environmental stimuli like unfamiliar sights and sounds, occurring both when owners are present and absent.
What to Do If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety
Treatment for separation anxiety focuses on desensitization and counterconditioning to help dogs develop a positive association with being alone.
Treatment for Mild Separation Anxiety
For mild cases, counterconditioning can be effective. This involves associating the experience of being alone with highly rewarding activities, such as special food-stuffed puzzle toys. These toys should be given only when the owner leaves and removed upon their return, ensuring the dog associates them exclusively with solitude. For example, a KONG toy filled with tasty, frozen treats can keep a dog occupied for an extended period. Feeding all meals in these toys can further reinforce this positive association. However, highly anxious dogs may not eat when left alone, making this method less effective for them.
Treatment for Moderate to Severe Separation Anxiety
More severe cases require a structured desensitization and counterconditioning program, guided by a professional such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), an American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) diplomate, or a qualified Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with experience in anxiety treatment. The process involves gradually increasing the duration of absences, starting with very short periods that do not trigger anxiety, and slowly extending them over weeks.
The treatment plan typically involves:
- Step One: Predeparture Cues: For dogs who show anxiety when owners prepare to leave (e.g., putting on shoes, grabbing keys), the goal is to desensitize them to these cues. This is done by performing these actions randomly throughout the day without actually leaving, teaching the dog that these cues do not always predict departure. This process requires many repetitions over several weeks.
- Step Two: Graduated Departures/Absences: This involves very short departures, ensuring they are shorter than the time it takes for the dog to become anxious. Training begins with “out-of-sight” stays at a closed door, gradually increasing the duration.
- Progress to different doors within the house and then to exit doors. If the dog has a history of positive “stay game” experiences, they may be less anxious.
- Begin incorporating short absences, starting with one to two seconds, then slowly increasing the time. A stuffed food toy given just before leaving can serve as a positive association and a safety cue.
- Wait a few minutes between short absences to ensure the dog is fully relaxed before the next departure. Leaving too soon can increase arousal and worsen anxiety.
- Owners must carefully observe their dog for signs of stress (dilated pupils, panting, yawning, salivating, trembling) and shorten departures if stress is detected, progressing more slowly.
- Building up to 40-minute absences is crucial, as most anxious responses occur within this timeframe. Departures are increased incrementally, by seconds initially, then by larger chunks once the dog tolerates longer periods. A dog that can tolerate 90 minutes alone may be ready for longer absences.
- This process can be accelerated with multiple sessions per day, especially on weekends.
A critical component of this treatment is ensuring the dog is never left alone except during training sessions. Alternative arrangements include taking the dog to work, having a sitter stay with the dog, using a doggy daycare, or, with extreme caution regarding weather, leaving the dog in a car.
Greetings and goodbyes should be calm and low-key to minimize contrast between the owner’s presence and absence. When returning home, ignore the dog initially until they are calm, then engage them with simple commands to redirect excitement.
Crate Training and Enrichment
- To Crate or Not to Crate: Crate training can be beneficial if the crate becomes a safe haven. However, for some dogs, it can increase stress. Monitor the dog for signs of distress during crate confinement; if present, confining the dog to a single room may be a better alternative.
- Provide Plenty of “Jobs”: Adequate physical and mental stimulation is vital. Daily aerobic exercise, interactive play, varied walks, social interaction with other dogs, and providing food puzzle toys and chew items can reduce stress and provide appropriate outlets for natural behaviors. Hiding kibble around the house and enrolling in training classes or dog sports also contribute to mental enrichment and tire the dog out before departures.
Medications
Medications may be beneficial, especially for severe separation anxiety, in combination with behavior modification. Anti-anxiety drugs can help dogs tolerate being alone and facilitate quicker progress in treatment. For mild cases, medication alone might suffice, with the dog gradually weaned off. Consultation with a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist is essential before administering any medication.
What NOT to Do
It is crucial not to scold or punish a dog exhibiting separation anxiety. These behaviors stem from distress, not disobedience. Punishment can escalate anxiety and worsen the problem.
