Separation anxiety is the behavioral condition in which a dog shows severe distress when separated from its owner. The separation can be when the owner leaves the home or simply when the owner is in a different room than the dog. Separation anxiety may be demonstrated through destructive behaviors, inappropriate elimination, barking, drooling, digging, panting or pacing.

Separation anxiety occurs most commonly in a dog that is totally dependent on his owner. The dog may continually follow the owner around the house and need to be near or touching the owner constantly. He may give overly exuberant greetings and dislike spending time outside alone. Many times dogs that exhibit separation anxiety have been abandoned at shelters or have spent much of their puppyhood in puppy mills or pet stores.

Treatment

Separation anxiety can be treated and in most cases, with at least partial improvement. The treatment plan will require dedication and time on your part.

To assist with your dog’s treatment, it would be helpful to arrange a video camera to document your dog’s behavior. This would allow us to see what behaviors are occurring and when the behaviors begin and end. The following is a description of a general treatment plan. A behavior consultation with your family and dog will allow us to form a specific treatment plan for your situation.

Decreasing Dependency

Your dog needs to learn to depend less on you and more on himself. He needs to gain self confidence. It is recommended that he attend an organized obedience class. His “favorite” person should not attend the class with him, but rather a person he is less dependent on. Obedience commands will be utilized in other areas of your dog’s treatment. We can recommend an excellent obedience trainer in the area.

The people the dog is most dependent on will need to spend less direct contact with the dog. Many owners find this to be one of the most difficult areas of treatment. Your dog should not sleep in your bed with you, but rather have his own area on the floor. He should also have his own area across the room from you instead of lying at your feet or in your lap. He should not be allowed to follow you throughout the house.

Your departures and arrivals should be very low key. Ignore your dog for 10- 20 minutes before you leave and upon your arrival home. Over exuberant "good-byes” and ‘hellos” will only cause additional anxiety in your dog.

Counter-Conditioning

Counter-conditioning is teaching your dog a behavior (such as sit-stay) that will "counter” or not allow him to perform a previous behavior (following you to the door). The “sit-stay” and “down-stay” obedience commands will be used frequently during the counter-conditioning process.

You should gradually increase the distance and time you can leave your dog by placing him on a "sit-stay”. This should be done very gradually without eliciting an anxiety behavior from your dog. You should eventually be able to leave the room for minutes at a time.

Counter-conditioning can also be used to decrease dependency by not allowing him to follow you throughout the house. Place him on a “sit-stay” until you are able to return to the room. Remember- if your dog shows any signs of anxiety, such as barking or panting, you need to slow down the training process and leave for shorter times.

Desensitization

Desensitization is the method of training your dog to be less sensitive to an activity that causes anxiety.

Change your daily habits
Many dogs are very perceptive to their owner’s departure habits. A dog that suffers from separation anxiety may begin to show signs of anxiety as they recognize these pre-departure cues. Keep a diary of your daily habits and change them. Many times leaving through a different door will decrease your dog’s anxiety.

Create a “Safety Signal”
A safety signal is a cue to your dog that you will return shortly. It is a way of saying “I’ll be right back!”. A safety cue could be the television playing, a tape recording of your family talking of a special toy. A Kong toyTM is a hard rubber toy that is hollow in the middle. It can be packed with treats that will entertain your dog for hours. Small holes can be drilled into a Nyla-boneTM and then filled with peanut butter for an added treat to distract your dog. Your dog will begin to associate his "safety signal” with your short absences and learn to look forward to your departures. In the begin-ning the “safety signal” should only be used for short separations, but eventually can be used for longer durations.

Desensitization for long departures
Desensitization for long departures is a very gradual process. You must never leave your dog long enough to allow him to engage in an anxiety behavior. The length of time should be varied and can only be increased when he shows no anxiety and does not demonstrate any excessive greeting upon your return. If the length of your absence is increased too quickly the separation anxiety may become worse.

How quickly the desensitization program will progress will vary. As a guide line, many short absences (1,2,3,4 and 5 minutes) will be required. The first 30 minutes will be the most difficult. Once your dog can routinely be left for 30 minutes at a time, the increments may be increased to 15 minutes. Remember to vary the pattern, such as 10, 30, 5, 45,15, 60,15, 30, 5, 75 minutes and so on.

When your dog can be left for 90 minutes he will probably tolerate an entire day.

If you must leave your dog for a longer duration during the desensitization process than what he is accustomed to, an anti-anxiety medication will need to be added to his treatment plan.

Anti-anxiety medication

During your dog’s behavior consultation, it may be recommended that an anti-anxiety medication be added to your dog’s treatment plan. A veterinarian will examine your dog and may make a recommendation for blood tests before starting drug therapy. The Veterinarian will then choose the medication and dosage.

Anti-anxiety medication is usually only temporary during the behavior modification process and will gradually be decreased as progress is made. Some dogs that suffer from mild separation anxiety may be treated successfully with anti-anxiety medications without behavior modification.

Crate Training

Crate training does not treat separation anxiety but can prevent destructive behavior while the dog is being treated. A crate will also give your dog a safe confinement and therefore decrease his dependence on you. Most separation anxiety dogs dislike confinement in a crate. Read our handout on crate training. Anti-anxiety medication may be required during your dog’s crate training.
 

Referral to a Veterinary Behaviorist

In severe cases of separation anxiety, you may be referred to a Veterinary Behaviorist who will develop the treatment plan for your dog.