Separation Anxiety In Dogs

A dog suffering from separation anxiety can be very destructive when left alone. That is one of the worst signs that a dog could have. Below I have listed more.

Signs:

Whining, barking, acting nervous when you leave the house.

Neighbors complaining about barking and howling after you leave.

Destructive chewing, tearing things apart or scratching up the walls and doors.

Repeated escapes from crate, house or yard when left alone.

Frantic greeting every time you return home.

House trained dog urinating or defecating indoors when alone for even a short period of time.

Causes:

Abandonment:

A dog suffering from separation anxiety feels that when you leave that you have abandoned them. Shelter dogs, rescue dogs, and re homed dogs are a large percentage of dogs that develop separation anxiety.

Moving:

The owners obvious stress along with packing and preparing to move can upset even a stable dog, causing separation anxiety at currant home or more likely the new unfamiliar house.

Routine Change:

Major changes in dog's normal routine, such as owner who worked at home taking a full time job elsewhere or kids starting back to school can trigger separation anxiety.

New Family Member:

Bringing home a new baby, partner moving in or any addition to the household can cause insecurity in the dog and can lead to separation anxiety.

Sudden Isolation:

Sometimes when a dog is suddenly moved to an isolated part of house or garage due to someone else moving in often leads to separation anxiety.

Corrective Actions:

If a dog shows signs of separation anxiety due to any of the changes that I mentioned. Here are some suggestions to correct.

If behavior is serious enough that the dog destroys household furnishings or cause possible harm to the dog, you should consult a professional trainer who can pinpoint and address the cause.

Whatever changes that occur in your household also affects your dog, since his life resolves around you. Help him adapt by adhering, as much as possible to his normal routine, such as feeding, walking, and play time.

Never isolate your dog suddenly away from the family, but if you know for some reason he has to sleep in a different area, place another bed in that location and regularly offer him a favorite chew toy there before change occurs.

Don't indulge in sad goodbyes, because your dog will pick up on the tone of your voice, instead keep a casual attitude as you leave and return home to set a calm example.

Give him a treat-stuffed rubber toy before you walk out the door to change his focus from worrying about you leaving to something pleasant.

Work on positive obedience training to build up dog's confidence. Don't respond to a dog's whining, barking or other anxious and demanding behavior when home. Reward calm behavior.

If a dog looses a dog or cat companion, or they just seem lonely, they might respond well to a new friend, but have a backup plan just in case they don't get along. A companion just might be what they need to keep them company while you are away.

I have never had a dog with separation anxiety, but I can imagine how frustrating it could be. My female golden, Abbey who passed away last year did have a terrible fear of storms and would go crazy at the first signs of a storm approaching. She even chewed her way out of her crate. We would have to stay with her until it passed if we were home, but if we weren't home she would have a fit trying to get away. We kept her and our other golden in the basement when we left and she had already went through the paneling and spilled paint and tracked it all over the floor. Bless her heart. She was a good little dog other than that.

Hope this is helpful if you have a dog that suffers from separation anxiety. GOOD LUCK!